Writing a PLATO terminal for IRATA.ONLINE for STs

[tschak909]

Hello, I'm the systems operator for http://www.irata.online/an on-line service for retro-computing enthusiasts.

 

As part of this service, it is possible to write terminals for this service, due to the unique protocol used.

 

I have attached a definition of the protocol used on port 8005 of this service, and there is example source code on the website (the pterm source), which can be used as a reference.

 

As I am currently working on the Android version of this terminal, I wanted to see if anyone else was interested in implementing a portal to a truly unique system and piece of preserved history?

 

-Thom

s0ascers.txt

[ggn]

Hi,

 

Comms were never my strong suit so I'm not inclined to help. Never heard of the PLATO system before, it looks interesting.

 

In any case, if anyone wants to help I found source code in a repository I maintain that implements a barebones terminal emulator for the Atari ST. It can be found here: https://github.com/ggnkua/Atari_ST_Sources/tree/master/C/Michael%20Bernards

 

Good luck with this project!

[tschak909]

Is there a well defined solution for bridging an ST to the internet?

 

What's the most common set of options on this side of the community?

 

-Thom

[ggn]

Off the top of my head (there could be more):

 

- A cheap as chips way using the ESP8266 http://atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=31586

- A device called CosmosEx (http://joo.kie.sk/?page_id=384) - much more expensive, and not available for the moment.

[tschak909]

ok, got it.

 

-Thom

[Fletch]

Thom,

 

There is also NetUSBee ethernet https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=46

 

coupled with the Sting IP stack http://hardware.atari.org/manuals/netsting.htm

 

This is the solution I use on my Atari Falcon and TT030.

 

-Pete

Edited March 27, 2018 by Fletch

[tschak909]

Ok. Understood. I see references to sting.. As near as I can tell, the terminal would have two options:

 

* Serial (for 8266's and the like)

* Network (for STING and the like)

I can help implement the protocol side of things, and help bring the whole project together. What this needs is somebody well versed enough in doing ST apps in C that can handle the display output, particularly:

 

* scaling to the target window resolution from the original PLATO resolution (512x512)

* Keeping track of mapped palette colors, as PLATO uses a 24-bit color space.

* Low level networking and serial comms

 

I am currently finishing up the first version of the Android terminal, so my role here is to try and get interested people in to try the IRATA.ONLINE system, show what's possible, and foster interest to make usable terminal programs, since this is truly a unique online service that has been resurrected from the dead, nothing like it.

 

-Thom

[tschak909]

I've scheduled two more Google meets for:

 

Saturday, April 14th, 10am to 12pm

Sunday, April 15th, 10am to 12pm

 

Details on the website.

 

-Thom

[tschak909]

Next IRATA.ONLINE meets are on Apr 21, and Apr 22, at 10am to 12pm CDT for both days. Google Meet links on http://www.irata.online/

 

I really want to talk to Atari ST programmers, at the meet, so we can start getting a terminal implemented for ST's to connect to this service.

 

-Thom

[tschak909]

Ok, I've now moved the meets to a self hosted service running on the same server as the main service:

https://meet.irata.online/demomeet This will be used starting with the demo meet, tomorrow.

 

Links on the website have been updated.

 

-Thom

 

p.s. would really like to see some ST users.