I Built Slack in 1996. I Just Found the Source Code.

In May of 1996, I was 27 years old and working on a Novell NetWare LAN. I was annoyed that people couldn’t easily talk to each other across the network in real time. So I built something.

I called it TALK. I wrote it in QBasic. I compiled it, copyrighted it, and apparently forgot about it for thirty years.

I found the source code recently and ran it through an AI analysis. What came back stopped me cold.

TALK was a fully functional, real-time, multi-user group chat application. Up to 16 people could join a shared chat room simultaneously. It had pulldown menus. It had mouse support -- real mouse support, talking directly to the BIOS at interrupt level. It had private messaging, a session log, a password-protected screen lock, and an auto-correct system that silently fixed common typos as you typed.

It also had an auto-upgrade mechanism that could silently push a new version of itself to every connected client. In 1996.

The architecture was surprisingly sound. User presence was tracked by dropping a small file into a shared network directory -- you existed if your file existed, and you were gone when it was deleted. Messages were passed through a shared utility and polled on a loop. No database. No server process. The filesystem was the protocol.

Slack launched in 2013. IRC existed in 1996, but required setup and infrastructure far beyond most office users. I built something in between: dead simple to run, genuinely real-time, and it worked on hardware most people were using to run WordPerfect.

Is it perfect code? No. Passwords were plaintext. Global variables were everywhere. Every external operation forked a shell process and read results from a temp file on C:. The error handler had a branch that just... retried forever on unknown errors.

But it worked. People used it. And buried in the auto-correct table, I had quietly remapped certain profanities to mixed-case versions of themselves -- apparently my way of keeping things civil on a shared network without actually blocking anything. Thirty years later, I find that funnier than I probably should.

I was 27. I had no CS degree. I was writing interrupt-level code in a language most people used to make guessing games, and I shipped a working distributed messaging app.

I’m 57 now. The code still reads clearly. I’m not sure what that says about me, but I think it says something good.

(CODE)
‘ THIS PROGRAM IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF THOMAS WELLBORN III

‘ DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM OR THE SOURCE WITHOUT FULL

‘ CONSENT OF SAID OWNER.

‘ WRITTEN AND COMPILED IN MAY OF 1996 BY THOMAS WELLBORN III

DEFINT A-Z

DECLARE SUB qbmouse (a%, b%, c%, d%)

DECLARE SUB cursor ()

REM $DYNAMIC

REM $INCLUDE: ‘qb.bi’

DIM HiPos1(10), HiPos2(10, 20), MaxSize(10), MaxItems(10), item$(10, 15), valid(10, 15), toggle(10, 15)

DIM reg AS regtype

ON ERROR GOTO oops

CLS

version$ = “3.22”

DIM bright(20)

DATA 2,3,5,7,10,11,13,14,15

DATA 2,3,5,7,10,11,13,14,15

FOR x = 1 TO 18

READ bright(x)

NEXT x

SHELL “dir c:\/b > c:\temp.dat”

OPEN “c:\temp.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, ask$

IF UCASE$(ask$) = “TALKY.DAT” THEN

tag = 1

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

IF tag = 0 THEN

PRINT “Initializing for first time use...please wait a minute or two...”

SHELL “cd > c:\temp.dat”

OPEN “c:\temp.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

INPUT #2, J$

CLOSE #2

J$ = LEFT$(J$, 1)

SHELL “dir “ + J$ + “:\talk.exe /b/s/w/p/a > c:\temp.dat”

OPEN “c:\temp.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, check$

IF UCASE$(RIGHT$(check$, 8)) = “TALK.EXE” THEN

path$ = LEFT$(check$, LEN(check$) - 8)

dupes = dupes + 1

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

IF dupes > 1 THEN

PRINT “You have another program called TALK.EXE on your drive.”

PRINT “Please erase, rename, murder, etc... one of the dupes.”

KILL “c:\temp.dat”

END

END IF

OPEN “c:\talky.dat” FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, path$

CLOSE #2

ELSE

OPEN “c:\talky.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

INPUT #2, path$

CLOSE #2

END IF

PRINT “Checking version...”

OPEN “f:\users\tom\talk.ver” FOR INPUT AS #2

INPUT #2, ver$

CLOSE #2

GOSUB check.version

PRINT “Setting Parameters....”

DIM chatters$(50)

DIM nick$(50)

DIM correct$(40)

DIM wrong$(40)

LENGTH = 1

csr = 1

col = 1

funky2 = 1

cha$ = “cha”

checktimes = 23

DATA “TEH”,”I “,”ADN”,”DON;T”,”OCCURENCE”,”RECIEVE”,”SEPERATE”,”SHIT”

DATA “FUCK”,”TOM”,”TV”,”DJDK”,”I’M”,”I’LL”,”MONDAY”,”TUESDAY”,”WEDNESDAY”

DATA “THURSDAY”,”FRIDAY”,”SATURDAY”,”SUNDAY”,”EWE”,”,”

DATA “the”,”I”,”and”,”don’t”,”occurance”,”receive”,”separate”,”sHiT”

DATA “FuCk”, “Tom”,”TV”,”hole”,”I’m”,”I’ll”,”Monday”,”Tuesday”,”Wednesday”

DATA “Thursday”,”Friday”,”Saturday”,”Sunday”,”you”,”-”

DATA “/yell”,”/yawn”,”/hilo”,”/hehe”,”/wait”,”/quit”

FOR x = 1 TO checktimes

READ wrong$(x)

NEXT

FOR x = 1 TO checktimes

READ correct$(x)

NEXT x

FOR x = 1 TO 6

READ macros$(x)

NEXT x

‘----------------------------------------------------------------------------

begin:

IF COMMAND$ = “/?” OR LEFT$(COMMAND$, 2) = “/H” THEN

PRINT “No help available yet!”

