| |
|
|
| Submitted on: 6/28/2003 3:59:48 AM
By: Ultimatum
Level: Advanced
User Rating:
By 4 Users
Compatibility:VB 6.0, VB Script
Users have accessed this article 675 times.
| 
(About the author) |
| | | Truth Internetworks is software which I'm hoping will one day will take a chunk out of America Online's usage. Looking for developers who are willing to work for free in their spare time to help develop a constantly evolving content provider. Please read for more information.
| | | |
Terms of Agreement:
By using this article, you agree to the following terms...
1) You may use
this article in your own programs (and may compile it into a program and distribute it in compiled format for languages that allow it) freely and with no charge.
2) You MAY NOT redistribute this article (for example to a web site) without written permission from the original author. Failure to do so is a violation of copyright laws.
3) You may link to this article from another website, but ONLY if it is not wrapped in a frame.
4) You will abide by any additional copyright restrictions which the author may have placed in the article or article's description. | First...
I would first like to apologize for posting this in the "code" section. I
would post this in the forums, but as far as I can tell, just about nobody uses
the forums anymore. I can't post this in Rent A Coder because this project has
nothing to do with money. However, there is some code available, so this
seems like the best place to post it.
Abstract
Truth Internetworks (TIN) has been a project of mine since the day I sat
down at my dad's computer and started learning Visual Basic 3 on Windows 3.0.
The concept behind it is simple: a software platform that performs very much
like America Online, but a) is free, b) works better, and c) is not loaded with
tons and tons of non-standard coding.
Several weeks ago, I started working on this dream of mine. Up to this point,
I've been able to create a completely working, fully functional e-mail client
(send/receive HTML e-mail with attachments, filter out junk mail, etc.) and a
rather mediocre web browser. I've been doing a lot of programming in the
areas of string parsing, and I've been doing a lot of research, mainly here on
Planet Source Code. I've come to the realization that my software will never be
complete without the help of volunteers. Everyone is welcome to help work on it,
but there's a certain set of people I'd like to have join my "team." There's
lots to be learned, and experience is well worth it.
What is Truth Internetworks?
For lack of a better term, TIN is a "content subscription service client."
Users request information much in the same manner as AOL, and the software
delivers it to them. Many Internet tools (and non-Internet tools) are
bundled with the software, such as a robust web browser and e-mail client, a
download accelerator/manager, centralized chat/instant messaging and forums,
intelligent web-research agents, peer-2-peer file sharing, etc. The heart of
TIN, however, is the content provider service. Web developers can write
attractive web interfaces using any form of web programming (exactly like you
would on a normal web site) and deliver it to TIN users.
Sounds like this software is just a web browser with extra software built
in. What makes it so special?
The difference between a normal web site and the content that a user will
see on TIN is all in the dynamics. A normal web site allows you to display text,
images, run client-side scripts, and the like. Server-side programming, such as
ASP, PHP, and any other form of CGI, allows sites to be a little more dynamic,
and provide customized Web pages that can be customized to the user's liking.
With the right plug-ins, users can enjoy multimedia such as Flash and Windows
Media. Either way, there are still limitations placed on what a web site can do.
TIN content separates itself from web pages by removing all of
the limitations. In addition to being able to perform all of the functions of a
web page, TIN content can also do things such as burn and play CDs or DVDs, help
remove viruses from your computer, make
' your system run more efficiently, act as
'
a telephone with built-in answering machine for your computer (provided you have
a free phone line, that is), sync up with your Pocket PC or Palm, help do your
taxes, etc. Basically, anything you can do as a programmer, you can also do as a
TIN content author.
Wait, if TIN can do all these things, how could it possibly be safe?
In not so many words, it isn't safe. Thus, all submitted content must
checked and given the OK before it can be published.
Okay, I'm interested. How do I join the team?
There are a couple of ways. The first way is to go to the Truth Internetworks web site
(http://www.imp-lan.com/tin). The
second way is to leave a comment here. Either way, contact me somehow. I'm
anxious to start filling seats in the team and get this project rolling. Any
ideas anyone else has are welcome, as well. =) | |
Other 20 submission(s) by this author
| | | | | Report Bad Submission | | | | | Your Vote! | |
See Voting Log | | | | Other User Comments | 6/28/2003 6:09:26 AM:Michael Skelton
Ok, for starters something like this
should not be developed in VB. VB is a
low level language that lakes power and
functionality, it is simply an easy
language to help n00bies get started
off.
Second of all i don't really
think you will find all to many people
wanting to use anything remotely
related to AOL.. at all.
