From - Mon Sep 15 13:17:22 1997 Path: netaxs.com!news-xfer.netaxs.com!feed1.news.erols.com!news.voicenet.com!gsl-penn-ns.gsl.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!uwm.edu!news.he.net!news.pagesat.net!news2.c4systm.com!news.c4systm.com!darkcastle.ecore.fnet.org From: Dark_Dude@darkcastle.ecore.fnet.org (Dark_Dude) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: METAL/ Futurevision Date: 14 Sep 1997 09:48:21 -0400 Organization: Futurenet - Dark Castle (+31-320-281471) >>NEW NUMBER<< Lines: 58 Sender: uantimat@news.c4systm.com Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: werthur.c4systm.com Xref: netaxs.com comp.sys.apple2:122188 Hi, I didn't get the original message on this BBS, but read it with Lynx on unix. I'm replying here, because lynx didn't allow me to. To refresh memories, I answered to a message about a METAL/FutureVision BBS package that is available through me. The reply I got, but missed, read that he (Bill?) wasn't interested in a pre-configured system. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First, I'd like to say that who-ever receives a copy of my BBS, will get it without any stuff that is related to my userbase, messagebase, or filebase. Any Dark Castle BBS-personal files will be deleted. What you get, is a fine-tuned system. The FutureVision package that is available on internet is a BETA release. Only the betatesters will receive support, and those 'outside the group will be silently ignored', as can be read on the ftp.fammed.ohio-state.edu METAL/FV ftp site. Some history: over 2 years ago, this beta version was released. Subsequently some updates, and fixes appeared. Then the -at that time- author quit, and gave the sourcecodes to someone else, who hasn't been updating ever since. In the mean time, many FV sysops left, and gave up their BBS's. However, a few got left, like me, David Miller, Tony Diaz, and Magnus Ericson from Sweden. Most of us, and alot other who've already left the scene, encountered bugs, and reported them, or fixed them. Over a hundred bugs have been fixed. In the mean time, I discovered other bugs, and fixed them too. I also received bugfixes from others. In other words: if someone downloads the beta version from internet, he/ she'll have to re-fix all those bugs, while they have already been fixed. For the sake of convergion, I posted a message that anyone could get a fine-tuned copy from me. Otherwise we'll have a great number of different versions out there. Plans are to get together, and fix all things that still need to be fixed, and release one 4.2 version, available to the public. However, anyone is free to download a copy. But I tell you: it's not easy to get it all working. I had already had a METAL/FV BBS for over a year when the update was released, but it took me (in total) over 500 hours to get what I have now. [Side note: that includes everything I programmed myself, as external doors, etcetera] If anyone wants information, updates or fixes, please contact someone who's still running a METAL/FV BBS. You may always email me, but I'm sure there are more sysops around who are more experienced than I am. I'm just a dude from Holland, and I do not have any rights towards METAL/FV. I'm just willing to help anyone with any problem. Please contact me at dboomsma@sci.kun.nl or finger me there for more information. --Doede publisher of Dark Castle Magazine - "for your Apple II only!" -- "It's not who is right, but who is left".