Software by Terry McConnell ( Available for ftp.)

Disclaimer: This is very much alpha software ( is there a letter before alpha ?) Use at your own risk.

Software ports for Minix.

I have ported a number of popular Gnu and other software packages to the 32 bit version of Minix 2.0 running on Intel platforms.

xplore .04

a text-mode filesystem browser. OK, maybe it's not going to put Bill Gates out of business, but I think it's kind of nifty, and the price is right. This version comes with a prebuilt executable for Minix, but it should build on any Un*x system with curses. (It looks a lot prettier if you have ncurses or compatible library.) Where do you want to go today? (45K .tar.Z file)

turing 1.2

a compiler and simulator of turing machine programs. Turing machine programs can be written in a simple language that supports macros with arguments, include files, conditional expressions, and a number of other convenient directives. After compilation is complete, one can optionally simulate the resulting machine. By default, the program reports a snapshot of the tape contents in the vicinity of the read head after each cycle, but other types of display are possible. There are many included turing programs, including machines for multiplication, addition, and other arithmetic functions, as well as an implementation of a universal turing machine. (Source code. 75K tgz file.)

tableau 1.0 (very much alpha)

A tool for analyzing wffs (well-formed formulas) of propositional logic. Allows you to enter a formula at the command line and create either a truth table or analytic tableau. To get an idea of what it can do, try this online version

Mintools

a set of utilities for DOS that can be used to copy files from Minix hard-drive partitions or floppies. These are 16 bit programs and will also run in a DOS box under windows.

Utility to Boot a Hardrive Partition from DOS.

This utility, originally written by Claudio Tantignone to allow the user to boot Minix from the DOS 6.xx config.sys menu, has been modified to allow the user to boot any harddrive partition (active or not) or floppy drive from the DOS command line. It uses some elements incorporated from the program Loadlin by Hans Lerman. The package, called mloader.zip, includes all source code and documentation.

ext2tools ,

a set of utilities for Minix that allow files to copied from a Linux ext2 filesystem. This is a port of the suite for MS-DOS written by Claus Tondering. Includes executables, source code, and documentation (82K).

Crypto ,

source code for a suite of programs for Unix that implement encryption methods of historical interest. The programs are designed to work as much as possible like the standard Unix program crypt. Includes examples of both substitution and transposition ciphers, including the caesar, vigenere, beaufort, playfair, enigma, and others. These programs are intended for educational use only: they do not provide sufficient security to be used for serious encryption. Version 1.4. (75K)

TruthTable,

a java application with supporting classes for creating truth tables from well-formed formulas in propositional calculus. Unarchive in a directory on your CLASSPATH. Then say "java TruthTable" and do the obvious. (Includes documentation comments suitable for javadoc.) (12K jar archive.)

• Morse: a morse code program:

  Translates text files into morse code which can be played on the PC's speakers. Includes source code, makefiles, and a prebuilt executable for 16 bit DOS running on a 386 or better. Version 1.0. (54K)

• Deadlin: A clone of edlin for Unix.

  Yes, folks, this is what the world has been waiting for. A program that behaves as much as possible like the (in)famous MS-DOS line editor, yet will compile and run on any Unix system. Think of this as my contribution to software preservation.

  Quickies: source code for some simple examples and utilities.

  Pacer: a pacing calculator for runners. NeXTStep or Windows 95

  Set distances and target times on sliders and read out split times for various distances. Or set desired split times and read out total time. (Doesn't do the running for you, though. )

  Winvenn: a venn diagram demo program for Windows 95.

  Allows students to explore set notation with venn diagrams by interactively shading a venn diagram with the mouse.

  Terry's Own Shell,

  a shell for DOS/Windows with syntax loosely based upon the Bourne shell.

  Includes executable, source code, and documentation. Both 16 and 32 bit DOS versions are provided, as well as a version for Win32. The latest version supports running shells in multiple console windows with IPC commands for parallel programming amongst shells, as well as history list, command completion, and command line editing. A demo program which solves the "Dining Philosophers problem" is included. Also includes a clone of the DOS dir command with source code. Many example shell scripts are included. Version 2.1 (1.07 Mbytes).

  Alarm: installs a TSR which will set off an alarm after a given time.(50K)

  This is a DOS program which uses the PC's timer to set an alarm up to 234 hours in the future, and to specify a message which will be printed to the screen at alarm time. The bell is also sounded at alarm time. This can be useful as a reminder to clean up and disconnect from a limited time connection. Includes an uninstall option. Version 1.2. Includes C and assembly source code.

  Score Self-extracting archive which installs a scoring program for our noontime running league. See my running page for more information on the noontime running league and for the latest data files needed by this program. (150K)

  Copy scrdist into a directory of its own and then say scrdist at the DOS prompt. This will extract the scoring program called score.exe and all of its auxiliary files. If you run score as is, it will score the 1995 season. The program is menu driven, and should be self-explanatory. Use the /help or /? option for a brief usage message.

  mkbfd: Make a bootable Linux floppy (13K Linux)

  This shell script, written jointly with Vince Fatica, automates the process of creating a stand-alone bootable floppy disc for linux. Everybody should have a couple of these around for emergencies or risky experiments. (This is now quite dated, but may be useful as a guide for those interested in creating their own standalone floppies.)

  print_screen: Allows you to set up your print screen key in Linux so that it works much the same way it does in DOS. (3K Linux)

  gui: C/C++ source for a DOS user interface.

  This is boiler plate code for a pretty standard document-view user interface with menuing, dialog boxes, and an editable main window. It runs under DOS and can be built with BORLAND C/C++ 4.5. It is basically a minimally featured full-screen editor with obvious places to put hooks to your own back-end code. The file menu is fully operational. Includes executable, source code, README, man page, and makefile. (54K zip file).

• cc: Poor Man's C-compiler front-end.

  This is a Bourne shell script c-compiler driver. Comes with man page. Recognizes all the usual options.

• truename: Unix utility. Give the true name of a symbolic link.

  C source code for a utility which reports the pathname at the end of a chain of symbolic links. Also cleans up ./ and ../ constructions in path. Includes makefile and man page.

• Monkey: a Markov chain random text generating program.

  Produces a sequence of random characters with the distribution of each character depending on the most recent 4 characters. The distribution is based upon an analysis of a sample text. (The default is /usr/dict/words, but any sample text can be used.) Inspired by the article, W.R. Bennett, Jr., "How Artificial is Intelligence?", Amer. Scientist, 65(1977), 694-702. Source code. Should build on any unix system. Run a cgi demo

  You can also run a cgi script that will calculate the relative frequency of occurence of a given string of letters in /usr/dict/words. This will show, e.g., that the letter e occurs in English about 11% of the time.