Date sent: 15 Mar 1999 10:26:20 +0100
From: Jonathan NAYLOR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: djk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>(IPM Return requested)
Copies to: linux-hams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>(IPM Return requested)
Subject: Re: Netrom
> > Which at means that even Software 2000 could tell the difference between a
> > program written in (mainly) C code (TheNet) for Z80 and one written in pure
> > 8086 assembler (BPQ). Incidentally BPQ source is not in the public domain (it
> > contains a number of bits of what John regards as proprietary [= not
> > his to give away] software). However, the result is most definitely FREE.
>
> Since I have a copy of the G8BPQ source code, and know John quite well (I wrote
> the frame monitoring code in it) ...
>
> His reason for not releasing the source was to stop being hassled when people
> made changes to the code. Being a TSR means that writing the code and debugging
> it it not easy. There was at least one amateur in that period (late 80s) who took
> code and modified it, his copy of the TheNet said something different and so did
> his BBS. So in order to reduce "support problems" he decided to keep the code to
> himself so that he wouldn't have to debug someone elses bugs.
>
> What is interesting having seen the open source become established, I don't think
> John had mush to worry about. Relatively few people play with the code, and those
> that do, tend to know what they are doing.
>
> As a matter of history the first versions of BPQ came with source because hardware
> configuration was done by editing the assembly code ! And the reason why John wrote
> his code in the first place was that we both bought Pac-Com PC-120s which came with
> no software (late 1987). Fun days. I also remember him making an old very very dumb
> telephone modem send packets around the same time.
>
> Jonathan
>
