NeTRUM0Rs History

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Why do you want to look at this? Why do you even want to KNOW this? Beats the
heck outta me...it just seemed like something to do to waste my already
limited and *cough* valuable *cough* time :) So go ahead, read about my
stupid accomplishments with this stupid program :) This will only make real
sense to the sysops that are graciously beta-testing this for me, and putting
up with my stupidity, like with my crappy routines :)

THE TESTERS ARE:

   divine iNsAnItY     (412) 397-8513
          (Geez, I don't even need to tell you that!)

   The Black Raven     (412) 349-6030 & (412) 465-5429
   THe LeeCH           (412) 349-7709
   The Rude Awakening  (412) 465-0662

   (this is in order of the net addresses in NoMercyNet)

Many gracious thanks to all three of you, Ivanhoe, Fossil, and Zerks....
(even tho all three of you are just big complaining pains in the arse :) :)
Nah, without them...I would have much more hell then I already do :)

This program just goes to show you that QBasic CAN AND WILL TAKE OVER THE
WORLD! Pascal SUCKS! (sorry mav :)

I've babbled enuff, now uhhh...uhhh...go to sleep if you aren't already there

BTW...I started actively doing this on 9/11... :/ ...stuff earlier than that
is me guessing the dates :) And notice how i worked on this thing almost
every day after 9/23...
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                         ALPHA AND BETA TESTING:
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7/10/96:b1  - Idea was conjured, files started, and NeTRUM0Rs was born.
              b1 - (beta build 1)
7/23/96:b2  - Packet defines and etc. were finished
7/30/96:b3  - Door was finished
8/01/96     - Testing begun
8/1-9/1:b4  - Testing, fixing up of netrumors here and there, various things
              done:
                Rumor database created
                Fixes
                PAKE and PAKD developed          
9/11/96:b5  - Automatic netmail creation routines were in testing...
9/13/96     - Netmail creation was rudimentary, but working well...
9/20/96     - Starting working on speeding up the "check for file" routines
9/23/96:b6  - Started testing of new PACKET.EXE "CFF" routines (see above)
                Once you recieve this fix, you can delete WIN95.PAR!!!
                Created the "Delete BBS" routine in the NETSET utility
                Fixed some of PACKET's screwy processes on the local machine
                 (an ongoing effort to clean it up)
                   DOS Command line now starts AFTER the status box
                   Checks for NR.CFG before trying to read it
                   Nicer look of critical stops
                   "Cleans up" after an error is encountered by deleting
                    the temporary copies of ROUTE.NRS
9/24/96     - Scrapped new "CFF" routines cuz it didn't work on some machines
              and created a new routine that now will work...I can now focus
              my attention on creating the pipe code routines and getting rid
              of all the cosmetic bugs in NR.EXE and PACKET.EXE.
                New CFF routines in place in PACKET and NETSET, the only two
                 apps that require checking for a file. (At this point)
                Got rid of that annoying "Press <Enter>" message at the very
                 end of the NeTRUM0Rs door...it showed up twice due to a small
                 oversight on my part :)
                Recolored the NETSET "Edit Network" Menu and made a neat-o
                 keen animated ANSi in it... :/
9/25/96     - Thank you God...the CFF routines seem to be working... :)
              Worked on NETSET again:
                Added a time/date thingy
                Fixed up the neato keen ANSi a tad... it looks even neater
                 now! :)
                Various other cosmetic changes
              I've been working on the pipe kode implementation...bear with me
              it won't be that much longer...you'll be in for a surprise once
              it's done though!
9/26/96     - Worked on routines for the pipe code implementation.
                Created string-disassembler
                Created file declarations
9/27/96     - Worked on PPC (Personal Pipe Code) routines again.
                Started working on the new utility, PPCE (PPC Editor)
                   Main menu created
                   File declarations finished
              Worked on menus for the "Edit BBS" structure in NETSET
9/28/96     - Fixed up the NETSET main menu and Uplink editor menu
9/29/96     - PPCE changes:
                Created the wiping routines and started on the creation
                 routines.
9/30/96     - NETSET changes:
                Created the "Edit BBS Name" and "Edit BBS Address" routines
                 and started working on the uplink editor routines
                Reconfigured PPC.IDX and PPC.DAT
                Added password line to ROUTE.NRS...changed apps to suit the
                 added line (NETSET in particular) This will allow for only
                 the network coordinator to reset the rumors and delete
                 specific rumors (both not tested yet :)
                   Encrypt/decrypt routines finished in NETSET
                   Added password protection to NETSET
10/1/96     - PPCE changes:
                Added the "after wiping" creation routines. All that's left
                 to do is add the View/Edit routines/menu. <sigh> :)
                Reconfigured PPC.IDX and PPC.DAT *again* :)
10/2/96     - Worked a bit on PAKE/PAKD...I have plans of someday fixing them
              up to allow coordinators to automatically cycle new nodelists
              and other various things like updates, etc. etc. BUT, this will
              not happen for quite a while :)
                 Finished Add Uplink/Delete Uplink routines
                 THE NETWORK MAINTAINANCE PART OF NETSET IS COMPLETED!
10/3/96     - I took a bit of a "vacation" from coding :)
10/4/96     - Worked on PAKE....now it automatically finds the bytes a file
              is comprised of...
10/5/96     - Another "vacation" day :) (Gotta start taking less of those :)
10/6/96     - Worked on PPCE
                 Created the PPC Edit/View menu..
                   "Move Forward a Record" and "Move Back a Record" routines
                    tested and finished
