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PLATOTERM 1.3 for Atari 8-bit - Static driver test

19 Sep 22:26
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PLATOTERM Disk Version 1.3 with Static Drivers

About this test release

This particular release is intended to test the viability of putting every supported touch driver into the binary, instead of loading it dynamically.

Please test with every OS/hardware configuration you can, and report results in the issues tab.

There are still issues with switching drivers, you still have to reload PLATOTERM if you switch.


What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.


What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.


WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.


What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.


What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.


What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.


Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
CR and LF Select RETURN

Pressing the function keys will cycle through all possible color values.

Credits

  • '''Thomas Cherryhomes''' - Terminal coding, sleepless nights.
  • '''Steve Peltz''' - original PAD protocol decoder from MacPAD.
  • '''Christian Groessler''' - multiply funcs for Atari, lots of testing
  • '''Jon Halliday''' - Fast text output routines for Atari
  • '''Ron Klein''' - Testing, testing, and more testing
    ' '''Sijmen Schouten''' - FAST I/O and R-Verter support! Testing, testing, and more testing.
  • '''Michael Sternberg''' - Apple2 testing, showing off at Kansasfest 2018
  • '''The.Doctor''' - Help tuning XON/XOFF parameters.
  • '''John Buell''' - Testing
  • '''John Manterola''' - Testing
  • '''Jasmaz''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Paul Rickards''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Glenn Wiorek''' - Commodore 64 testing.
  • '''Rory McMahon''' - Testing

PLATOTERM for Commodore 64 Computers - Version 1.3

31 Aug 22:33
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PLATOTerm Version 1.3 for Commodore 64

New in This Release

  • Limited color support for text in standard PLATO system colors (removed because up2400 crashes, argh!)
  • Fully debugged character set processing routines

What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.

What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.

WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.

What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.

What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.

What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.

Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

Files on the Disk:

  • PLATOTERM - The main program.
  • GPL-3.0 - A runnable viewable copy of the GPL 3.0 license.
  • MOU-1351 - The Commodore 1351 mouse driver
  • MOU-INKWELL - The Inkwell light pen mouse driver
  • MOU-JOY - The joystick (or commodore 1350) mouse driver
  • MOU-POT - The paddle (or Koala Pad) mouse driver
  • SER-SWLINK - The CMD Swiftlink-232 Serial Driver
  • SER-UP2400 - The User-Port 2400 Baud Serial Driver (C64 Only)

Loading PLATOTerm

PLATOTerm can be loaded in the usual way:

LOAD"*",8,1

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Commodore keys, like so:

PLATO KEY C= Key
ANS COMMODORE-A
BACK COMMODORE-B
SHIFT-BACK COMMODORE-SHIFT-B
COPY COMMODORE-C
SHIFT-COPY COMMODORE-SHIFT-C
DATA COMMODORE-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-COMMODORE-D
EDIT COMMODORE-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-COMMODORE-E
FONT COMMODORE-F
÷ COMMODORE-G
HELP COMMODORE-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT COMMODORE-H
LAB COMMODORE-L
SHIFT-LAB SHIFT-COMMODORE-L
SUPER COMMODORE-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT COMMODORE-P
SQUARE COMMODORE-Q
ACCESS SHIFT COMMODORE-Q
STOP COMMODORE-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT COMMODORE-S
TERM COMMODORE-T
× COMMODORE-X
SUB COMMODORE-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT COMMODORE-Y
  • Background Color - F1
  • Border Color - COMMODORE-F1
  • Text Color - F2
  • Setup - F3

A note about colors

Your desired background color, text color, and border color can be selected, and subsequently saved by selecting S)AVE in the setup menu.

Pressing the function keys will cycle through all possible color values.

Credits

  • '''Thomas Cherryhomes''' - Terminal coding, sleepless nights.
  • '''Steve Peltz''' - original PAD protocol decoder from MacPAD.
  • '''Michael Sternberg''' - Apple2 testing, showing off at Kansasfest 2018
  • '''John Buell''' - Testing
  • '''John Manterola''' - Testing
  • '''Jasmaz''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Paul Rickards''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Glenn Wiorek''' - Commodore 64 testing.

