Public Domain Software by Jim Ferr, Scott Johnson, & Frank Kucharski.
Special thanks to Lon Seidman, Mike Whalen and Todd Holcomb.
Warp Six is BBS software for the Apple //e and ][gs computers. This page is to
keep those of you who are interested abreast of developments. Warp
Six is PUBLIC DOMAIN software, which means it is FREE. It may be
used, distributed, modified, and mangled to your heart's content.
WARP 6 BBS ARCHIVES
Download Shareware version 8.7 (SHK) HERE
(No longer collecting shareware fees. Archived for historical purposes.)
Download public domain version 2.2 (SHK) HERE
Download public domain version 2.5 (SHK) HERE
Download public domain version 2.5 source (SHK) HERE
(Source code for the machine language portions of W6)
Download public domain version 3.0 (SHK) HERE
Download public domain version 3.0 source (SHK) HERE
(Source code for the machine language portions of W6)
WARP 6 DOOR GAMES
I am currently working on the new
release (V3.0) with Jim Ferr's blessings (now available above). Jim is the original
author of the Warp Six BBS software, but has moved on to
the Mac world pretty much since he got his promotion from Apple Canada's
"Technical Response Group" to "Information Systems & Technology". His official
job title is "Programmer Analyst" but he actually has four jobs:
database administration, network support, telecom support, & desktop
support (belated congratulations, Jim!). He has
agreed to continue to work on the Modem drivers and other assembly
portions of the software but is trying real hard to pass the Applesoft
portion of the program on to others of us who have an interest. Frank
Kucharski and I (Scott
Johnson) were chosen to continue the Warp Six tradition. (Frank has
passed away several years ago)
Version 3.0 is close to release now (available above). I have been trying real hard
to find time to finish up the installer and the docs (done). The beta has
been running on my BBS for a few months now and I think all the bugs
have been found and fixed. I apologize for taking so long to get this
done, but unfortunately I have to work for a living. PD software just
doesn't pay the bills... I have some vacation coming so hang in there.
I have a feature list
for version 3.0 posted here now. This update doesn't
have a whole lot of new stuff for the end user, but I have crammed
quite a few goodies in for the sysop and a few of the existing features
have been tweaked for speed, such as the user list sorting routines. There
are also a couple of things Jim was working on that have been polished and
more integrated into the package.
Frank has been working on the file libraries but it doesn't look like he will have it finished in time to release those updates with
version 3.0. We'll get that into the next release (Frank's work passed with him. No current plans for file transfer changes).
HANG IN THERE FOLKS! We are still working on it! (I am working With the sysop of Captain's Quarters {Telnet to
CQBBS.DDNS.NET port 6502} on a few things for a minor release at some point) and I've added some games above that have been converted
to run under Warp6 as door games.
UPDATE 1/13/2019: We have solved the issue with file transfers. It turns out that Warp6 was doing it right all along. The problem is with
the Telnet clients. Apparently when Telnet does a file transfer, it does some sort of translation on the data as it is transfered. When using
SyncTerm on a PC, you must choose RAW instead of Telnet when selecting the connection type. Other clients probably have the same issue. Look for
a RAW type or something similar.
UPDATE 10/5/2018: After further testing, it apears that transfers don't work with Telnet programs such as SynchTERM. If you connect
with a real Apple running ProTerm then transfers seem to work OK. I have no idea why. As I stated earlier, I doubt we will put much effort
into figuring this out or fixing it. If you're using real Apple ][ hardware then your downloads should work. If you are using a PC or Mac then
they won't but you can easily find what you need elsewhere on the Net.
UPDATE 5/10/2017: Looks like we have things sorted out finally. This looks like a full V3.0 release! WooHoo!!!
UPDATE 4/24/2017: Things seem to be running well. Still looking at file transfers. Not looking real promising right now. Squashed more bugs
and updated more docs to update or fix errors.
