Bootstrapping modern file-transfer tools...

[Tom Jennings]

I'm trying to find a way to get a modern file-transfer protocol
program into my Nova 4/X.

I'm close to abandoning the Kermit source I have for Data General
RDOS... I got it from U Columbia's Kermit site; it's the FORTRAN5
output of a RATFOR preprocessor, there's no RATFOR source, and
though it compiles, it seems to not talk to the console. Since
it's algorithmic output it's very hard to read.

On simulogics.com is a KERMIT in dump format (similar to LBR
files, functionally) but it's binary.

I've got a decent FORTRAN IV compiler, what I can't find is a
FORTRAN IV kermit. There's a bunch of mainframey fortran kermits,
but no one seems to think about portability (eg. putting all the
console/serial I/O in stub functions) and none are careful to use
portable libraries, and all that.

Worse, Kermit seems to have abandoned the idea of a bootstrap
system (except for one unix version) with utterly base-minimal
compliance and features.


Anyone have code?

I am considering writing a proprietary system that transfers
fixed-length line-oriented blocks consisting only of ASCII numbers
and line control; real FORTRAN IV doesn't do text (some
proprietary libraries do).

The only thing I have now is minicom as terminal emulator.
sending/receiving paced ASCII67 text (thanks Jules for the tip on
ascii-xfer).