Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why write fTelnet?

    For awhile now I've toyed with the idea of modifying GameSrv to allow for tighter integration with the web. Basically I wanted to have a telnet client embedded in a webpage, and have it automatically log the user in and run a door without the need for them to do anything. For the longest time, the Java Telnet Applet was the best way to embed a telnet client on a webpage, and anybody who's used it knows it was far from an ideal solution. Then early last year an excellent replacement arrived in Peter Nitsch's FlashTerm, but unfortunately it's missing a key feature I need...

    That said, I also suffer a little from Not Invented Here syndrome, so possibly would have tackled the task even if either of the previous two applications satisfied the needs of GameSrv's tighter web integration. I always like a challenge, and enjoy working with new languages and environments.

  2. Why only support YModem-G file transfers?

    This probably should be #1 in the list, because it is the most commonly asked question. The simple truth is that while ZModem is superior, and everyone's favourite, it's also far more complicated than YModem. And I chose to specifically implement a single variant called YModem-G because again, it's more simple due to the fact that ACKing is not required.

    Synchronet is by far the most popular BBS package out there, and I tested it extensively with it's implementation of YModem-G, so I know it's going to work well for the majority of people.

  3. Why do I have to save each downloaded file manually/individually?

    Sorry, this is a limitation of flash. It won't let me automatically save files to your hard-drive, you have to initiate the action by clicking Save xyz for each file you download.

  4. Why won't you implement a full-screen mode?

    Sorry, same story as above. Flash programs are limited to handling a very small subset of keypresses in full-screen mode, which makes BBSing virtually impossible.

  5. Why do I need a socket policy server?

    Starting to sound like a broken record here, but it's yet another limitation of flash. I can't just have the telnet client connect to any host I/you want, the server has to specifically allow it. It's a silly requirement that I see no point in, but I don't make the rules.