Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!ntg!dplatt
From: dplatt@ntg.uucp (Dave Platt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Re: UUCP for Mac??
Keywords: UUCP, Mac
Message-ID: <46@goblin.ntg.uucp>
Date: 7 Apr 91 23:29:56 GMT
References: <56@soul.UUCP>
Reply-To: dplatt@ntg.UUCP (Dave Platt)
Organization: New Technologies Group, Inc.  Palo Alto CA
Lines: 50

In article <56@soul.UUCP> ckoch@soul.UUCP (Chriss Koch) writes:
>What UUCP mail programs are available for the Macintosh and what
>are their costs?

There are two I've used myself, and one I've heard of but not used, and
one I've written a part of myself.

uupc 2.1 is a Mac port of a free uucp transport application and a mail
user-agent (reader/writer) called "pcmail".  The interface to both is
non-Mac-like... the programs run in a "glass TTY" mode using the THINK C
"console emulator."  This isn't much of a problem for the uucp program
itself (except that it doesn't run in the MultiFinder background);  I
find the interface to the "pcmail" program to be quite limiting (no real
editing to speak of).  uupc 2.1 supports a three-packet-window protocol
(like most Unix systems), and seems capable of driving a 9600 bps modem
(e.g. V.32) at full speed.  uucp 2.1 is freeware, and is probably
available from the /info-mac archives at SUMEX and from a number of
bulletin-board systems around the country.  Full source code (THINK C)
is available.

Mac/gnuucp (currently at version 4.3, I think) is a Mac port of the GNU
project's uucp transport program.  The uucp program itself is available
at no charge (per the GNU General License).  The fellow who ported it to
the Mac, Jim O'Dell (jim@fpr.com) has written a HyperCard stack which
acts as a flexible mail user agent.  I believe that his stack is
distributed as shareware.  The current version of Mac/gnuucp supports
only a one-packet-wide transfer window... in effect, it's a "stop and
wait" implementation... and as a result its throughput is definitely
inferior to that of uupc 2.1 (it rarely exceeds 240 cps even on a 9600
bps connection).  It will run in the background under MultiFinder.  Jim
is considering adding a 3-packet window to the protocol, but has not
(as far as I know) announced a definite date for the release.

There's a commercial uucp package called "uAccess" or "microAccess", I
believe.  I don't know anything much about it.

I've written a mail user-agent program called "Fernmail" which is
intended to take the place of "pcmail" in the uupc 2.1 product... and
it's also compatible with Mac/gnuucp.  It's modeled somewhat after the
Sun "mailtool" program, and supports multiple windows (mailboxes or
messages-being-composed), has a click-and-drag interface to move
messages between mailboxes, automatically segments large messages into
smaller chunks, and has a built-in BinHex encoder so you can mail
arbitrary binary files.  I'll probably be distributing it as shareware.
Drop me a note at "dplatt@snulbug.mtview.ca.us" if you're interested.

-- 
Dave Platt                                                VOICE: (415) 813-8917
                    UUCP: ...apple!ntg!dplatt
 USNAIL: New Technologies Group Inc. 2468 Embarcardero Way, Palo Alto CA 94303