Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!bradch
From: bradch@microsoft.UUCP (Bradford Christian ms1)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: I wanna have a DOSGate!
Summary: I'll have one, want a copy?
Keywords: Citadel, DOSGate, door, bbs
Message-ID: <5866@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 6 Jun 89 05:23:59 GMT
References: <16317@gryphon.COM>
Reply-To: bradch@microsoft.UUCP (Bradford Christian ms1)
Distribution: na
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 35

[is the line eater still alive???]

I think I'm confused about what is really wanted here...  You have a BBS and
want to let the user run a CLI-style program, right?  You can't use AUX:
because you need to be doing other things like checking for carrier and
time-up, etc. (and besides, AUX: doesn't do raw), right?  If so, then I
guess I'm not confused.  If that's not it, quickly press N now :-)

I am about to do something similar for the Amiga port of Citadel which I'm
working on.  I also want the ability to log everything the user does with
said program (which might be a shell).  Something similar to the Unix tee
would be real nice.

I'll be writing a DOS device handler that can simulate CON: (including the
special packet to switch to RAW: and back).  This handler will allow a 
program to be run with all of its output going to the serial port and the
console and it's input coming from the serial port or keyboard.

The handler will be handled the same way the window, serial port, and timer
are already handled (GetMsg(), DealWithMsg(), etc.) and the host (BBS) will
be able to simulate ^C-^F to stop the program if necessary.

There is really nothing magical about doing this (unless you don't own an
Amiga ;^)  and if I understand the problem here, this is (IMHO) the
BEST solution.  I don't have it in front of me, but I believe the DOS
handler I put into my editor was only about 30-40 lines of C.

I expect to have this written and working in a couple of weeks (it's a
background project) so if anyone is interested in the code, send me
mail and you'll get it as soon as it's done.  If there is enough interest,
I'll just post it...
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		   This has nothing	* | * "It's not just a sign,
	BradCh	      to do with	*/|\*    it's a way of life."
		      Microsoft.	 ***