Xavian was originally written by Daniel J Guinan, who then licensed the program (on unfavorable terms to him) to Star Tech for distribution and enhancement.
Xavian, like U.E.S., is a BBS program built on a solid foundation: with tremendous potential that was simply pulled short. It is an op-code driven system, which means that menus are nothing more than a displayable part and a programmed part. The programmed part is an activation sequence (the command the user enters) and a series of commands executed when this sequence is encountered. As mentioned above, U.E.S and Zelch 128 both use this system, although only Zelch 128 has fully implemented the possibilities entailed in such a system.
A programmable system needs to be have sufficiently low level op-codes to allow flexibility, while also having the power to compete with large programs. U.E.S. and Xavian do neither of these, which is a real shame. It is like writing a programming language, and making the language too high level to do new things, or not including enough commands such that your computer's resources are not fully utilitized.
Anyway, Xavian is a program with potential, but unrealized. It is an ASCII only program with a handfull of op-codes all implemented on a very high level. It is not terribly powerfull, though it is fairly easy to use for a op-code BBS program.
Xavian does, however, have the best BBS intro screen I've seen.
Computer : Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode Video : 40 columns Drives : CBM, limited CMD (no parts, no subdirs) Modems : 1650, Hesmodem, 1670, Hayes (300-2400) Input : Keyboard Output : Screen, printer optionally RAM use : N/A Special :
Pgm Struct : Single program Menu Struct : Programmable hotkey menus, with generated displays Translation : ASCII only Access : 99 levels, somewhat customizable (incremental only) Handle/ID : Handles allowed, users listed by ID User info : Handle, name, access, last call User Logs : Not implemented Calls/Time : No call limit, time limit hard coded by level Network : N/A Customizing : Somewhat Programs : Compiled BASIC, not changable Displays : Menus are derived and unchangable, others are SEQ files Commands : Limited programmability, menus are customizable Areas : E-mail : Commands appear on any menus in which they are placed Messages : " Transfers : " Network : N/A Programs : N/A Text : Commands appear on any menus in which they are placed User Cmds : " SysOp : " Voting : N/A News : Single file Help : N/A Other :
Offline : Menu and SEQ editors available Online : Access change, chat Remote : User, SEQ file editors On-L Display: User information window W.F.C. Utils: Parameters, simple terminal program Chatting : From any prompt User : Full editor available Msg Bases : From offline menu editor only, plus delete msg function Transfers : From offline menu editor Programs : N/A Network : N/A Drives : DOS prompt available Terminal : Simple ASCII terminal, no transfers
Structure : Single file only Header : No set header Weeding : But SysOp Display : At logon
Structure : Linear style, unlinked
Bases : Bases linked to menu commands (1 base per msg base cmd)
Limits : Enforced by SysOp
:
Reading : Individual messages only
Headers : From, to, subject, date
Format : Text only
Writing : New posts only, no replies
Anonymous : Not allowed
Network : N/A
Other :
Structure : Line editor Commands : Hitting return on blank line gives a menu Editing : Rewrite a line, delete Formatting : No formatting supported Graphics : Not supported
Bases : Open directory system, commands associated with bases Storage : As marked files Limits : Enforced by SysOp Credits : No credit system implemented Protocols : Punter Headers : Filename, type, blocks Selection : By name Listing : Directory only Network : N/A Other :
Structure : As constructed in a menu, the display of defined files Storage : As standard SEQ files Network : N/A Other :
Structure : Commands appear in any menu Sending : By ID Receiving : At logon, or on demand Network : N/A Other :
Structure : N/A Programs : N/A Network : N/A Other : N/A
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