rudy@bdmrrr.UUCP (Scott W. Rudy III) (10/10/85)
MacIntosh Users,
I am fairly new to the net. It is a terrific forum for discussion,
software sharing, etc. It's fun to be a part of it!
I am looking for the "perfect" software package to use on my Mac to use
with Unix. As I understand, one of the most important features of the
communications package should be to emulate a VT-100 (or VT-220). I have found
that second on my priority list is the ability to transfer data via the kermit
protocol.
In order to satisfy both requirements, I use two software packages:
1. MacTerminal - when I "vnews" or do any software
development
2. Red Ryder 4.0 - when I download software/ upload text
using Kermit
I realize this is a rather lengthy description; the obvious question
is:
What one software package will give us mac users both features?
also
What requirements/features have I overlooked in my search for the
"perfect" communications package?
--
Scott W. Rudy III
The BDM Corporation WB5A
7915 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102-3396
UUCP: {seismo,rlgvax}!bdmrrr!rudydubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois) (10/11/85)
> > I am looking for the "perfect" software package to use on my Mac to use > with Unix. As I understand, one of the most important features of the > communications package should be to emulate a VT-100 (or VT-220). I have found > that second on my priority list is the ability to transfer data via the kermit > protocol. > > In order to satisfy both requirements, I use two software packages: > > 1. MacTerminal - when I "vnews" or do any software > development > > 2. Red Ryder 4.0 - when I download software/ upload text > using Kermit I will make a suggestion that satisfies neither requirement, but works for me. First, a couple of qualifications to the requirements: If you're running Unix, it's pretty much irrelevant whether the package emulates a VT-100/220 specifically or not. What matters is that it emulates *something* (i.e., something besides a teletype :-) ). It does not even matter if the terminial emulated is in /etc/termcap, since you can use your own terminal description and set the TERMCAP environoment variable to point at it. Second, kermit is unnecessary. With these qualifications in mind, what I use is SquirmTerm. This is the terminal program that comes as an example program with Rascal (the language developed at Reed College). I didn't get Rascal for that purpose, but I found, much to my delight, that SquirmTerm is perfectly adequate for my needs. The advantages: - At $99, Rascal is the same price as MacTerminal, plus you get a programming language thrown in for nothing. :-) - The manual gives the termcap entry, and it works. You can use it with vi. It has a couple of vi-specific things, like putting the cursor where the mouse is when you click. Double-click gives you cw, which is convenient, and like MacWrite. The ` key is used for escape which is in the same spot as normal escape keys on many terminals - very convenient. (You get ` with option-` or something. Anyway, this should give you vnews. - You can transfer files both ways. Not a lot of frills, but it works. It doesn't do kermit, but I just use ascii anyway. It transfers in ascii mode *without errors* at 9600 baud on the broadband network to which I am attached. Of course, I run a ramdisk and load the file into that, writing the "real" file onto a disk with binhex. (However, even with the same configuration, the best I could do with Red Ryder without losing characters was 2400 baud.) I keep the system, SquirmTerm and binhex on the ramdisk and use a minifinder. Blindingly fast to load a file, transfer to binhex, convert it, and back to SqT. - Rascal comes with the source for SquirmTerm, so you can hack it yourself if you want. For programmers, this is a plus. - Half the size of Red Ryder. Red Ryder has a bunch of junk I don't need (xmodem, kermit), don't want to load, or waste disk space on. It's not a fancy program, but I like it. 'Course, I'm a Rascal fan, too, so maybe I'm biased. -- | Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois --+-- | "The voice of the Lord is full of majesty." | Psalm 29:4
tdn@spice.cs.cmu.edu.ARPA (Thomas Newton) (10/12/85)
The Macintosh version of Kermit that Columbia University puts out comes close
to meeting both requirements. The current version attempts to emulate a VT100
terminal plus some of the extra features of a VT102. And of course it handles
KERMIT file transfers; the KERMIT implementation is more complete than the one
in the versions of Red Ryder that I've seen. Problems: when I tried using it
with Unix (Gosling) EMACS, it garbaged the screen moderately often. The VT100
emulation still could use some improvement. Advantages: MacKermit comes with
a keyboard remapping program that lets you set up a META key and that lets you
define keyboard macros. It is also free, but note that Columbia University is
not in the distribution business: they'll sell you a tape with > 100 versions
of Kermit for different machines for about $100?, but if you just want the Mac
version, you'll need to obtain it elsewhere. The latest version of MacKermit,
not including the keyboard remapping program & documentation files, was posted
to net.sources.mac about a week ago by info-mac@uw-beaver.
The final version of Red Ryder 6.0 is supposed to support both VT52 and VT100
emulation. Like version 4.0, versions 5.0, C.06 (beta), and E.06 (beta) have
support for Kermit and XMODEM text transfers. Versions 5 and up also support
the "MacBinary" protocol used by Compuserve (you download a binary file using
XMODEM and the terminal program determines whether to use text mode or binary
mode by examining several bytes in the first packet). When I tried using the
C.06 and E.06 versions in VT100 mode with Unix EMACS, the programs locked up.
But then, one can hardly expect beta test versions to be stable.
I don't know anything about VersaTerm, having never seen the release version.
But between MacTerminal {-0.15,1.1}, beta Red Ryder {C.06, E.06}, and Kermit
{0.8(33)}, I still haven't found one program entirely suitable for both screen
editing and downloading.
-- Thomas Newton
Thomas.Newton@spice.cs.cmu.edugig@ritcv.UUCP (gordon ) (10/13/85)
> The final version of Red Ryder 6.0 is supposed to support both VT52 and VT100 > emulation. Like version 4.0, versions 5.0, C.06 (beta), and E.06 (beta) have > support for Kermit and XMODEM text transfers. Versions 5 and up also support > the "MacBinary" protocol used by Compuserve (you download a binary file using > XMODEM and the terminal program determines whether to use text mode or binary > mode by examining several bytes in the first packet). When I tried using the > C.06 and E.06 versions in VT100 mode with Unix EMACS, the programs locked up. > But then, one can hardly expect beta test versions to be stable. > I heard that Red Ryder 6.2 was released. Has anyone seen it? If so, would you be so kind as to post it to the net (if Scott Watson still permits) or, if you are shy, send it to me. Thanks.
s255@sol1.UUCP (alcmist) (10/15/85)
> > I am looking for the "perfect" software package to use on my Mac to use > with Unix. As I understand, one of the most important features of the > communications package should be to emulate a VT-100 (or VT-220). I have found > that second on my priority list is the ability to transfer data via the kermit > protocol. I'm posting this, instead of replying direct, because I think others may be interested. In order of increasing cost, you can use MacKermit from Columbia University. It is free and emulates a VT100 well enough to run vi. For $40, you can register your copy of Red Ryder and get the latest version, which emulates a VT100 or VT52, including support for the keypad. Versaterm is reputed to do a first-rate VT100, and supports Kermit. Last I heard, it was $99. Fred Wamsley sol1!s255