PLATOTERM for Commodore PLUS/4 Smoke Test

29 Apr 23:33
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This is an experimental smoke test build for PLUS/4, and will be removed shortly. Please do not use beyond initial testing. :)

PLATOTERM Lite for Atari 8-bit - Test Version 1.2 with FAST I/O!

14 Apr 15:43
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PLATOTerm Lite Version 1.2 Test Version with FAST-IO!

About this test release

Sijmen Schouten (aka Mr. Atari) has taken a binary build from the upcoming 1.2 release, and has patched it,
adding:

  • Much improved serial I/O! 2400 baud is rock solid stable!
  • Built in R-Verter driver (to support his 8266 WIFI modem, but it will work with any R-Verter device!) that kicks in if no R: handler bootstraps, or is loaded!

A huge thank-you to Sijmen who literally hand-patched the binary to add these features! As these features are working excellent (with noticeable improvement!) on my system, I will be working with him to get the changes folded up-stream to be available in subsequent releases.

About The Atari Lite Release

This is a special version of PLATOTerm, that has been re-organized to fit the code within approximately 16K of space, so that it can be fit onto a cartridge, or with other programs on a disk.

In order to do this, preferences was eliminated completely, and 1200 baud is the only data rate supported. But the upside is, you can flash this onto a cartridge.

Like the larger version, PLATOTerm requires a loaded R: handler. The cartridges are configured to load the DOS first, before jumping into the main program, so any handlers you wish to run, you should be sure they are loaded first (e.g with AUTORUN.SYS).

Since devices like the Atari 850 can autoboot their handler if no disk drive is present, they will also work with the cartridge version. Just be sure that the 850 interface is switched on, before poweron.

R-Verter users must ensure their handler is loaded, before starting PLATOTerm.

The only available hotkeys are:

  • SELECT-T to switch to TTY mode.
  • SELECT-P to switch to PLATO mode.
  • SELECT-X will exit the cartridge to DOS.
  • SELECT-RETURN to send a carriage return and a line feed.

Versions available:

There are file and cartridge versions available for the following touch devices:

  • No mouse support yet, need to find the ROM space! :)

What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.


What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.


WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.


What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.


What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.


What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.


Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
CR and LF Select RETURN

Pressing the function keys will cycle through all possible color values.

Credits

  • '''Thomas Cherryhomes''' - Terminal coding, sleepless nights.
  • '''Steve Peltz''' - original PAD protocol decoder from MacPAD.
  • '''Christian Groessler''' - multiply funcs for Atari, lots of testing
  • '''Jon Halliday''' - Fast text output routines for Atari
  • '''Ron Klein''' - Testing, testing, and more testing
    ' '''Sijmen Schouten''' - FAST I/O and R-Verter support! Testing, testing, and more testing.
  • '''Michael Sternberg''' - Apple2 testing, showing off at Kansasfest 2018
  • '''The.Doctor''' - Help tuning XON/XOFF parameters.
  • '''John Buell''' - Testing
  • '''John Manterola''' - Testing
  • '''Jasmaz''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Paul Rickards''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Glenn Wiorek''' - Commodore 64 testing.
  • '''Rory McMahon''' - Testing

PLATOTerm 1.1 Lite for Atari 8-bit Computers

18 Dec 19:25
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PLATOTerm Lite Version 1.1

About The Atari Lite Release

This is a special version of PLATOTerm, that has been re-organized to fit the code within approximately 16K of space, so that it can be fit onto a cartridge, or with other programs on a disk.

In order to do this, preferences was eliminated completely, and 1200 baud is the only data rate supported. But the upside is, you can flash this onto a cartridge.

Like the larger version, PLATOTerm requires a loaded R: handler. The cartridges are configured to load the DOS first, before jumping into the main program, so any handlers you wish to run, you should be sure they are loaded first (e.g with AUTORUN.SYS).