END

END IF

SHELL “z:\public\send /a=p > c:\temp.dat”

GOSUB your.name

IF LEN(yourname$) > 8 THEN

PRINT “Sorry. This program only supports names with eight characters or less.”

END

END IF

OPEN “f:\users\tom\temp\” + yourname$ + “.” + cha$ FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, “cha”

CLOSE #2

PRINT “Checking for users online.”

PRINT “Initializing Talk files.”

GOSUB welcome.screen

GOSUB check.chatters

IF chatters > 15 THEN

CLS

WIDTH 80, 25

PRINT “Sorry “; yourname$; “. The Room is full. Try again later..”

PRINT “Currently in chat: “

FOR x = 1 TO chatters

PRINT chatters$(x),

NEXT x

KILL “f:\users\tom\temp\” + yourname$ + “.” + cha$

END

END IF

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + “xoxoxo” + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + sendit$ + “ > c:\temp.dat”

END IF

IF COMMAND$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + yourname$ + “ is requesting a TALK session” + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + COMMAND$ + “ > c:\temp.dat”

END IF

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, “ “

CLOSE #2

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

b$ = yourname$ + “ HAS JUST ENTERED TALK “

GOSUB send.it

END IF

‘----------------------------------------------------------------------------

bread:

cursor

GOSUB factory

GOSUB menu.bottom

co1 = 2

DO

IF funny = 78 THEN funny = 0

IF VAL(RIGHT$(TIME$, 2)) <> oldtime THEN

COLOR co1, 0

funny = funny + 1

LOCATE 7, funny

PRINT “ “; CHR$(1); “ “

LOCATE 7, 79

PRINT “ “

oldtime = VAL(RIGHT$(TIME$, 2))

co1 = 2

END IF

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 42, 1

PRINT “ TALK...Version “; version$;

IF ver$ <> version$ THEN

COLOR 15, 0

PRINT “ (Outdated!)”;

COLOR 7, 0

END IF

PRINT “ Compiled by Tom in May of 1996.”;

LOCATE 4, 2: PRINT TIME$

LOCATE 4, 70: PRINT DATE$

look = look + 1

checkver = checkver + 1

IF checkver = 20000 THEN

checkver = 0

GOSUB check.version

GOSUB menu.bottom

END IF

host = 0

IF look = 1100 THEN

look = 0

SHELL “z:\public\send /p >> c:\talk.dat”

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

LOCATE 9, 3

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, host$

IF UCASE$(RIGHT$(host$, 8)) = “TALLDONE” THEN

IF UCASE$(yourname$) <> “TOM” THEN

CLOSE #2

CLS

PRINT yourname$; “ has ended chat....”

PRINT “All users are exiting...”

SLEEP 2

GOTO alldone

END IF

END IF

IF UCASE$(RIGHT$(host$, 5)) = “TUPIT” THEN

IF UCASE$(yourname$) <> “TOM” THEN

CLS

PRINT “Hold on.....upgrading to new version”

SLEEP 2

SHELL “copy f:\users\tom\talk.exe “ + path$ + “talk.exe/y > c:\temp.dat”

CHAIN path$ + “talk.exe”

END IF

END IF

IF RIGHT$(host$, 6) = “xoxoxo” THEN

SOUND 3000, 3

CLOSE #2

GOSUB check.chatters

GOSUB menu.bottom

KILL “c:\talk.dat”

REM EXIT DO

ELSEIF host$ <> “” THEN

IF LEFT$(host$, 7) <> “No stor” THEN

COLOR 7, 0

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(host$)

IF MID$(host$, x, 1) = “:” THEN

person$ = LEFT$(host$, x - 1)

x = LEN(host$)

END IF

NEXT x

COLOR 3, 12

FOR x = 1 TO chatters

IF UCASE$(chatters$(x)) = UCASE$(person$) THEN

COLOR bright(x), 0

END IF

NEXT x

LOCATE , 3

IF LEFT$(host$, 3) = “YOU” THEN

COLOR 15, 0

END IF

co1 = 4

PRINT host$

host = host + 1

COLOR 7, 0

END IF

END IF

IF host > 29 THEN

host = 0

LOCATE 9, 3

FOR x = 9 TO 38

LOCATE x, 2

PRINT STRING$(58, “ “);

