Actually, I anticipate other Unix-like os flavors of Synchronet too, so this post doesn't just apply to Synchronet for Linux.

One of major incompatibilties I've come across in porting Synchronet to a Unix-like OS (Linux) is file/directory name case sensitivity and use of backslash as the path delimiter.

These "incompatibilities" existed both in the Synchronet C/C++ source code as well as the various command shells and loadable modules (EXEC/*.src) included with Synchronet.

In the C/C++ source code, I've switched to using lowercase path and filenames only and slashes (instead of backslahses) as path delimiters. These are backwards compatible with DOSish file systems (e.g. FAT16/32, HPFS, NTFS). I've also had to go through the command shells and change backslashes to forward slashes and convert path and filenames to lowercase.

While it is not strictly necessary to convert path and filenames to lowercase (as long as they were specified with a consistent case), uppercase filenames
on Unix file systems typically denote special files, and are discouraged for general use (as well as being considered "ugly"). Rather than trying to create a "strategy" of which filenames should be uppercase and which should be lowercase (or even mixed case), I've generally just converted (almost) EVERYTHING to lowercase. Compatibility with DOSemu file systems hasn't been determined, so drop files for DOS doors (for example), may need to be created in upper case.

It is however, REQUIRED that forward slashes be used in paths instead of backslashes. And lucky for us, Microsoft has always maintained Unix-style slash compatibility at the system level, so there will be no incompatibilities with DOSish file systems when forward slashes are used.

So, basically, this is a heads-up to Baja programmers (and door programmers for that matter), using consistently lowercase paths and filenames and forward slashes as path delimiters in your modules and programs will allow them to be compatible with BOTH DOS-based and Unix-based platforms.

Rob

RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: Digital Man to All on Wed Nov 08 2000 01:39 pm

lowercase (or even mixed case), I've generally just converted (almost) EVERYTHING to lowercase. Compatibility with DOSemu file systems hasn't been determined, so drop files for DOS doors (for example), may need to be create in upper case.

Does this mean we will be able to run our dos door games on the Linux boxes with Sync?
TK

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RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: TommyKnocker to Digital Man on Thu Nov 09 2000 06:28 pm

Does this mean we will be able to run our dos door games on the Linux boxes with Sync?

You should be able to. There's several *nix systems doing this with DOSemu. I'm not sure how Rob plans to implement it though, hopefully it won't be very difficult.

Worst case scenario I guess you could use RLogin from the Linux box to a Win32 box running Sync as well for doors.

PG

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■ Synchronet ■ WasteLand BBS ■ telnet://wasteland.darktech.org

RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: TommyKnocker to Digital Man on Thu Nov 09 2000 06:28 pm

lowercase (or even mixed case), I've generally just converted (almost) EVERYTHING to lowercase. Compatibility with DOSemu file systems hasn't be determined, so drop files for DOS doors (for example), may need to be cre in upper case.

Does this mean we will be able to run our dos door games on the Linux boxes with Sync?

Eventually. :-)

Rob

RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: TommyKnocker to Digital Man on Thu Nov 09 2000 06:28 pm

Does this mean we will be able to run our dos door games on the Linux boxes with Sync?

I have a feeling that DOSemu and FreeDOS will play a part in thre answer to that question.

RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: Digital Man to TommyKnocker on Fri Nov 10 2000 12:34 am

RE: SBBS4Linux compatibility
BY: TommyKnocker to Digital Man on Thu Nov 09 2000 06:28 pm

lowercase (or even mixed case), I've generally just converted (almost) EVERYTHING to lowercase. Compatibility with DOSemu file systems hasn't determined, so drop files for DOS doors (for example), may need to be in upper case.

Does this mean we will be able to run our dos door games on the Li boxes with Sync?

Eventually. :-)

Rob

Excellent!!! Best news since the day you and I talked and you told me you was working on Synchronet again.
TK

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