Thank you for expressing interest in the BASNet. BASNet is a network specializing in BASIC programming. It is not limited to a single version of BASIC or to a single compiler vendor. The network will consist of 20 conference. These conference fall into two broad groupings: 1-10 BASIC Language from generic to specific topic conferences 11-20 BASIC Vendors --conference for and by a vendor of software products relating to BASIC At a later date we may expand although this will be resisted. > 21 Added vendors at such time needed > 30 Special projects area if 1-10 fills and space is needed Initial Conferences: 1 BASIC SNIPPETS Aimed at accumulating a collection of short subprograms that perform a usable task. The collection can then be discussed in this area and additional knowledge imparted for the group benefit. 2 BASIC Chit-Chat An unstructured area to discuss everyone's favorite programming language. It will also contain general information and announcements for the group as a whole. It is the only conference area where general, informational postings may be left. 3 BASIC Novice A help forum for the novice programmer. This is the place to discuss all those "dumb" questions that we all had when we began our programming efforts. 4 Visual BASIC It may be all BASIC programmers next language. It currently runs only under windows and is event driven. 5 Low Level--ASM and INTERRUPT Getting intimate with the hardware, BIOS and Operating System 6 Doors and Communications Discuss the problems and pitfalls of programming communications programs 7 Consulting A place for those who earn their living writing BASIC code 8 Utilities Writing system level utilities in QB and the librarys that assist in those goals--PDQ and QBTiny 9 Hardware Every programmer needs to know about that necessary evil. Talk about getting intimate with ports and chips. Potential violance makes this one R-rated... 14 Crescent--Commercial Vendor 15 TeraTech--Commercial Vendor 16 Hanlin Software Talk to the author of the shareware library that started it all. Tom's first library was for QB when most QB users still used line numbers. 17 Power BASIC The "other" BASIC from Spectra Publishing. There are a lot of added features to lure a QB programmer into the fold. 18 VENDOR a place for vendors to meet users. Also a place for those vendors who don't want to maintain a separate conference of their own or who's conference was discontinued. Advertising is welcome on any remotely related BASIC products. 19 Off-Topic A place for your ads, graphics or whatever that's not allowed in the "real" conferences. 20 HUB will be used as a temporary startup conference. A place where the startup details can be ironed out. This (and all conferences) will be public and no private administrative or sysop conference is contemplated. Proposed/Potential conference additions: PROJECTS Temporarily assigned for group projects that might be of interest to various participants VENDOR CONFERENCES ANY vendor may have a conference. He becomes the de facto host. He keeps the conference as long as it remains an active forum. The net will make available areas 11-20 as vendor conferences and, after filling, the least active conference will be on the bubble for Network Operations: The network's primary hub will be The Toolkit BBS located in Northwest Indiana--near Chicago (219)696-3415 HST Dual Standard The network will be based on the QNET/RNET packet handling systems. FIDO afficinados can use the primary hub for that mail standard-- COM-DAT BBS (503)681-0543 HST or (503)640-0728 V32b Becoming a member BBS: All boards are welcome to become members of this network. This is without an approval process or any voting and multiple boards in the same calling area are able to carry the conferences. Becoming a member HUB: Any node willing to provide access to their regional compatriots is welcome to begin operating as a HUB. They may not charge for the echo but may charge for basic access. Any node not interested in such a program is welcome to call another HUB and the primary HUB (Toolkit) will always grant free mail access. Conference Hosts: Each conference area will decide on a conference host. This is by open ballot within the conference. Any host may also be removed based on similar voting--the majority of those voting to rule. Network Rules: The network will run without imposing any major restrictions. The following rules will apply and all attempts will be made to avoid adding more: 1. Limit Quoting Overquoting causes unnecessary expense to the sysop--who's typically absorbing the cost of frequent LD calls to provide the messages to the participants. Please always keep that in mind when quoting along with the axiom LESS IS MORE> 2. Personal Attacks are unacceptable. If a participant develops a reputation for such acts, his local system will be asked to remove him from the echo for a period of time as a cooling off period. If after such a period such attacks are resumed the system will be required by the network to remove his access to the BASNET. 3. No ANSI graphics except in OFF-TOPIC Cross-network echoing: Any other network is welcome to echo any or all of the conferences. Their only requirement is that they assure that their member boards will support the limited rules and not impose additional rules on the participating boards concerning these conferences. BBS requirements/request: Upon becoming a member the member bbs is asked to: Make available the network packet for users as a free download and request its downloading by all those who they are provide with access to these conference. Report their participation to The Toolkit via a private message to the sysop of their status and any status changes. This message to include: BBS Name Sysop Name Phone Number Location Modem used BBS software Short (3-line max) Bio of the board Conference carried It should be provided in format: Set up the bulletin group for the associated conferences. These bulletins are standard information for the conference participants and maintain by the conference host via the main hubs. If you bbs software does not permit conference bulletins, they may be carried as part of the network packet or as a separate archive. Two types of board will be supported. Partial participants--those boards who carry only part of the conferences being made available. FULL participating boards will setup a block of conference and include all active and inactive conferences as a block. This allows for quick setup of new or temporary conferences THE TOOLKIT BBS Ken Prevo Lowell, IN 219-696-3415 HST DS ALL Conf. The Toolkit is a programmer and power user board carrying every possible file for the BASIC programmer as well as an eclectic mix sure to warm the cockles of all computer users. 1.2+ gigabytes of files always available. This information will be added to the list of boards carrying the echo and will become part of the network packet. Files that will be available for download distribution from The Toolkit. QBBlt##.ARJ -- bulletins associated with conference ## BASNET.ARJ -- a packet for sysop and users about the net and its operation. QB!##!##.ARJ -- the archived messages from the conferences IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, The Toolkit BBS is at 219-696-3415. The board is a call-back system. If you are interested but it's a one-shot call, you can quickly get on the board's mini area using HANLIN SOFTWARE as the name and SHAREWARE as the password. This will allow you to leave a message to the sysop--be sure to sign it with your real name as the message source is always shown with the erzatz name you're loggin on under. I may also set up a special network area and if that's done you'll see info about it at the time of logon.