InterNet Resources for the Commodore 64 / 128 V1.0 by Craig Taylor (duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu) [This article is placed into public domain by the author. Copying encouraged] The Internet Let me start this article with a quote by another author that everyone should heed when dealing with the InterNet: "One warning is perhaps in order---this territory we are entering can become a fantastic time-sink. Hours can slip by, people can come and go, and you'll be locked into Cyberspace. Remember to do your work! With that, I welcome you, the new user, to The Net." brendan@cs.widener.edu - Author, Zen and the Art of the Internet What is the InterNet? What exactly is the InterNet? Imagine if you will, when you were a kid stringing wires between houses in your neighborhood so that you could talk with the kids that lived beside you. You could talk to those beside you but not the ones that lived across town. Now, suppose that you wanted to relay a message to a buddy across town. The only feasible way would be to send a message to the guy next door; then have him send it to the correct person. This is the basic system of the Internet. Computers connected to other computers that are connected to others. In the above paragrph communication was limited because of geography - how close individuals were. The InterNet system; while geography does play a factor, relies more on how the sites grew up and were established as to how messages will get passed back and forth. There are also other networks hooked up to the InterNet that provide auxilary services to their local group of computers. One large one is BITNET and UUCP. Various bbs's also carry items from the InterNet such as the BitNet news. In addition, online services such as Genie, Compuserve, and others offer "gate-ways" or ways of getting access to the resources of the InterNet. Access To The InterNet Gaining Access to the InterNet There are several ways of gaining access to the InterNet. Your local college may be your best low-cost opportunity. Typically, if you are a student or faculty or staff, you may qualify to have an account that allows you to access all the InterNet facilities described above. If you don't fall into any of these categories your next best bet is an online service such as America Online, Genie, or Compuserve as these all support what is known as an InterNet gateway - allowing you t o access the InterNet through t hem. (At this time, I don't believe Prodigy has an InterNet gateway - if I'm wrong I'm sure I'll get tons of mail. Other online services also exist - I've only listed what I consider the "primary" ones.) Once you've gotten access to the InterNet you may be asking "Okay, I know what the InterNet _can_ give me - how do I do it?" Unfortunately, because the InterNet is run on differant computer systems this will vary from system to system. Your best bet would be to examine the documentation and help screens associated with the online service or college's facilities. Study them over until you can quote them backwards (well, not quite that much) - Study them over until you understand what they are saying. Also, having someone who is already experienced with the InterNet aid you in your explorations is a great help. What is E-MAIL? There are numerous individuals using the InterNet each day. Each is also able to write the other through the use of Electronic Mail or, as it's commonly called "e-mail". To send a message to me you'd use your mail program (the actual procedure varies depending on what type of machine you use) and tell it to send the message to my user name, "duck" at my site that I login at - (currently going to Pembroke State University) hence "pembvax1.pembroke.edu". So the full address with an "@" sign the computer needs to use to know how to seperate the computer name and the user name is "duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu". It's easy to talk to somebody in Mexico, Germany, Australia with this method and it's quicker than the U.S. Postal system (which, on the InterNet you'll see referred to as Snail Mail (or s-mail) due to it's slow delivery time compared to e-mail). Projects, Questions, Answers, Ideas and general chit-chat on how the family is doing, etc can be relayed over the InterNet. There are also numerous abbreviations and notations that are used in E-Mail. Some of them are: ttyal8r - Talk to you later rtfm - Read the *uckin' manual imho - In My Humble Opinion rotfl - Rolls on the Floor Laughing lol - Laughs Out Loud. l8r - Later ;-) - (winks) :-) - (smile) :-( - (frowns) There are _many_ _many_ more - you can also find a huge list of the smiley faces (turn your head sideways and look at the ones in parenthesis above) on the InterNet. You may also hear the phrase "my e-mail bounced". What this means is that your