NEXT x

LOCATE 37, 3

PRINT host$

CLOSE #2

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

OPEN “c:\talk.cha” FOR APPEND AS #3

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, r$

IF LEFT$(r$, 7) <> “No stor” THEN

PRINT #3, r$

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

CLOSE #3

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, “”

CLOSE #2

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

END IF

a$ = INKEY$

IF a$ = CHR$(27) THEN

a$ = “”

GOTO alldone

END IF

IF a$ = CHR$(34) THEN a$ = “’”

IF a$ = “,” THEN a$ = “-”

IF a$ = CHR$(3) THEN

CLS

END IF

IF a$ = CHR$(8) THEN

IF LEN(b$) > 0 THEN

b$ = LEFT$(b$, LEN(b$) - 1)

END IF

ELSEIF a$ <> CHR$(27) THEN

b$ = b$ + a$

END IF

IF a$ <> “” THEN

GOSUB syntax

IF LEN(b$) > 50 THEN

SOUND 3000, 1

b$ = LEFT$(b$, LEN(b$) - 1)

END IF

IF a$ = CHR$(13) THEN

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(b$)

IF MID$(b$, x, 1) = CHR$(13) THEN

MID$(b$, x, 1) = “ “

x = LEN(b$)

END IF

NEXT x

IF LEFT$(b$, 1) = “/” THEN GOSUB special

GOSUB send.it

END IF

IF funky = 1 THEN

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(b$) STEP 2

MID$(b$, x, 1) = UCASE$(MID$(b$, x, 1))

NEXT x

END IF

LOCATE csr, col

COLOR 4, 3

PRINT “ “;

LOCATE 4, 15

COLOR 1, 0

GOSUB syntax

COLOR 4, 3

PRINT b$;

word1$ = b$

word$ = b$ ‘THIS IS IMPORTANT!

COLOR 22, 3

col = POS(0)

csr = CSRLIN

PRINT “_”;

COLOR 4, 3

PRINT “ “;

IF POS(0) > 2 THEN

LOCATE CSRLIN, POS(0) - 2

END IF

END IF

IF LEFT$(a$, 7) = “Bye....” THEN EXIT DO

itemslct = -1

DEF SEG = &H40 ‘Check if ALT key is being pressed

x = PEEK(&H17) ‘Bit 3 will be high if so

DEF SEG ‘2^3 = 8

qbmouse 3, b, mx, my ‘get mouse info

mx = mx / 8 + 1: my = my / 8 + 1 ‘convert to text coordinates

‘If ALT key is pressed, or mouse button pushed while cursor

‘positioned on menu bar, then enter the pulldown routine

IF (x AND 8) OR (b = 1 AND my = 1) THEN

DEF SEG = 0

POKE (1050), PEEK(1052) ‘empty keyboard buffer

DEF SEG

CALL PULLDOWN(menuline$, menurow, menucol, menuattr, hotattr, hiattr, NVattr, HiPos1(), HiPos2(), MaxSize(), MaxItems(), item$(), valid(), toggle(), ms, clearafter, menuslct, shadow, snd, menuslct, itemslct)

‘User input from menu selection:

FOR x = 1 TO chatters

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = chatters$(x) THEN

chat$ = chatters$(x)

matchit = 1

PRIV = 1

GOSUB menu.send

END IF

NEXT x

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “About...” THEN

GOSUB about

END IF

FOR x = 1 TO 6

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = macros$(x) THEN

b$ = macros$(x)

GOSUB special

GOSUB send.it

END IF

NEXT x

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “View Session” THEN

GOSUB review

END IF

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “Lock...” THEN

a$ = “”

GOSUB lockit

END IF

IF LEFT$(item$(menuslct, itemslct), 4) = “Exit” THEN

a$ = “Bye....I’m leaving Chat!”

GOSUB send.it

GOTO alldone

END IF

IF LEFT$(item$(menuslct, itemslct), 4) = “Send” THEN

a$ = “”

GOSUB send.msg

GOSUB menu.bottom

END IF

IF LEFT$(item$(menuslct, itemslct), 7) = “Refresh” THEN

GOSUB refresh

END IF

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “Upgrade” THEN

SHELL “copy f:\users\tom\talk.exe “ + path$ + “talk.exe/y > temp.dat”

CHAIN path$ + “talk.exe”

END IF

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “DOS Shell” THEN

GOSUB dosshell

END IF

IF item$(menuslct, itemslct) = “Info...” THEN

GOSUB info

a$ = “”

END IF

IF LEFT$(item$(menuslct, itemslct), 4) = “Page” THEN

a$ = “”

page = 1

GOSUB send.msg

GOSUB menu.bottom

END IF

IF LEFT$(item$(menuslct, itemslct), 5) = “Funky” THEN

SOUND 4000, .5

SWAP funky, funky2

GOSUB menu.bottom

a$ = “”

END IF

seed = menuslct

IF seed = 0 THEN seed = 1

qbmouse 2, b, c, d

COLOR 0, 7

LOCATE 1, 1

PRINT menuline$;

qbmouse 1, b, c, d

END IF

LOOP

alldone:

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

b$ = yourname$ + “ HAS JUST LEFT TALK “

GOSUB send.it

END IF

COLOR 7, 0

CLS

WIDTH 80, 25

PRINT “Removing “; yourname$; “ from talk.”