                   "Add a ColorKode Record" routines tested and finished
              Fixed a really small bug in the "Delete BBS" routines in NETSET
              Also fixed the alignment of the "Add BBS" prompts
10/7/96     - Worked on PPCE *again*
                 Created the "Edit Record" routines...they all work...
                 Laid the foundation for the "Delete Record" routines
                 Added prompts to "Add a Record" and "Delete Record" routines
              ONLY 23 MORE DAYS UNTIL I *HAVE* TO RELEASE THIS BABY NON-BETA
              that's *really* scary :) and technically, it all has to be done
              in 18 days for me to have a 5-day beta testing trial :)
              Well...all i still need to do is:
                 Create the delete/reset rumors network-wide in NETSET
                 Make the "Delete Record" routines in PPCE
                 Modify NR to accomodate the new PPC so the rumors actually
                  have COLOR!
                 See if I can get PACKET to show 20 rumors instead of 19 :)
                 Registration delays (that's all i'm crippling, along with
                                       only ten color combos to choose instead
                                       of the registered limit of 30)
                 A few small bugs in PACKET
              PAKE and PAKD will NOT be released with v1.0
10/8/96     - FINISHED PPCE BY IMPLEMENTING THE "DELETE RECORD" ROUTINE!!!
                 Added WARNING ANSi to "Delete all rumors network-wide"
                  and "Delete a rumor network-wide"
10/9/96     - The source code has reached to more than 100K!!!
              (that's a tad more than 100,000 bytes)
                 Added the UNTESTED "Delete a rumor" and "Reset Rumors
                  Network-Wide" routines to NETSET...This will FINISH NETSET
                  if the routines work! :)
                 Reset rumors network-wide seems to work well
                 Modified the ANSi...this is not the end tho :)
                 PAKD now alerts you that NR.CFG wasn't found before it gives
                  you a run-time error
                 Instead of those odd 1701.MSG netmail files, PACKET and
                  NETSET now find the next available spot.
                 Heeeehehehe...NR does too now ^^^^ i forgot oops :)
10/10/96    - Created REGCRE to create the registration codes
                 Fixed up SETUP a tad bit to accomodate the reg codes...
                 Something really phreaky happened to NR's source code so
                  I have to revert to an older source code :( This won't be
                  THAT large of a setback...but the weird thing is I have no
                  idea what happened :/
                 Added registration delays! (DOOM DA DOOM DOOM!)
                 Started working on CDB, it lets you change the preset color
                  codes provided with NeTRUM0Rs.
                 Moved release date up 10 days...hopefully i can stay true
                  to my word :)
10/11/96    - HAD to take a vacation day off, too much of more important
              things to do (My sister's wedding rehersal, for one :)
10/12/96    - Two words: Sister's wedding :)
10/13/96    - Managed to work on CDB...and finish it!!! Now the main obstacle
              awaits...........the door...
10/14/96    - I'm not going to reach the 10/15 date...but I won't change it
              until I'm sure...
                 Created the color selection thingy in CDB, which makes creating
                  the color codes A LOT easier
                 Worked on the DOC some..
10/15/96    - Was sick...
10/16/96    - Worked on the ANSi
10/17/96    - MY BIRTHDAY! Anyhow...I primarily worked on NR...the only thing
              that isn't done yet...
                 Added a random saying that will pop up when you load NR                 
10/18/96    - Worked on NR..
                 All routines are done (not tested) except for PPC routines
                 Fixed the TYPE declarations in NR, SETUP, PACKET, and NETSET
                  to accomodate the color codes
                 All new routines in NR are working fine!
                 Fixed the "find next netmail slot" routine in NR, PACKET,
                  and NETSET...it was a tad buggy :)
                 Created a random saying for the new QUESTION ansi
                 Fixed the alingment of the "Press either Y or N please!"
                  statement
10/19/96    - Created END.ANS and PPC.ANS
10/20/96    - Incorporated END.ANS into NR
                 Added the routines to retrieve the data from the index and
                  data file
                 Just about done...a few more days of lotsa productivity
                  and i'll be right on schedule...
10/21/96    - I hate the flu...
10/22/96    - ...I REALLY hate the flu...
10/23/96    - ...I REALLY REALLY hate the flu...
                 Fixed a very small bug in NETSET
                 Fixed a small bug in CDB
10/24/96    - <chattering of teeth> ONE MORE DAY....
                 Created and tested the "Create a colorkode (not to be saved)
                  routine
                 Created and tested the "Use your PPC" routine
                 All that's left to do is create the "Edit your PPC" routine!
                 Redid "RUMOR.ANS" and added a Random Thought to it :)
                 Created "Edit your PPC" routine...this makes NeTRUM0Rs
                  complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo-hah! :)
10/25/96    - (still not released, but will be before 10:00pm) :)
                 Fixed a bug with blank PPC entries
                 Fixed a bug with NR.ANS being WAY too long...
                 Fixed all the "v1.0b" to "v1.0" :) (almost forgot)
                 Fixed a bug with the creation of a new PPC record
                 Fixed a bug with NR not working on my computer..GRRR
                 Fixed a bug with pipe code colors more than 10...
                 NETRUMORS V1.0 IS NOW RELEASED TO MY BETA FOLLOWERS... :)
10/26/96    - Not that many bug fixes today :)
                 Worked and finished the docs
10/31/96    - NeTRUM0Rs is RELEASED!!!!
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                  --> END OF ALPHA AND BETA TESTING <--
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v1.0 Last Beta Test  : 10/25/96
v1.0 Public Release  : 10/31/96