Since devices like the Atari 850 can autoboot their handler if no disk drive is present, they will also work with the cartridge version. Just be sure that the 850 interface is switched on, before poweron.

R-Verter users must ensure their handler is loaded, before starting PLATOTerm.

The only available hotkeys are:

  • SELECT-T to switch to TTY mode.
  • SELECT-P to switch to PLATO mode.
  • SELECT-X will exit the cartridge to DOS.
  • SELECT-RETURN to send a carriage return and a line feed.

Versions available:

There are file and cartridge versions available for the following touch devices:

  • Amiga mouse
  • standard Joystick
  • Koala/Atari Touch Tablet
  • Atari Trak-Ball
  • Atari ST mouse

What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.


What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.


WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.


What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.


What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.


What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.


Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
CR and LF Select RETURN

Pressing the function keys will cycle through all possible color values.

Credits

  • '''Thomas Cherryhomes''' - Terminal coding, sleepless nights.
  • '''Steve Peltz''' - original PAD protocol decoder from MacPAD.
  • '''Christian Groessler''' - multiply funcs for Atari, lots of testing
  • '''Jon Halliday''' - Fast text output routines for Atari
  • '''Ron Klein''' - Testing, testing, and more testing
    ' '''Sijmen Schouten''' - Testing, testing, and more testing.
  • '''Michael Sternberg''' - Apple2 testing, showing off at Kansasfest 2018
  • '''The.Doctor''' - Help tuning XON/XOFF parameters.
  • '''John Buell''' - Testing
  • '''John Manterola''' - Testing
  • '''Jasmaz''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Paul Rickards''' - Commodore 64 testing
  • '''Glenn Wiorek''' - Commodore 64 testing.
  • '''Rory McMahon''' - Testing

PLATOTerm 1.0 - For Apple II, Atari, Commodore 64, and Commodore 128 Computers

22 Oct 21:14
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PLATOTerm Version 1.0


What is PLATOTerm?

PLATOTerm is a terminal emulator to access CYBIS services now available
on the Internet utilizing a WIFI Modem, or (soon!) an Ethernet device
supported by a Crynwr Packet Driver.

For the purposes of this documentation. PLATO and CYBIS are interchangeable
names for the same platform.


What services are currently available to access via PLATOTerm?

As of writing this preliminary documentation (October 2018), there are
two major CYBIS systems running. CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE.


WHAT IS PLATO? (aka CYBIS?)

(from the PLATO wikipedia page:)

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations), was the first
generalized computer-asisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran
on the University of Illinois ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it
supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running
on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern
concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including
forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages,
instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.


What is CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG is a CYBIS system initially set up in 2004, as a haven for
ex-PLATO users to experience a classic PLATO author experience.

CYBER1.ORG is home to many thousands of classic PLATO lessons and
notesfiles which have been restored from various sources, and have
been made available in the interests of preserving PLATO.


What is IRATA.ONLINE?

IRATA.ONLINE is a CYBIS system that has been set up for the benefit of
the greater vintage computing community, in the interest to provide
a unique experience that can be accessed on a wide variety of
vintage computers with a bitmapped graphics display. To this end,
IRATA.ONLINE develops PLATOTerm for dozens of platforms, so that they
can access CYBIS systems, as well as provide a community and learning
infrastructure for vintage computing users of all types, in the hopes
that as a cohesive community, something unique can hopefully
emerge.


What is the connection between IRATA.ONLINE and CYBER1.ORG?

CYBER1.ORG and IRATA.ONLINE are independent of one another. With that said,
the reason IRATA.ONLINE and PLATOTerm exist, are because of the efforts of
CYBER1.ORG to not only preserve a running PLATO system, and provide the
necessary information for interested parties to write terminal software
to access CYBIS systems, but also in their effort to produce a publically
available distribution of CYBIS that others who are interested may also
run their own CYBIS installation. IRATA.ONLINE is a direct result of the
public release of this distribution.


