=== ABOUT ===

basic.perl, a glue script to put Chipmunk Basic on the AIM network.
by timethy@tmail@com
*** free software, please share ***

integrating code from:  http://www.wiredbots.com/ (AIM bot templates)

=== INSTALL ===

This perl script needs Chipmunk Basic, get it at:
http://www.rahul.net/rhn/basic/
Copy "basic" to your path. (/usr/bin/ is a good spot)

Install the Perl modules
perl -MCPAN -e 'install Net::AIM'
perl -MCPAN -e 'install LWP::Simple'


=== CONFIGURE ===

Edit the basic.pl file and put in your bot's
desired AIM username and password. You have to
goto http://www.aol.com to register it.

The script forks a new process for every new 
connection. Set $maxconn to maximum connections.

=== USAGE ===

Run the basicloop.sh shell script. It runs basic.pl
in an infinite loop. If it succeeds you should see
status messages being posted. Press CTRL-C to stop.

The reason to use basicloop.sh is because basic.pl
is not fully robust. If BASIC closes before 
basic.pl expects it to, it will crash. But it's a soft
crash, and you can start right back up.

Use another AIM account and send a message to
your bot's account. Your bot will respond with a
greeting message. To begin a BASIC session
type "basic".

Type "quit" to quit.

=== BLAH ===

One bug is that BASIC error messages do not get
sent to the AIM user. They show up on the server
computer, but aren't visible (yet) to this script. The
BASIC session and program remain intact though.

Another bug is that excessive AIM output, such as
very long program listings (several hundred lines)
or program output, will get the bot kicked off
AIM. basicloop.sh will restart it but all sessions
in progress will be lost. To avoid this, do not
program very long output sequences, and use
selective list, for example:

list -1000
list 1000-2000
list 3000-4000

Save often... and HAVE FUN!! ;)

Your comments are welcome:
timethy@tmail@com