And last
but not least in order to make a
replacement to a browser it needs to be
absolutely flawless. Look at the
netscape, Internet explorer case. IE
comes with windows so people can't
compete. If Netscape couldn't compete
then what makes you think a VB3 low
level app could?
Good luck.. your
going to really need it.
| 6/28/2003 6:53:49 AM:Michael Canejo
I've had this dream once, and I'm
interested to fulfil it. As for Michael
Skelton, if you put down VB so much I
wonder why your even here?
VB is
only limited to being used in games or
other CPU intensivee apps. Besides, you
can use dlls made in delphi or c++ if
you really need the speed.
So vb
isn't really limited at all. I would
say make this program in Delphi7 but
MORE people code in VB than in other
languages meaning this project can have
more people contributing.
There was
no need for your post either,
completely rude. Your attitude is what
makes you as a programmer weak.
| 6/28/2003 7:49:56 AM:Coding Genius
''VB is a low level language'' -
*Smirk* - No ASM is a low level
language, VB is as high a level
language as you could probably imagine.
heh it's funny watching people trying
to put other people down when they just
have no idea what they're doing.
| 6/28/2003 7:53:28 AM:Coding Genius
Also, you shouldn't put down peoples
dreams. Even if the guys project
doesn't take off, at least he'll learn
so much from it and probably have alot
of fun doing it which is what
programming is all about - constantly
learning. Also, VB isn't as limited as
most people think. It's real limits are
rarely reached and most of the time
people are only limited by their
imaginations. For example, whoever
thought of adding preassembled asm code
to their VB code and calling it really
used their imagination and pushed VB
much further than before possible.
| 6/28/2003 10:57:10 AM:Syllva Tech Software
I think it's a good idea, and as
Michael Canejo said, it can be enhanced
with the use of DLLs created in C++,
etc. As for Michael Skelton, Your
comments are quite rude, and how did
you get the idea he wants it created in
VB3?
| 6/28/2003 11:21:36 AM:
VB3 ? With or without the Message
Blaster control?
| 6/28/2003 12:23:15 PM:Nathanael B
This is quite ambitious! Since someone
was rude enough to submit a 1 globe
rating, I'll give you a 5. I can't help
your project, however, I'm currently
very busy on projects of my own
(sorry)!
I wish you the best of luck
though! Please keep PSC informed of
this project as it progresses.
| 6/28/2003 12:31:49 PM:David J. Fritts
FACT: America Online is an
ISP
OPINION: You will not be able to
even begin to compete unless your
software is designed to connect to the
internet and/or you provide a service
(ISP)
| 6/28/2003 12:33:52 PM:David J. Fritts
Coding Genius, I don't know about you
but my vb coding is *low level*
::smirks::
| 6/28/2003 2:44:32 PM:Ultimatum
Well, first, thank you for all your
feedback. This includes you, Mr.
Skelton. I think your criticism is
misplaced, however. Allow me to
elaborate a little bit more on the
project. First, yes, I agree that AOL
is... well... very subpar in almost all
instances. This is why I'm trying to
take the concept of AOL and make it
work. AOL is like communism: it
works... only in theory. TIN will
hopefully remove the excess stuff.
Second, I do *not* plan on using VB3 to
write this software. The code that I've
written so far has been done entirely
in VB6. I also plan on using C or C++
to do things that absolutely cannot be
done in VB (and as we've seen on the VB
section of PSC, there is very, very
little that can't be done with VB; some
things, however, are just more
efficient if you write in C++).
| 6/28/2003 2:53:41 PM:Ultimatum
Third, AOL doesn't even attempt to
replace a web browser. You can still
use Internet Explorer, and I *think* it
comes bundled with Netscape. The same
will hold true for TIN (minus the
inclusion of Netscape). TIN will come
with it's own, built-in web browser
that offers basic browser
functionality, as well as different
functionality from IE. (I would say
*the same and then some* as IE, but I
can't promise that.) As far as making
TIN an ISP... well... I'd like to think
that someday, it will happen. For now,
however, I don't have the resources to
do such. So, for now, it will run on
top of any existing Internet connection
you have.
| 6/28/2003 2:54:29 PM:Ultimatum
Anyway, like I said, I do have some
programming done, but it's very crude.
No UI enhancements (except for one),
and a lot of it could be streamlined.