message, much like a bounced check, did not work right and it was returned to your account. Typically this happens because of incorrect addresses, or an incorrect user name. Email Servers Another large way of getting information is from individuals running what are E-Mail servers from their accounts or from specific accounts. From Email servers you may request certain files; catalogs of programs that are availble for request; send messages to be distributed to other individuals and automatically subscribe yourself to the mailing list for new items. The only Email Server specifically designed for the Commodore computers is one ran by the author. It major intent is that of distributing the Commodore Hacking magazine as well as programs that are in the magazine. To get help on how to use it send a message to the author in the following format: To: duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu Subj: MAILSERV Body of message: HELP This specific mailserver is ran twice a day so you should get your reply within approximately 12 hours. Please be sure to have a subject line of "MAILSERV". If anyone knows of any other Email Servers existing for the Commodore computers please let the author know. NewsGroups One of the primary purposes of the InterNet is for educational research and discussion. For this purpose, there are currently over 2000 newsgroups established dealing with a wide range of social, politicial, science, computer and educational topics. Some of these range to inane, whimsical, to practical and useful. Two of these for the Commodore 64/128 line of computers are: comp.sys.cbm comp.binaries.cbm The names for the newsgroups start with a short abbreviation such as "comp" for computers, "sci" for science, "bio" for biology, etc... The second group of letters stand for the type of newsgroup "sys for system, binaries for binaries etc..." while the third describes it better - "cbm" in this case for Commodore Business Machines. The newsgroup, Comp.Sys.Cbm supports discussion about anything under the sun involving the Commodore 8 bit line of computers (and lately, even talking about the old old ancient calculators that Commodore mae that might not have even been 8 bit). Comp.Binaries.Cbm allows programs to be "posted" or made available to everyone who wishes them. There are programs available that will let you take the "encrypted" text-only version of the program that you see on the screen and convert them into the correct binary p rogram. Basically the rules for newsgroups are: 1) Enjoy yourself, 2) Don't harass others and 3) Try to stay on topic. Newsgroups are read by many many people - typically you'll get a response to an inquiry within only an hour or so - sometimes even sooner. But because they're read by so many people chatter or "babble" as it's known, is also discouraged. Don't hesitate to post any questions, concerns or comments but make sure in each message that you post that you have a reason to post. So What's Out There? So why should you be interested in the Internet? Imagine, if you will, being able to ask questions to numerous individuals, download the latest in shareware and public-domain software, know the "rumours" and topics before they exist all for free? (Or at least, only for what your "hookup" method charges - see Gaining Access to the InterNet latter). That's what's out on the Internet. Any question you have - there is sure to be an answer for - any software you're looking for you stand an extremely good chance of finding something along the lines of your needs. The major benefit of the Internet as I see it consists of the continued support for the Commodore computers. Because all these differant means of obtaining information are not sponsored by any one specific company or individual the Commodore 8-bit line of computers are guranteed continued support over the Internet. In addition, because the Internet strongly frowns upon Commercial advertising you won't find numerous ads or any other material urging you to "buy this, buy that" like you will on some other serv ices. FTP Sites FTP stands for File Transfer Protocols and is a method of obtaining programs that are stored on another system's computers. There are numerous FTP sites out there in InterNet land - one of the best currently available for the Commodore computers is that of R.Knop's site at ccosun.caltech.edu. [ The following is a list of FTP sites for the Commodore 64 and 128 computes and is currenty maintained by Howard Herman (h.herman@GEnie.geis.com) and is used with his permission. He usually posts an updated list to comp.sys.cbm newsgroup every month or so.