NH>          Ok great..  So does anyone have any ideas on how we can get 
 NH>          this done?  Maybe someone that has access to setting up a file 
 NH>   echo? 
Nathan, Sam and others,
Since I am now fairly sure you are talking about distributing
Commo via the Fidonet filebone, I'll add my two cents worth.
Although I am not extremely familiar with the inner workings of
the beast, I do understand the basics.
First of all, generally speaking, a file echo isn't created for
an individual program, mainly I suppose because it simply doesn't
add much to the efficiency of distribution!  That is, even if one
subscribes to one of the filebone echos for their system, they
still have to tell their BBS to call their respective hub to pick
up the files automatically put on hold for them, the primary
advantage being they don't have to specifically request the
individual files.  Obviously, if the number of files is great
this is a distinct advantage, but in the case of a single file
like we're talking about here, released at the most every couple
of weeks or so, well, just ain't no big deal!
Secondly, we already have several Fidonet systems handling the
Commo releases and betas, mine included, and most of us are file
requestable 23 hours a day, the sole exception being national
mail hour! (Currently 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM EDT)  As long as your
mailer can fall back to the Fidonet FTS0001 standard, a
requirement demanded both by the vanilla Opus I'm running and
Fidonet policy, you can get Commo and/or its betas from here by
the magic file names "COMMO" and "BETA" respectively.
Finally, and this truly does break my heart, I've seen the
Fidonet filebone distribution system dwindle day by day over the
past several months, and in particular, the number of DOS,
nonWindows programs being distributed is minimal!  There is a
COMM PROGRAM echo I am fairly sure, probably the most appropriate
place to put the Commo releases and betas for distribution, but I
am not sure how one would go about doing this let alone whether
it would even be worth the effort!
Quite honestly, way back when I was paying attention to what came
out in the COMM PROGRAM file echo there was little activity, and
it may even have disappeared by now due to lack of interest!
If indeed I thought filebone distribution would benefit Commo in
any way, trust me, I'd go through the effort of making it
available via that means.  Unfortunately though, the filebone,
although not broken yet, isn't the valuable resource it once was!
Just another sign of the effect of mass access to the Internet on
Fidonet!
                                        Willie
... BlinkTalk, Commo and Silver in Pittsburgh!
--- Via Silver Xpress V4.3 BT006
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