At 09:38 PM 8/18/98 +0300, you wrote:
>] Software is not important to standardize. But it can be usefull to
>] distribute a sample/default protocol so that software developers can
>] create software with less effort.
>
>Huh? Ever heard of the internet? The only reason that it works is because
>the protocols are standardised!
I was talking specifically about software for the joystick network (vote
for JoyNet! ;). I am actually very much in favor of standardized protocols,
but I think it would be overkill in this case.
The only situation I can think of where it is usefull to standardize the
protocol, is when not all computers in the network are running the same
program.
Remember that the network needs to forward messages to the next computer,
if one computer doesn't forward the network won't work. The forwarding
would be done by the standardized protocol. But that means the protocol
would have to be running at all times, not just when a program uses it. So
a TSR should be made. But even a TSR will stop during disk loading
(interrupts disabled) or during booting (a lot of MSX programs have no
"quit" option, so reboots happen quite often).
A special case where a computer doesn't forward messages, is when it is
turned off. Using the joystick network as a normal LAN would require all
participating computers to be turned on and running the protocol at all times.
If we really want an MSX LAN, it would be a good idea to invest in more
appropriate hardware first. The joystick network is simple and cheap and
good enough to play games. But I don't think it's practical to use it for
the kind of things you described.
Bye,
Maarten
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