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the list of FTP sites containing software and programs specific to the Commodore 64 and 128 computers. I will try to keep this list as current and accurate as possible, so that it can be a useful resource for users of the newsgroup. PLEASE cooperate and send E-mail to me with any corrections and updates. If a site has closed or no longer carries CBM software, let me know and it will be deleted. If you uncover a site not listed, tell me so that it can be added. ----- To use this list on a UNIX system, just type 'ftp ', where is any of the sites listed below. Use 'anonymous' as your login, and your E-mail address for the password. You can change and list directories with 'cd' and 'dir', respectively, and download files to your system using 'get'. Be sure to specify either 'binary' if you are getting a program, or 'ascii' for a text file before you begin the download. ----- In addition to the sites listed below there are hundreds of other FTP sites on INet with interesting files covering every topic imaginable. Take some time to seek out and explore these too. Enjoy! ----- Host sol.cs.ruu.nl (131.211.80.17) Last updated 00:39 4 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/MIDI/PROGRAMS DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1024 Aug 26 09:58 C64 Location: /pub/MIDI/DOC FILE rw-r--r-- 40183 Jan 19 1993 C64midi-interface.txt Host uceng.uc.edu (129.137.33.1) Last updated 04:38 6 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/wuarchive/systems/cpm/c128 FILE rw-r--r-- 24576 Nov 6 1986 c128-mex.com Location: /pub/wuarchive/systems/cpm/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 1615 Mar 14 1984 c64-cpm.msg FILE rw-r--r-- 1536 Feb 9 1985 c64modem.com FILE rw-r--r-- 4199 Feb 10 1984 c64modem.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19200 Feb 9 1985 md730c64.com FILE rw-r--r-- 2192 Oct 1 1984 md730c64.doc Location: /pub/wuarchive/doc/misc/if-archive/infocom/tools FILE r--r--r-- 5798 Aug 5 14:42 c64todat.tar.Z Host aix370.rrz.uni-koeln.de (134.95.80.1) Location: /.disk2/usenet/comp.archives/auto/comp.sys.cbm DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 384 comp.sys.cbm Host ftp.csv.warwick.ac.uk (137.205.192.5) Last updated 00:00 18 Jan 1994 Location: /pub/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 909 Jan 8 19:52 C64progs.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19558 Jan 8 19:49 backgamm.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 21384 Jan 8 19:49 chequebo.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 11449 Jan 8 19:49 countdow.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 18136 Jan 8 19:49 draughts.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 5011 Jan 8 19:49 loader.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 17423 Jan 8 19:49 whitewas.sfx Descriptions: ============ backgamm - Backgammon board game chequebo - Cheque Book Organiser, written in basic with UK pound sign as currency, but could be changed to suit another. countdow - LOAD"count example",8,1 and watch the countdown during loading. draughts - Draughts board game. loader - Press RESTORE key and MENU on disk will be automatically re-loaded. whitewas - Colour squares board game. Location: /tmp/c64 >Temporary files stored here. If /tmp directory not found, try >again at another time. /tmp directory not always available. Host clover.csv.warwick.ac.uk (137.205.192.6) Last updated 13:29 27 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 812 c64progs.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 73696 c64progs.sfx Host nexus.yorku.ca (130.63.9.66) Last updated 00:00 21 Dec 1993 Location: /pub/Internet-info FILE rw-r--r-- 6308 commodore.ftp >An older version of this listing. Host rigel.acs.oakland.edu (141.210.10.117) Last updated 01:42 3 Sep 1993 Location: /pub2/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1536 Jun 4 1992 c128 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 Location: /pub2/cpm/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 1615 Mar 14 1984 c64-cpm.msg FILE rw-r--r-- 1536 Feb 9 1985 c64modem.com FILE rw-r--r-- 4199 Feb 10 1984 c64modem.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19200 Feb 9 1985 md730c64.com FILE rw-r--r-- 2192 Oct 2 1984 md730c64.doc Host oak.oakland.edu Last updated 00:00 18 Dec 1993 Location: /pub2/cpm >For CP/M software, most all of which will run on the C128. Host src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1) Location: /usenet/comp.archives/auto DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 comp.sys.cbm Location: /usenet/comp.archives DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 commodore-64-128 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 May 3 1991 c64 Location: /media/visual/collections/funet-pics/jpeg/games DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Mar 20 05:48 c64 Location: /media/visual/collections/funet-pics/jpeg/comp/games DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 