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│ Web on the Spectrum? │
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(C) Sergey Gritsyuk
Dear editors of "Optocoupler". I read
in the fourth issue of your newspaper there is an article “About
modems and more..." and decided to share
with you with our thoughts about communication
programs, or rather about those for which,
it seems to me the future.
It's high time to make a modem
communication is not just a means for pumping
files, and an exciting journey
into computer worlds. And for this it is not suitable
we are trying to “reinvent the wheel”, but only
create INTERNET-like programs, es-
naturally, with Spectrum specifics.
As confirmation of my words, I will cite the following:
some fact: recently in Moscow the
to create a BBS with NEW (in the sense of different fromothers) a program called
EMS.
If anyone thinks this is possible
only if you have 8 MB of memory and pro-
Pentium II processor, then he is deeply mistaken -
Xia. With all due respect to IBM, enough
will definitely have standard 128K memory and
Z80 processor.
So, what else will you need? Natural
but, the modem itself (C-DOS), as well as two programs
frameworks, which I will call zx-server
and zx client. It is thanks to these programs
Rammam, by calling some
BBS'ki and after waiting a little, you can see
display on the screen of your favorite computer
ra... a real web page!
How is this possible? Omitting the technical
some details (which, I hope, will
programmers are confused B-)), I’ll tell you about the essence
this phenomenon. ZX client contacts
zx server and downloads the file, for example, from
name about, but is not limited to this, but
interprets it. Such a system is
is very flexible, as there are no problems
allows you to improve as a zx client,
so is the zx server.
The about file may have approximately
this structure:
1 byte - T or S (text or picture); 8 bytes - file name (with text or car-
teen);
1 byte - number of entry points.
If entry points >0, then they follow
descriptors with structure:
4 bytes - COL, POS, LEN, HGT (coordinates
entry points);
1 byte - P or F (page or file);
8 bytes - file name (with new page
or a file that can be downloaded).
For example let's interpret such
structure:
Smain_scr11122Fread_м2
The first byte indicates that
the web page will be a picture. Download
it from a filemain_scr and display it on the screen.
From the tenth byte we find out that there is one
entry point with coordinates 1,1 and size
2x2. The fifteenth byte indicates that this
The file read_me2 is "attached" to the point. After that-
go, as you point the mouse at the point area
login, this file will be downloaded.
The structure of the page descriptor file can be
it can be much more complicated. The text is
should contain attribute control bytes
and print position. I'm not even talking about
that all files must be compressed
us. Suitable for compression:
for example, the MS-RASK program (for de-
compression of the image compressed by it will be needed
only 192 bytes of RAM; want
Believe it or check it if you want, B ;-) ).
The zx-server and zx-client programs must,
at a minimum, meet the requirements
described in the above mentioned article and have
RAM disk support like Honey does
Commander.
To summarize, I would like to say that
creation of such programs is possible even
for beginner hackers. The only problem is
ma that may arise is their mutual
interaction with the modem. In this regard,
I extend my greetings to the gentlemen, the creators of C-DOS mod-
mov: maybe one of you will open it a little
curtain of secrecy and will describe how it is carried out
modem control, its structure, signals
etc., so that gentlemenprogrammers are not
carried out creative research using the method
scientific poke?
And lastly, if you are interested
this problem, I will be happy to answer
to all theoretical questions. Write to me
to my E-mail: sergri@writeme.com.
R.S. If you have not accepted all of the above,
seriously married, they probably look alike now
to this emoticon: :-D.
──══ R.S. from Rasp ══──
Great idea! I really liked it.
I just want to draw Sergei’s attention, but
also anyone who wishes to translate the idea into
specific code. There are two very interesting
new terminal programs - Macro Modem
(MMD) and EMS. In these programs, the connection between the programs
frames with the modem hardware are carried out by
rez replacement driver. Such drivers may
be as many as you like, at least a hundred pieces per
each type of modem. So, for the needs
ZX server and ZX client can be used
this driver (I hope the authors will not
against :) ). That's all! No worries, nohassle!
All driver information can be found in
magazine ZX-Format #6 or in the editorial office
"Optocoupler" by contacting us.
Hacker Rasp
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