A GEM IRC Client for the Atari ST
Some features:
- Public Key available as of Mar 5, 2018 (registers aIRC/removes demo time limit)
- This program is ShareWare and has a 15 minute time limit if not registered (demo mode)
- Designed to work with the STiK internet package
- Works with MiNT-Net+GlueSTiK, STinG, MagiCNet+GlueSTiK, and IConnect+iFusion (iFusion requires IFix)
- Should work with any STiK compatible TCP/IP internet stack (see compatibility note below)
- Runs in the GEM environment with or without a multi-tasking OS
- Emulator friendly
- WDIALOG.PRG not required!
- Multiple scrollback buffers (via tabs) with up to 999 lines each
- Tab support includes Console, Channel, Query, and DCC Connections
- Support for large screen monitors (resolution expanders and video cards)
- Supports DCC chat, send, receive, and resume (even behind a firewall)
- Fast DCC send protocol (fully compatible with normal DCC)
- Auto get DCC chat/file options
- Public IP options and DCC port mapping for users on LANs
- Option to auto start download files (VA_START requires AVSERVER)
- Auto away timer (if client is idle too long, marks you as away)
- Supports color or monochrome displays (colors will make it more readable)
- Sounds via DMA (directly plays AVR, external player required for WAV)
- Sounds played on certain events
- Clipboard cut/paste via SCRAP.TXT
- Passing of URLs/strings via an advanced StringServer (see note below)
- Realtime display of channel nick names (with popup options)
- Drag & drop DCC Send (multiple files can be dropped on a nick name)
- Supports session logging to disk (optional dated log, file name = date)
- No STiK configuration files to mess with, completely self contained
- Supports monospaced fonts via VDI (the point size can be adjusted)
- Supports drag & drop fonts, external font selectors (FONT_CHANGED message)
- Supports drag & drop colors, external color selector (by Holger Weets)
- Server list with up to 20 entries (built in Identd server)
- Can auto join channels and set user modes at logon
- 20 programmable function keys
- Command line which can be edited before pressing the RETURN key
- Supports bold, underlined, and reversed text effects
- Word wrap with a one character indent for easier reading
- Notify list with up to 40 entries
- Options for limited ISO keyboard remapping
- The incoming/outgoing translation tables can be fully edited
- UTF-8 support
- User definable finger, quit, and userinfo messages
- Support for environment $HOME (multi-user setup)
- DaLNet long nick name support
- Support for other channel types (!channel, +channel, and &channel)
- Join channel popup (list of favorite channels)
- Auto join if invited to a channel
- Auto query on incoming and/or outgoing messages
- Special support for AtarICQ a GEM ICQ chat program
- Support for Taskbar or similar program
- Includes an ST-Guide HYPertext manual (online HELP via ST-Guide)
Requirements:
- Atari brand computer, hardware clone, or emulator
- STiK compatible internet stack
- Require AES v3.3 or better
- Multi-tasking OS (recommended)
- NVDI (recommended)
- AV Server (recommended)
- StringServer (dropped support, no longer required)
Recommended:
- MiNT 1.16.0 or better
- NAES v2 for best results
Possible things to add:
- Full 2-way communication with other chat applications, such as aICQ
The idea is one could fully chat with users on ICQ via IRC or the other way around.
YAP - Yet Another Protocol specification. YAP Example Code in GFA-Basic.
- Better color support (more than 16 colors)
- DCC file functions in a seperate window
- Outline/vector font support (possibly)
- Scripting (currently no plans for this option)
- Multi-server support (probably not going to happen)
- MiNT-Net version (this could happen one day)
- Draconis or I-Connect version (no plans for this)
There is no time table when said items might be added, and it's also possible some of them may never be added.
Screen shots submitted by users:
- lp - Hades060 - MiNT+N.Aes+Thing @ 1280x1024x256c
- Ektus - Milan040 - MagiC @ 1280x1024x65k (reduced to 256c with Smurf)
- Beej - FalconCT2b - Geneva/NeoDesk4 @ 800x608x256c
- Beej - FalconCT2b - MagiC/MagixDesk @ 800x608x256c
- Beej - FalconCT2b - MiNT/N_Aes/Thing @ 800x608x32k
- AltF4 - FalconCT2b - MiNT/N_Aes/Thing @ 1024x768x256c
If you wish to submit an image, please send them as gif or jpg and include the OS and screen size.
IRC #AtariScne gallery at Dead Hackers Society
** ShareWare Notes **
Status of aIRC:
Some users have suggested the status of aIRC should be changed to ShareWare.
Well, now it is as I feel it finally supports enough internet stacks.
The registration fee is a mere $5.00 USD.
See documentation for details.
Please test aIRC on your machine/internet stack before registering. ;o)
PayPal accepted.
** StringServer Notes **
About StringServer and aIRC:
What is StringServer?
It's an advanced AV_Server which performs certain tasks based on the "string" that is passed to it.
The task that is performed is defined in the configuration of StringServer itself.
The "string" could be almost anything, but certain ideas come to mind such as web URL's,
FTP links, TELNET links, and E-Mail addresses.
aIRC supports StringServer and once everything is properly configured you can double-click on such items directly in the client window.
How do I use StringServer with aIRC?
There is no setup in aIRC, it automatically looks for StringServer.
Just install StringServer.
Now all you need to do is configure StringServer.
Please see the documentation that comes with StringServer for further information on setup. :-)
** Compatibility Notes **
About STiK and aIRC:
aIRC was developed with STiK and MiNTnet+GlueSTiK and as such all testing was done with these stacks.
Other TCP/IP stacks claim to be compatible with STiK.
There may be a few areas where they are not entirely compatible, and if you think you've found a bug in aIRC...
Don't be suprised if you get an e-mail back stating: "That feature works fine under STiK".
If that happens you'll have to contact the author of the so-called compatible TCP/IP stack.
My position is simple...
The STiK API Specification v1.0 was documented prior to the development of other TCP/IP stacks.
Need I say more?
So what does this mean to AtarIRC users?
Basically I've tried to make aIRC work without coding specifically for these other so-called compatible TCP/IP stacks, but I cannot guarantee it will work.
aIRC follows the STiK API v1.0 Specification so I don't do any testing with other TCP/IP stacks.
Have a problem? Download AtarIRC debug version and see what happens.
To aid in debugging please do the following.
Boot the machine just as you did when you had a problem with aIRC,
then run SysInfo and send me a full dump.
This will save loads of time, and it will tell me everything I need to know about your system.
** Page Linking Notes **
How do I link to the aIRC page?
If you would like to link your page to this page use the following URL:
http://atari.gfabasic.net/
You can use the image below.
(C)2002 by ENCOM
Can you create a better image? If so, send it to me.
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