May 6 03:55 c64 Host tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.112.31) Last updated 04:59 7 Oct 1992 Location: /pub/rz.archiv/simtel/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Sep 21 20:56 c128 Host wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) Last updated 02:40 23 May 1993 Location: /systems/amiga/incoming/misc FILE rw-rw-r-- 21815 Jan 23 14:26 C64View.lha FILE rw-rw-r-- 120 Jan 23 14:26 C64View.readme Location: /mirrors/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1536 Nov 22 1992 c128 Host watsun.cc.columbia.edu (128.59.39.2) Last updated 02:07 8 Sep 1993 Location: /kermit2/old DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 1024 Jul 12 18:30 c64 Location: /kermit/bin Host cs.columbia.edu (128.59.1.2) Last updated 01:29 12 Sep 1993 Location: /archives/mirror1/kermit FILE rw-rw-r-- 15016 Aug 24 1988 c644th.prg.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 733 Sep 29 1992 c64help.txt.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 6095 Sep 29 1992 c64ker1660.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 5904 Sep 29 1992 c64kerfast.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 26484 Sep 29 1992 c64kerv22a.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 42552 Sep 29 1992 c64kerv22b.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 31982 Sep 29 1992 c64slkv22s.sda.gz Host plaza.aarnet.edu.au (139.130.4.6) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /pub/kermit/c FILE r--r--r-- 3073 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.bas FILE r--r--r-- 1547 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.c FILE r--r--r-- 1151 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.clu FILE r--r--r-- 3002 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.for FILE r--r--r-- 3315 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.sim >There are more Kermit files which are not listed. Be sure to >get the complete set of C64/128 Kermit files. Host flubber.cs.umd.edu (128.8.128.99) Last updated 00:00 03 Jan 1994 Location: /rec/newballistic FILE rw-r--r-- 8576 Mar 23 21:21 balistic.c64 -------------------------------- Host f.ms.uky.edu (128.163.128.6) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /archive/c64.zip Host ftp.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) Last updated 06:11 22 Mar 1993 Location: /pub/pics/jpeg/games DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 512 Mar 20 02:07 c64 Location: /pub/misc DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 512 Mar 13 23:30 c64 Location: /pub/kermit DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 1024 Jan 13 1992 c64 Location: /pub/amiga/audio/misc/sid-tunes FILE rw-rw-r-- 671490 Jun 18 1992 C64MusicShow-1.lha FILE rw-rw-r-- 316521 Jun 18 1992 C64MusicShow-2.lha /pub/cbm Host nic.switch.ch (130.59.1.40) Last updated 00:39 31 Aug 1993 Location: /mirror/kermit/bin Host gmdzi.gmd.de (129.26.8.90) Last updated 01:08 1 Aug 1993 Location: /if-archive/infocom/tools FILE rw-rw-r-- 5668 Apr 27 15:00 c64.to.dat Host micros.hensa.ac.uk (148.88.8.84) Location /kermit DIRECTORY rwxr-x--- 1024 Nov 11 09:20 c64 Host wilbur.stanford.edu (36.14.0.36) Location /pub/emulators DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Jun 30 00:57 c64 Host syrinx.umd.edu (128.8.2.114) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /rush/c64-sounds Host tolsun.oulu.fi (130.231.96.16) Last updated 01:53 6 Sep 1993 Location: /pub DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1024 Jul 15 1990 c64 Location: /incoming DIRECTORY --------- 1024 Jun 20 1992 c64 /pub/amiga/4/c64trans.zoo /pub/c64 >Uploading to /pub/c64 is disabled because of lack of disk space. >However, for downloading it is still fully accessible. >Currently there is no administration for /pub/c64. >/pub/amiga is active, though. Host ccosun.caltech.edu (131.215.139.2) Last updated 00:00 31 JAN 1994 Location: /pub/rknop Location: /pub/rknop/misc > 64/128 programs can be found within directories according to > function. When searching, be sure to check related directories. Host ucsd.edu (128.54.16.1) Last updated 04:46 6 Sep 1993 Location: /midi/software DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Jan 27 1992 c64 Host cs.dal.ca (129.173.4.5) Last updated 01:36 12 Sep 1993 Location: /comp.archives DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 3584 Apr 7 04:05 c64 pub/comp.archives/comp.sys.cbm Host ccnga.uwaterloo.ca Last updated 00:00 01 Jan 1994 Location: /pub/cbm/vbm110.uua > For VBM Bitmap Viewer version 1.10 Host bert.psyc.upei.ca Last updated 00:00 31 Jan 1994 Location: /pub > All the releases of the major demo parties of '93 -------------------------------- Send all info regarding changes/additions/corrections [to the FTP list] to: 72560.3467@CompuServe.COM or: h.herman1@GEnie.geis.COM