I've been working on the programming
every day, and now, hopefully, I'll be
able to program *and* get other
developers in on things. I was going to
post a screenshot of what I've done so
far, but PSC wouldn't let me. I'll keep
trying to do so, and if I completely
fail after numerous tries, I'll upload
it as a ZIP file. Oh, one more thing I
forgot to mention: I also plan on doing
some development in .NET
| 6/28/2003 5:30:12 PM:Burbble
As you said before, it (like AOL) will
work "in theory". IMO, I think the
problem is that people will not want to
have almost every aspect of their
computer controlled by a single
program. The program just seems a
bit... over-domineering.
I know that
there is competition among different
creators of various types of programs
(like Internet Browsers, CD creating
apps, Media Players, etc.), but I don't
think combining everything into one
application is a good idea.
It's
almost like creating a solitary
operating system that contains every
program a person will ever need to
use(except that it runs within an
operating system).
I think your idea
is good, but I don't think it is a
product that many people will want to
use.
| 6/28/2003 5:32:30 PM:Burbble
And Visual Basic is not "low-level"...
Assembly is... (duh)
Visual Basic is
only limited to the ideas you can
create with it.
| 6/28/2003 7:41:43 PM:Ultimatum
Burbble, thanks for your feedback. The
thing is, though, a *lot* of people use
AOL. TIN will simply take the
functionality of AOL and make it
practical. Whether or not people will
want to use it is really neither here
nor there. After all, if it doesn't
work the way I had planned on (which I
think is doubtful [although I could be
wrong]), it's still free. I mentioned
on the TIN web site that it may cost
something like $5.95 a year, but I
don't think I'll put that in effect.
Besides, the idea that all the content
will always be up to date allows for
authors to create their own
subscription services: a concept that
hasn't been put forth until Microsoft
and Intel came up with the idea.
Anyway, please, keep the feedback
coming.
| 6/29/2003 7:17:49 AM:Broken Arrow
So many ppl r commenting in so many
ways! I agree to Coding Genius, your VB
is limited to your imagination. Once
nobody ever believed that TSR
programming could b done in QB, but
once I discoverd that line labels are
nothing but variable pinters and has
it's own VARPTR address, TSRs could b
done in QB, once you know how to do,
who stops you, even it is QB! Quality
doesn't depend on what you know, it
depends on your ability to know &
learn. Thos who underestimate VB should
really try to learn VB before the come
back and criticize it again. One who
has VB in addition with Assembly, what
do you think can stop him! I welcome
this project, not hoping this to be
complete, but simply for the highness
of the imagination. Not everybody can
dream, so y u ppl stop one dreaming
while u can't make a dream!
| 6/29/2003 11:58:21 AM:tc
I kind of like the idea. I kind of
thought of something like this before
but my idea is alittle different.
My
idea was like a central shareware app.
Don't have an answering machine well
you could choose it and download and it
runs from with in the central app
instead of creating a new exe. Need
sticky notes well then you could
download that feature. Need a media
convertor to encode mp3 to wav just
get that feature. etc.
Just a
thought of mine. Another great
advantage would be that you could also
keep everything up to date.
I could
see more of a market for something like
this then what you were describing
Ultimatum. But maybe it is just me.
If anybody might be interested in
something like this you can shoot me
and email through PSC.
| 6/29/2003 3:28:04 PM:
Just out of question...I do like the
idea, but if this is going to be free
and stuff, where are u gunna get all
the bandwidth for this? AOL use's gigs
and gigs of bandwidth. Even half of
there subscriber base would probably
consume over a terrabyte of info a
month.... just a thought...
| 6/29/2003 5:18:11 PM:Ultimatum
tc, that's basically what Truth
Internetworks will be like. Just, only
slightly different. The complete
details still have to be worked out,
but I've already developed a very basic
content distribution framework. As far
as bandwidth is concerned, I don't want
to release too much info on that just
yet, simply because I have a ranged
variety of ideas (including *no* server
centralization). That topic will be
further discussed with the team
developers.
| 6/30/2003 8:21:46 AM:Dave Stringer
It's a neat idea. How do you plan on
making money or supporting this program
in the future? As for the web content,
an easy way to go with that idea would
be to use the browser control (which is
basically an IE with no UI) and create
custom web control(s) that get
installed with TIN that could be used
with any web page to do whatever you
want. With anything, I thik it could be
successful if marketed correctly.
| | | Add Your Feedback! | Note:Not only will your feedback be posted, but an email will be sent to the code's author in your name.
NOTICE: The author of this article has been kind enough to share it with you. If you have a criticism, please state it politely or it will be deleted.
For feedback not related to this particular article, please click here.
| |
|