Connecting to IRATA.ONLINE

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

Connecting to CYBER1.ORG

Once PLATOTerm is started, you can connect to CYBER1.ORG using your WIFI modem,
using a command such as:

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

Apple II Release notes

This version of PLATOTerm can run on any Apple II system with at least 48K of RAM.
The lack of a shift or control key is mitigated by using the ESC key.

Loading PLATOTerm

PLATOTerm automatically loads when the disk is started. There is no need for special
loading instructions.

Files on the disk:

  • PRODOS.SYSTEM - PRODOS 2.4.1 Kernel
  • PLATO.SYSTEM - PLATO program loader.
  • LICENSE.SYSTEM - Load to display GPL license
  • PLATO - PLATO program binary
  • LICENSE - GPL 3.0 program binary
  • A2.SSC.SER - Serial driver for Super Serial Card
  • A2.STDMOU.MOU - Mouse driver for Apple // Mouse Card

Apple II Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped onto the Apple ][ keyboard. CTRL is used to access the special PLATO keys, with ESC acting as a SHIFT key in combination for shifted combinations.

PLATO KEY Apple Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK ESC CTRL-B
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY ESC CTRL-C
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA ESC CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT ESC CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP ESC CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB ESC CTRL-L
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER ESC CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS ESC CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP ESC CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB ESC CTRL-Y
Setup CTRL-Z
Shift Lock (for Apple ][+ ESC ESC
--

For Apple ][+ systems, you can press ESC ESC to toggle and access the lowercase characters.

TBD: Map access keys (lots of special printable characters) onto Apple2 keyboard directly.

Apple2 Default Configuration

  • Super Serial Card in Slot 2
  • 1200 bps

Atari Release Notes

Files on the Disk

  • ATRAMI.MOU - The Amiga Mouse driver
  • ATRJOY.MOU - The Joystick Mouse driver
  • ATRRDEV.SER - The R: device serial driver
  • ATRST.MOU - The Atari ST mouse driver
  • ATRTRK.MOU - The Atari Trackball mouse driver
  • TRKTT.MOU - The Atari Touch Tablet mouse driver
  • AUTORUN.SYS - By default, the Atari 850 R: Handler.
  • DOS.SYS - Atari DOS 2.5 FMS
  • DUP.SYS - Atari DOS 2.5 DUP
  • GPL.COM - Program to read/print GPL 3.0 license
  • GPL.DOC - The License text
  • INSTALL.COM - Program to install PLATOTerm to a Hard Disk
  • MEM.SAV - Memory save file
  • PLATO.COM - PLATOTerm itself. Load this.
  • README.COM - Program Documentation
  • README.DOC - The Documentation text
  • RHND850.COM - The R: Handler for the Atari 850
  • RHNDBB.COM - The R: Handler for CSS Blackbox (Hyperspeed)
  • RHNDMIO.COM - The R: Handler for the ICD MIO (Hyperspeed)
  • RHNDRVER.COM - The R: Handler for the R-Verter

Loading PLATOTerm

PLATOTerm can be loaded by the BINARY LOAD option in DOS 2.5, simply load
PLATO.COM.

'''Note:''' If you need a different R: handler, it should be loaded before PLATO.COM loads.

Touch Devices, and R-Verter Users

Touch (mouse/joystick) support is set to NONE, initially. This is so that R-Verter users can use the software without it crashing. You can not use an R-Verter and a touch, mouse, or joystick device for now. I am looking for a solution to this problem.

850 and other users can press OPTION and select T)ouch, followed by one of the touch drivers, without a problem.

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
Setup OPTION
Exit SELECT X
Color up SELECT -
Color down SELECT =
Bright up Select *
Bright down Select +
CR and LF Select RETURN

Setup

Pressing OPTION will show the setup menu, where you can select the following parameters:

  • I)NTERFACE - Select desired interface (currently only serial)
  • B)AUD - Set baud rate
  • D)RIVER - Set the desired serial driver (currently only R:)
  • T)OUCH - Set the desired touch driver (mouse/joystick/trackball/etc.)
  • S)AVE - Save preferences to disk as a file called CONFIG.
  • E)XIT - Exit preferences, and if changed, apply them.