KILL “f:\users\tom\temp\” + yourname$ + “.” + cha$

PRINT “Setting SEND.exe to receive all messages.”

SHELL “z:\public\send /a > c:\temp.dat”

PRINT “Sending EXIT for user “; yourname$

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + “xoxoxo” + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + sendit$ + “ > c:\temp.dat”

END IF

PRINT “Purging old files from temporary directory.”

SHELL “z:\public\purge f:\users\tom\temp”

PRINT “Closing down all i/o streams normally.”

PRINT “Talk is eXiting nicely and cleanly for “; yourname$; “.”

KILL “C:\temp.dat”

KILL “c:\talk.dat”

OPEN “c:\talk.cha” FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, “”

CLOSE #2

KILL “c:\talk.cha”

KILL “c:\fi.lst”

PRINT “Goodbye “; yourname$; “.”

REDIM HiPos1(0), HiPos2(0, 0), MaxSize(0), MaxItems(0), item$(0, 0), valid(0, 0), toggle(0, 0)

qbmouse 2, 0, 0, 0 ‘turn off mouse cursor

END

menu.bottom:

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 1, 1

COLOR 0, 7

PRINT menuline$;

COLOR 7, 0

COLOR 9, 0

LOCATE 8, 1

PRINT CHR$(218);

PRINT CHR$(196);

COLOR 9, 0

FOR x = POS(0) TO 79

PRINT CHR$(196);

NEXT x

PRINT CHR$(191);

FOR x = 9 TO 34

LOCATE x, 63

PRINT “ “

NEXT x

COLOR 11, 0

LOCATE 10, 64

PRINT “Current Talkers”

COLOR 12, 0

LOCATE 13, 65

IF LEN(sendit$) < 3 THEN

PRINT “You are alone”

ELSE

PRINT “ You “

END IF

FOR x = 1 TO chatters

IF chatters$(x) <> “” THEN

r = r + 2

LOCATE 13 + r, 66

PRINT nick$(x)

END IF

NEXT x

r = 0

COLOR 4, 3

LOCATE 4, 15

PRINT STRING$(53, “ “);

LOCATE 3, 13

PRINT CHR$(218)

LOCATE 4, 13

PRINT CHR$(179); “>”

LOCATE 5, 13

PRINT CHR$(192)

LOCATE 3, 14

PRINT STRING$(20, CHR$(196)); “ “;

COLOR 12, 3

PRINT yourname$; “ “;

COLOR 4, 3

FOR x = POS(0) TO 67

PRINT CHR$(196);

NEXT x

PRINT CHR$(191)

FOR x = 4 TO 5

LOCATE x, 68

PRINT CHR$(179);

NEXT x

LOCATE 5, 68

PRINT CHR$(217)

LOCATE 5, 14

FOR x = 1 TO 54

PRINT CHR$(196);

NEXT x

COLOR 9, 0

LOCATE 39, 1

PRINT CHR$(192);

PRINT STRING$(78, CHR$(196));

PRINT CHR$(217)

LOCATE 8, 62

PRINT CHR$(194)

FOR x = 9 TO 38

LOCATE x, 62

PRINT CHR$(179)

NEXT x

LOCATE 39, 62

PRINT CHR$(193)

IF message$ <> “” THEN

LOCATE 40, 1

PRINT STRING$(79, “ “);

LOCATE 40, 40 - (LEN(message$) / 2)

COLOR 2, 12

PRINT message$;

END IF

zap = zap + 1

IF zap = 13000 THEN

LOCATE 24, 1

COLOR 7, 0

PRINT STRING$(80, “ “);

zap = 0

message$ = “”

END IF

COLOR 8, 0

LOCATE 40, 1

IF funky = 1 THEN

funky$ = “ Funky=ON “

ELSE

funky$ = “ Funky=Off “

END IF

PRINT funky$;

COLOR 9, 0

FOR x = 9 TO 38

LOCATE x, 1

PRINT CHR$(179)

LOCATE x, 80

PRINT CHR$(179);

NEXT x

COLOR 7, 0

RETURN

syntax:

IF b$ <> “” THEN

J = 1

FOR stretch = LENGTH TO LEN(b$)

char$ = MID$(b$, stretch, 1)

IF char$ = “ “ THEN

FOR y = stretch + 1 TO LEN(b$)

IF MID$(b$, y, 1) <> “ “ THEN

FOR z = 1 TO LEN(b$)

IF MID$(b$, z, 1) = “ “ THEN

checkword$ = MID$(b$, y, z)

FOR check = 1 TO checktimes

IF UCASE$(checkword$) = wrong$(check) THEN

MID$(b$, y, z) = correct$(check)

check = checktimes

END IF

NEXT check

REM z = LEN(b$)

END IF

NEXT z

y = LEN(b$)

END IF

NEXT y

END IF

IF char$ = “.” OR char$ = “?” OR char$ = “!” THEN

FOR y = stretch + 1 TO LEN(b$)

IF MID$(b$, y, 1) <> “ “ AND MID$(b$, y, 1) <> CHR$(13) THEN

MID$(b$, y, 1) = UCASE$(MID$(b$, y, 1))

y = LEN(b$)

END IF

NEXT y

END IF

NEXT stretch

IF LEN(b$) > 15 THEN

LENGTH = LEN(b$) - 14

stretch = 0

END IF

END IF

RETURN

dosshell:

COLOR 7, 0

WIDTH 80, 25

CLS

LOCATE 5

PRINT “Type EXIT to return to talk...”

b$ = “I’m Exiting to DOS Shell...”