I rewrote the updater program. It is now a single file instead of 2 and has some added intelligence.I was having trouble with the end of the basic file
getting clobbered when binary files were loaded. I found that I could load the binaries, then CHAIN to the same Applesoft program at the next line
and it would fix the tail end of the program that got clobbered. It just really bugged me that I needed 2 small files to get it done.
Through all the testing, we know approximately how much free space is needed so UPDATER checks the BBS volume to see if it's available. More user
prompts so they can follow along and know what's happening. If you're running any faster than 1mhz then you'll need to read fast. It rolls right
along till it hits the file copy section. Testing is all done on Kegs32. Run time at 1 mhz launching from the desktop and returning to the desktop
(I know. Unrealistic. GSOS doesn't run on a //e) is just under 3 minutes. Booting only ProDOS and running it would be closer to 2 minutes. Run
time at 2.8mhz Desktop to desktop is 1:09. At 8mhz it's 24 seconds, and at full emulator speed it's 10 seconds flat. A floppy will slow things
down some...
UPDATE 4/10/2017: We have sorted out the cabling issues for the ][gs modem port and for the //e running a Super Serial Card. It took a small tweak
to the drivers to get things up and running properly. Testing is proceeding and progress is being made. We've even managed to squash a few bugs along
the way as well!
We think we know what's going on with file transfers and Jim is looking into a fix for that. Right now they will work sometimes and others not so
much. We THINK it has to do with the basic difference between a modem to modem connection and an Internet connection. With a direct connection, file packets will
always arrive in the proper order. On the Internet, packets can leap frog over each other because packets can be directed along different routes. The BBS
file transfer protocols have nothing in place to reorder the packets. They just know that packet 4 comes after packet 3 and if that's not what shows up, then
it replies with a NAK instead of an ACK. It never seems to recover once this happens. With all the file archives available on the Internet, I don't feel this
is a deal breaker, but we'll see if Jim can fix it.
UPDATE 2/5/2017: Someone else is showing some interest in playing with Warp Six, so here we go. In my digging around, I have found a
couple more versions of Warp Six both on the net and on my old hard drive. I've posted them here for anyone who might want them.
We're basically at the same point that Lon made it to, but Mike Whalen looks like he's interested in taking things further. We're currently
discussing exactly what hardware and cables he is using so we can put together a proper modem cable. Hopefully that will get us past the issues with
resetting the bbs when a user drops carrier (leaves without a proper logoff) and getting the modem (Raspberry Pi running Tcpser) to initialize
in version 3.0. If that happens then the sky is the limit!
UPDATE 5/20/2013: We're having issues with the update in this configuration using the Raspberry Pi. For some reason the Pi is not
initializing. We're trying to work our way through this issue. Lon is currently running version 2.2 sucessfully. I've put version 2.2 on this
site as well for this reason. I don't think Lon is running a modified modem cable with his system. If you want to play with Warp Six in this
same comfiguration, I suggest using v2.2 for the time being. Once we have things figured out for version 3, I will post results here and fix
the update package if needed.
UPDATE 5/18/2013: I've done some more work on the update package. I totally rewrote the updater. It now does everything for you. No
more copying files manually. I also got the quote working again. Every time you logon it gives you a cute saying. There's over 1600 of them
in the file so you shouldn't see repeats very often. I generate a random number to display them so it could happen now and then.
UPDATE 4/26/2013: I've had a spurt of interest in some of the old Apple ][ stuff and found a BBS running Warp Six over the internet.
See a video about The Matrix and how he's doing it HERE. Due to this find I have put in
some more work on version 3.0. It is still beta but it now has an updater program. As always, it is Public Domain and free to use, modify,
abuse, or mangle to your heart's content. If you do have an interest in playing with version 3.0, you'll need to install version 2.2 or later
and then update it to 3.0 using the package above.
UPDATE 12/16/2001: I am no longer working on nor running Warp Six software.
The internet has taken over... :(
Send mail to me at: Scott@IowaJohnsons.com
Changes last made on: Sun Jan 13, 2019