A note about colors

Your desired background color and text brightness can be selected, and subsequently saved by selecting S)AVE in the setup menu.

Pressing the color up/down or bright up/down will cycle through all possible color values.

Commodore 64/128 Release Notes

Files on the Disk:

  • PLATOTERM - The main program.
  • GPL-3.0 - A runnable viewable copy of the GPL 3.0 license.
  • MOU-1351 - The Commodore 1351 mouse driver
  • MOU-INKWELL - The Inkwell light pen mouse driver
  • MOU-JOY - The joystick (or commodore 1350) mouse driver
  • MOU-POT - The paddle (or Koala Pad) mouse driver
  • SER-SWLINK - The CMD Swiftlink-232 Serial Driver
  • SER-UP2400 - The User-Port 2400 Baud Serial Driver (C64 Only)

Loading PLATOTerm

PLATOTerm can be loaded in the usual way:

LOAD"*",8,1

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Commodore keys, like so:

PLATO KEY C= Key
ANS COMMODORE-A
BACK COMMODORE-B
SHIFT-BACK COMMODORE-SHIFT-B
COPY COMMODORE-C
SHIFT-COPY COMMODORE-SHIFT-C
DATA COMMODORE-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-COMMODORE-D
EDIT COMMODORE-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-COMMODORE-E
FONT COMMODORE-...
Read more

PLATOTerm for Commodore 128 - Smoke Test release.

16 Oct 17:04
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PLATOTerm 1.0 smoke test for Commodore 128 Users with a SwiftLink-232 Interface

Release Notes

This is a smoke test release to make sure it works. Keyboard mapping still needs
work, and lots of other things do too. :)

A 64K VDC and an RGB monitor (e.g. on the Commodore 128D or expanded 128) are required.

Loading

This can be loaded in the usual way:

LOAD "*",8,1��

Using PLATOTerm

PLATOTerm will then display a splash screen, indicating that it is ready for use.

Once you see the splash screen, the terminal is ready for use, and you can send commands to your WIFI modem, to connect to a PLATO service, such as IRATA.ONLINE:

ATDTIRATA.ONLINE:8005

or, CYBER1.ORG

ATDTCYBERSERV.ORG:8005

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Spectrum keys, like so:

PLATO KEY C128 Key
ANS COMMODORE-A
BACK COMMODORE-B
SHIFT-BACK COMMODORE-SHIFT-B
COPY COMMODORE-C
SHIFT-COPY COMMODORE-SHIFT-C
DATA COMMODORE-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-COMMODORE-D
EDIT COMMODORE-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-COMMODORE-E
FONT COMMODORE-F
÷ COMMODORE-G
HELP COMMODORE-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT COMMODORE-H
LAB COMMODORE-L
SHIFT-LAB SHIFT-COMMODORE-L
SUPER COMMODORE-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT COMMODORE-P
SQUARE COMMODORE-Q
ACCESS SHIFT COMMODORE-Q
STOP COMMODORE-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT COMMODORE-S
TERM COMMODORE-T
× COMMODORE-X
SUB COMMODORE-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT COMMODORE-Y

Problems?

This is early release software. If you have problems, please raise an issue, and I will address them and cut a new release. I am releasing this early and often so that everyone can test, and we can in the end, end up with a better piece of software, faster.

PLATOTerm for Atari 8-bit - 20181005 - PLATO and TTY mode toggle.

05 Oct 15:36
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This version adds the following keys:

  • SELECT-T - Force terminal into TTY mode.
  • SELECT-P - Force terminal into PLATO mode.