GOSUB send.it

SHELL “send/a > c:\temp.dat”

SHELL

SHELL “send/a=p > c:\temp.dat”

WIDTH 80, 43

b$ = “ “ + yourname$ + “ is Back from DosLand.”

GOSUB send.it

a$ = “”

CLS

COLOR 7, 0

CLS

GOSUB check.chatters

GOSUB menu.bottom

COLOR 7, 0

cursor

RETURN

your.name:

SHELL “z:\public\whoami>c:\name.dat”

OPEN “c:\name.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

FOR x = 1 TO 4

INPUT #2, yourname$

NEXT x

CLOSE #2

KILL “c:\name.dat”

yourname$ = RIGHT$(yourname$, LEN(yourname$) - 12)

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(yourname$)

IF MID$(yourname$, x, 1) = “.” THEN

yourname$ = LEFT$(yourname$, x - 1)

x = LEN(yourname$)

END IF

NEXT x

yourname$ = UCASE$(LEFT$(yourname$, 1)) + LCASE$(RIGHT$(yourname$, LEN(yourname$) - 1))

RETURN

oops:

SELECT CASE ERR

CASE 5

GOTO begin:

CASE 76

PRINT “Either you are NOT connected to the Network OR”

PRINT “your drive mappings are different from the other”

PRINT “users on the network.”

PRINT

PRINT “ Z: should be mapped to nw4/sys:public”

PRINT “ F: should be mapped to nw4/work:users”

PRINT

PRINT “If you are logged to a server other than NW4, this”

PRINT “program will not currently function.”

END

CASE 75

PRINT “I could not write to or access a file that was necessary to run myself.”

PRINT “Operation aborted.”

END

CASE 53

PRINT “File not found. There is a file missing somewhere on the server.”

PRINT “Tell ToM about this.”

END

CASE ELSE

GOTO bread:

END SELECT

RESUME

check.chatters:

sendit$ = “”

FOR x = 1 TO chatters:

chatters$(x) = “”

NEXT x

chatters = 0

SHELL “dir f:\users\tom\temp\*.” + cha$ + “ /b > c:\fi.lst”

OPEN “c:\fi.lst” FOR INPUT AS #2

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, ca$

chatters = chatters + 1

FOR y = 1 TO LEN(ca$)

IF MID$(ca$, y, 1) = “.” THEN

ca$ = UCASE$(LEFT$(ca$, y - 1))

END IF

NEXT y

chatters$(chatters) = LEFT$(ca$, 1) + LCASE$(RIGHT$(ca$, LEN(ca$) - 1))

nick$(chatters) = LEFT$(ca$, 1) + LCASE$(RIGHT$(ca$, LEN(ca$) - 1))

IF UCASE$(ca$) = UCASE$(yourname$) THEN

chatters = chatters - 1

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

FOR b = 1 TO chatters

sendit$ = sendit$ + chatters$(b) + “ “

NEXT b

GOSUB set.params

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

send.it:

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR APPEND AS #2

PRINT #2, “YOU-> “; b$

CLOSE #2

IF LEN(b$) > 30 THEN

FOR x = 24 TO LEN(b$)

IF MID$(b$, x, 1) = “ “ THEN

b2$ = MID$(b$, x + 1, LEN(b$))

b1$ = LEFT$(b$, x - 1)

x = LEN(b$)

END IF

NEXT x

IF b2$ = “” THEN

b2$ = MID$(b$, 31, LEN(b$))

b1$ = LEFT$(b$, 30)

END IF

b$ = b1$

END IF

LOCATE 4, 15

COLOR 4, 3

PRINT STRING$(51, “ “);

COLOR 7, 0

cursor

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + b$ + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + sendit$ + “> c:\temp.dat”

END IF

IF sendit$ <> “” THEN

IF b2$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + b2$ + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + sendit$ + “> c:\temp.dat”

END IF

END IF

b$ = “”

b2$ = “”

RETURN

send.msg:

GOSUB header.send

IF page = 1 THEN

LINE INPUT “Page: “; chat$

ELSE

LINE INPUT “Send to: “; chat$

END IF

msg = 1

chat$ = UCASE$(chat$)

IF chat$ = “” THEN

IF page = 1 THEN

page = 0

message$ = “ Page Aborted. “

ELSE

message$ = “ Send Aborted. “

END IF

GOSUB swipe.send

msg$ = “”

RETURN

END IF

GOSUB check.again

IF page = 1 THEN

page = 0

IF matchit = 1 THEN

matchit = 0

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + yourname$ + “ is Requesting a TaLk session.” + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + chat$ + “ >c:\temp.dat”

GOSUB swipe.send

message$ = “ “ + chat$ + “ was paged to TaLk. “

ELSE

message$ = “ This user does not exist. “

GOSUB swipe.send

END IF

RETURN

END IF

menu.send:

GOSUB header.send

msg = 1

IF matchit = 1 THEN

matchit = 0

LOCATE 11, 10

PRINT STRING$(58, “ “)

LOCATE 11, 11

PRINT “Message: “;

LOCATE 11, 20

COLOR 16, 2

PRINT “_”;

COLOR 14, 2

DO

ask$ = INPUT$(1)

IF ask$ = CHR$(27) THEN

message$ = “ Message Aborted. “

GOSUB swipe.send

msg$ = “”

RETURN

END IF

IF ask$ = CHR$(13) THEN EXIT DO

IF ask$ = CHR$(8) THEN

IF LEN(msg$) > 0 THEN

ask$ = “”

msg$ = LEFT$(msg$, LEN(msg$) - 1)

ELSE

ask$ = “”

END IF

END IF

IF LEN(msg$) > 40 THEN

SOUND 3000, 2

ask$ = “”

REM msg$ = LEFT$(msg$, LEN(msg$) - 1)

END IF

LOCATE 11, 20

PRINT STRING$(48, “ “)

LOCATE 11, 20

msg$ = msg$ + ask$

PRINT msg$;

COLOR 16, 2

PRINT “_”;

COLOR 14, 2

PRINT “ “;

LOOP

IF msg$ = “” THEN

message$ = “ Message Aborted. “

GOSUB swipe.send

RETURN

END IF

GOSUB swipe.send

IF PRIV = 1 THEN

msg$ = “P:” + msg$

END IF

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + msg$ + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + chat$ + “>c:\temp.dat”

IF PRIV = 1 THEN

PRIV = 0

message$ = “ Private msg sent to “ + chat$ + “ “

GOSUB menu.bottom

ELSE

message$ = “ Message sent to “ + chat$ + “ “

END IF

msg$ = “”

ELSE

message$ = “ This user does not exist. “

END IF

RETURN

header.send:

COLOR 14, 2

LOCATE 10, 9

PRINT CHR$(218);

PRINT STRING$(58, CHR$(196));

PRINT CHR$(191)

LOCATE 11, 9

PRINT CHR$(179);

PRINT STRING$(58, “ “);

PRINT CHR$(179)

LOCATE 12, 9

PRINT CHR$(192);

PRINT STRING$(58, CHR$(196));

PRINT CHR$(217)

LOCATE 11, 23

RETURN

swipe.send:

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 10

FOR x = 1 TO 3

LOCATE , 9

PRINT STRING$(60, “ “)

NEXT x

GOSUB check.chatters

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

check.again:

OPEN “f:\users\tom\temp\userlist.txt” FOR INPUT AS #4

DO UNTIL EOF(4)

INPUT #4, user1$

IF user1$ <> “” THEN

IF UCASE$(LEFT$(user1$, LEN(chat$))) = UCASE$(chat$) THEN

matchit = 1

END IF

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #4

RETURN

info:

COLOR 2, 9

LOCATE 8

FOR x = 1 TO 12

LOCATE , 21

PRINT STRING$(40, “ “)

NEXT x

LOCATE 8, 22

PRINT “There is a limit of 16 users who can”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “chat at one time. I’ve added a few”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “shortcuts that should speed things up.”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “We are using the send command which”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “may cause slowdown if many people are”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “using it at the same time. Tell me if”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “you have any problems. The MOUSE and “

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “pulldown menus are now active.”

LOCATE CSRLIN + 2, 22

PRINT “ Compiled 5/30/1996”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ Hit any key”

ask$ = INPUT$(1)

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 8

FOR x = 1 TO 12

LOCATE , 21

PRINT STRING$(40, “ “)

NEXT x

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

welcome.screen:

PRINT “All paths appear normal. All streams functioning.”

PRINT yourname$; “ is attached to TaLk..”

LOCATE 12, 29

COLOR 8, 2

PRINT “ Hi “; yourname$; “. Welcome to talk.”

SLEEP 2

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 12, 29

PRINT “ “

LOCATE 11, 17

COLOR 4, 0

PRINT “Do NOT run this program from a Windows environment.”