Please test and let me know how this works. -Thom

Atari pre-alpha - 20180915

14 Sep 23:45
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Pre-release

This pre-release build contains the following changes:

  • Make sure we have proper default config. the 0914 build had incorrect config.
  • Fast text code completed.
  • Lots of tweaking for XON/XOFF handling at 2400 baud. Please test.
  • README.COM and README.DOC for PLATOTerm documentation, can be sent to screen or printer.
  • GPL.COM and GPL.DOC for GPL 3.0 license, can be sent to screen or printer.
  • Distribution disk is now in 1050 format, to accomodate storing a copy of the GPL 3.0 license on disk.
  • RETURN now sends CR and LF in TTY mode (for better modem compatibility)
  • @ # $ % ^ & characters now passed through in TTY mode (for better modem setup compatibility)

Please test, and let me know what you think. Thank you. :)

-Thom

PLATOTerm Atari 8-bit - Fast Text and DOS 2.5

11 Sep 05:19
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This release is built on DOS 2.5, rather than MyDOS 4.53, and the "Handler Setup" tool has been temporarily removed. By default, the Atari 850 handler is loaded as AUTORUN.SYS. If you need to use another handler, rename one of the other handlers as AUTORUN.SYS, and reboot.

The main binary is PLATO, and can be loaded using 'L'

Touch Devices, and R-Verter Users

Touch (mouse/joystick) support is set to NONE, initially. This is so that R-Verter users can use the software without it crashing. You can not use an R-Verter and a touch, mouse, or joystick device for now. I am looking for a solution to this problem.

850 and other users can press OPTION and select T)ouch, followed by one of the touch drivers, without a problem.

R: Handlers

  • RHND850 - The Atari 850 handler
  • RHNDRVER - The BOB-Verter handler for R-Verter
  • RHNDBB - Len Spencer's high-speed Blackbox handler
  • RHNDMIO - Len Spencer's high-speed MIO handler

PLATO Keyboard

The PLATO keyboard is mapped to the Atari keys, like so:

PLATO KEY Atari Key
ANS CTRL-A
BACK CTRL-B
SHIFT-BACK CTRL- + (left arrow)
COPY CTRL-C
SHIFT-COPY CTRL- - (up arrow)
DATA CTRL-D
SHIFT-DATA SHIFT-CTRL-D
EDIT CTRL-E
SHIFT-EDIT SHIFT-CTRL-E
FONT CTRL-F
÷ CTRL-G
HELP CTRL-I
SHIFT-HELP SHIFT CTRL-H
LAB CTRL-L
SHIFT-LAB CTRL-= (down arrow)
SUPER CTRL-P
SHIFT-SUPER SHIFT CTRL-P
SQUARE CTRL-Q
ACCESS SHIFT CTRL-Q
STOP CTRL-S
SHIFT-STOP SHIFT CTRL-S
TERM CTRL-T
× CTRL-X
SUB CTRL-Y
SHIFT-SUB SHIFT CTRL-Y
Setup OPTION
Exit SELECT X
Color up SELECT -
Color down SELECT =
Bright up Select *
Bright down Select +

Setup

Pressing OPTION will show the setup menu, where you can select the following parameters:

  • I)NTERFACE - Select desired interface (currently only serial)
  • B)AUD - Set baud rate
  • D)RIVER - Set the desired serial driver (currently only R:)
  • T)OUCH - Set the desired touch driver (mouse/joystick/trackball/etc.)
  • S)AVE - Save preferences to disk as a file called CONFIG.
  • E)XIT - Exit preferences, and if changed, apply them.

A note about colors

Your desired background color and text brightness can be selected, and subsequently saved by selecting S)AVE in the setup menu.

Pressing the color up/down or bright up/down will cycle through all possible color values.

Pre-release software

This is pre-release software. There are bugs, I would like to hear everyone's experiences with this build, especially since the DOS has changed, and memory layout has also changed, as a result. Please use the github issues section and put your system configuration as part of any issues you may file, and I will directly address them.

Thanks,
-Thom Cherryhomes / IRATA.ONLINE