LOCATE 12, 18

COLOR 7, 0

PRINT “Do you wish to Page someone to enter Talk? [Y/N]”

LOCATE 14, 18

PRINT “ Hit <space> to enter Talk “;

x = 0

ask$ = INPUT$(1)

LOCATE 12, 20

PRINT “ “

LOCATE 11, 16

PRINT “ “

IF UCASE$(ask$) = “Y” THEN

CLS

LOCATE 12, 20

LINE INPUT “Enter the users name: “; name$

LOCATE 12, 20

PRINT “ “

IF name$ <> “” THEN

SHELL “z:\public\send “ + CHR$(34) + yourname$ + “ is requesting a TALK session” + CHR$(34) + “ to “ + name$ + “ > c:\temp.dat”

message$ = “ “ + name$ + “ paged. “

END IF

END IF

WIDTH 80, 43

RETURN

refresh:

COLOR 7, 0

host = 0

LOCATE 9, 3

FOR x = 9 TO 38

LOCATE x, 2

PRINT STRING$(58, “ “);

NEXT x

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR OUTPUT AS #2

PRINT #2, “”

CLOSE #2

RETURN

review:

OPEN “c:\talk.dat” FOR INPUT AS #2

OPEN “c:\talk.cha” FOR APPEND AS #3

DO UNTIL EOF(2)

INPUT #2, r$

IF LEFT$(r$, 7) <> “No stor” THEN

PRINT #3, r$

END IF

LOOP

CLOSE #2

CLOSE #3

KILL “c:\talk.dat”

SHELL “z:\public\send/a > c:\temp.dat”

SHELL “f:\users\tom\r c:\talk.cha”

SHELL “z:\public\send/a=p > c:\temp.dat”

WIDTH 80, 43

a$ = “”

CLS

COLOR 7, 0

CLS

GOSUB check.chatters

GOSUB menu.bottom

COLOR 7, 0

cursor

RETURN

check.version:

IF ver$ <> version$ THEN

CLS

LOCATE 12, 25

PRINT “ This version is outdated. “

LOCATE , 25

PRINT “Do you wish to upgrade now? [Y/N]”

ask$ = INPUT$(1)

IF UCASE$(ask$) = “Y” THEN

SHELL “copy f:\users\tom\talk.exe “ + path$ + “talk.exe/y > temp.dat”

CHAIN path$ + “talk.exe”

ELSE

CLS

END IF

END IF

RETURN

lockit:

final$ = “”

FIRST$ = “”

second$ = “”

ask$ = “”

ask2$ = “”

CLS

GOSUB menu.bottom

LOCATE 20, 5

PRINT “Enter a password-> “;

DO UNTIL ask$ = CHR$(13)

ask$ = INKEY$

IF ask$ <> CHR$(13) THEN

IF ask$ <> “” THEN

FIRST$ = FIRST$ + ask$

PRINT “*”;

END IF

END IF

IF ask$ = CHR$(27) THEN

CLS

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

END IF

LOOP

LOCATE 20, 5

PRINT “ “

LOCATE 20, 5

PRINT “Enter again to reaffirm-> “;

DO UNTIL ask2$ = CHR$(13)

ask2$ = INKEY$

IF ask2$ <> CHR$(13) THEN

IF ask2$ <> “” THEN

second$ = second$ + ask2$

PRINT “*”;

END IF

END IF

IF ask2$ = CHR$(27) THEN

CLS

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

END IF

LOOP

LOCATE 20, 5

PRINT “ “

IF FIRST$ <> second$ THEN

message$ = “ Passwords do NOT match. “

COLOR 7, 0

CLS

GOSUB menu.bottom

cursor

RETURN

END IF

CLS

GOSUB menu.bottom

qbmouse 2, 0, 0, 0 ‘turn off mouse cursor

DO

LOCATE 12, 20

PRINT “Locked. Password?->”;

DO UNTIL ask2$ = CHR$(13)

ask2$ = INKEY$

IF ask2$ <> CHR$(13) THEN

IF ask2$ <> “” THEN

final$ = final$ + ask2$

PRINT “*”;

END IF

END IF

LOOP

IF FIRST$ = final$ THEN EXIT DO

LOCATE 12, 20

PRINT “ “

ask2$ = “”

final$ = “”

LOOP

LOCATE 12, 20

PRINT “ “

message$ = “ Unlocked “

CALL qbmouse(0, 0, 0, 0) ‘initialize mouse

CALL qbmouse(1, 0, 0, 0) ‘show mouse cursor

CALL qbmouse(10, 0, &H7000, 3844) ‘set mouse cursor

CLS

GOSUB check.chatters

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

special:

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/yell” THEN b$ = “AAAAAAUAUUGUGGHGHGHGHHHH!”

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/yawn” THEN b$ = yourname$ + “ yawns...”

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/hehe” THEN b$ = “HEAHaehhaHEHahehheeae!”

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/quit” THEN GOTO alldone

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/wait” THEN

b$ = “where are you?”: GOSUB send.it

b$ = “are you here?”: GOSUB send.it

b$ = “I’m all alone here.”: GOSUB send.it

b$ = “I’m talking to myself.”: GOSUB send.it

b$ = “I’m dying of lonliness and boredom.”

END IF

IF LEFT$(b$, 5) = “/hilo” THEN

IF word1$ = “” THEN word1$ = “No Text Entered “

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(word1$)

IF MID$(word1$, x, 1) = “ “ THEN

word$ = MID$(word1$, x + 1, LEN(b$) - x)

x = LEN(word1$)

END IF

NEXT x

g$ = word1$

FOR x = 1 TO LEN(g$) - 1

b$ = MID$(g$, x, 1)

GOSUB send.it

NEXT x

word1$ = “”

END IF

RETURN

about:

COLOR 2, 9

LOCATE 8

FOR x = 1 TO 12

LOCATE , 21

PRINT STRING$(40, “ “)

NEXT x

LOCATE 8, 22

PRINT “ “

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ Welcome to TALK in da classroom “

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ “

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “Good luck running this on your OWN net.”

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ “

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ Version: “; version$

LOCATE , 22

PRINT “ “

LOCATE CSRLIN + 2, 22

PRINT “Compiled 5/30/1996”

LOCATE CSRLIN + 1, 22

PRINT “ Hit any key”

ask$ = INPUT$(1)

COLOR 7, 0

LOCATE 8

FOR x = 1 TO 12

LOCATE , 21

PRINT STRING$(40, “ “)

NEXT x

GOSUB menu.bottom

RETURN

factory:

col = 1 ‘assume color monitor

IF INSTR(COMMAND$, “BW”) THEN col = 0 ‘user wants black/white

ms = 1 ‘assume mouse

IF INSTR(COMMAND$, “IM”) THEN ms = 0 ‘user doesn’t want mouse

COLOR 7, col * 5

bl = 25

FOR i = 1 TO 10 ‘HiPos1() holds the location in each menu

HiPos1(i) = 1 ‘name for the ‘hot’ key - in this case it

NEXT i ‘is the first letter in each name.

‘Load in menu data from data statements at the end of this program

GOSUB set.params

menuline$ = “ File Macros User PrivateMsg About “

menurow = 1 ‘Screen row of menu line

menucol = 1 ‘Beginning column position

menuattr = 7 * 16 + 5 ‘Menu color

hotattr = 7 * 16 + 15 ‘Hot key hilite color

hiattr = 0 * 16 + 2 ‘Hilite bar color

NVattr = 7 * 16 + 8 ‘color for grayed-out

‘selections

clearafter = 1 ‘erase menu after selection

menuslct = 1 ‘menu to start with

snd = 0 ‘turn sound on

shadow = 4

COLOR 0, 7

LOCATE 1, 1

PRINT menuline$;

RETURN

COLOR 7, 0

CLS

END

set.params:

qbmouse 2, 0, 0, 0 ‘turn off mouse cursor

RESTORE pulldownmenudata

FOR menu = 1 TO 5

IF menu = 4 THEN

MaxItems(menu) = chatters

MaxSize(menu) = 10

FOR slct = 1 TO chatters

item$(menu, slct) = chatters$(slct)

HiPos2(menu, slct) = 1

valid(menu, slct) = 1

toggle(menu, slct) = 0

NEXT slct

menu = 5

END IF

READ MaxItems(menu) ‘Number of selections in each menu

READ MaxSize(menu) ‘Max length of items in each menu

FOR slct = 1 TO MaxItems(menu)

READ item$(menu, slct) ‘Text displayed for selection

READ HiPos2(menu, slct) ‘Hot key for each selection in menu

READ valid(menu, slct) ‘Determines if grayed out or not

READ toggle(menu, slct) ‘Determines if selection can be

NEXT slct

NEXT menu

CALL qbmouse(0, 0, 0, 0) ‘initialize mouse

CALL qbmouse(1, 0, 0, 0) ‘show mouse cursor

CALL qbmouse(10, 0, &H7000, 3844) ‘set mouse cursor

RETURN

pulldownmenudata:

‘File menu

DATA 4,13

DATA “Upgrade”,1,1,0

DATA “~”,0,0,0

DATA “DOS Shell”,1,1,0

DATA “Exit (ESC)”,2,1,0

‘Macros menu

DATA 6,10

DATA “/yell “,2,1,0

DATA “/yawn”,3,1,0

DATA “/hilo”,2,1,0

DATA “/hehe”,3,1,0

DATA “/wait”,2,1,0

DATA “/quit”,2,1,0

‘User menu

DATA 9,20

DATA “Send a Message”,1,1,0

DATA “Page User to Talk”,1,1,0

DATA “~”,0,0,0

DATA “Funky Characters”,1,1,0

DATA “~”,0,0,0

DATA “Refresh Screen”,1,1,0

DATA “View Session”,1,1,0

DATA “~”,0,0,0

DATA “Lock...”,1,1,0

‘About menu

DATA 2,10

DATA “Info...”,1,1,0

DATA “About...”,1,1,0

‘Chatters menu

DATA 0,0

‘Debug menu

DATA 0,0

‘Calls menu

DATA 0,0

‘Options menu

DATA 0,0

REM $STATIC

DEFSNG A-Z

SUB cursor

LOCATE 4, 15

COLOR 22, 3

PRINT “_”;

END SUB

DEFINT A-Z

SUB qbmouse (a, b, c, d)

SHARED reg AS regtype

reg.ax = a

reg.bx = b

reg.cx = c

reg.dx = d

CALL interrupt(&H33, reg, reg)

a = reg.ax

b = reg.bx

c = reg.cx

d = reg.dx

END SUB