Cater Deep Dive

Cater is a useful VT100 terminal app for Apple2 (enhanced), Atari and C64. OliverS has ported it over to use the FujiNet as it’s networking device and added SSH and TELNET support. It’s available on my TNFS server:

TNFS://fujinet.diller.org/APPLE/FN-LIB-APPS/caterEnh–4.3.1.po

TNFS://fujinet.diller.org/ATARI/FN-LIB-APPS/cater.4.3.1.atr

It’s 99% assembly and very fast. Below is a short guide for the Apple2 Version.

Cater: Terminal Emulator for Apple II

User Guide

1. Introduction

Cater is a high-performance terminal emulator for the Apple II computer. It allows users to connect to remote systems via Telnet and SSH protocols, providing a fast and feature-rich terminal experience.

2. Key Features

Direct video RAM writing for optimal speed
Support for complex terminal applications like Midnight Commander
Compatibility with VT100 terminal specifications
Integration with FN-Lib for network connectivity

3. System Requirements

Apple II computer
FujiNet Device connected to SmartPort

This build support Enhanced Apple2 only. Enhanced is the uplift Apple released in 1985 which replaced 4 chips in the current Apple IIe and gave it a new CPU and lowercase and mousetext. Most Apple IIe are ‘enhanced’ as owners purchased this. All Apple IIc, IIc+ and IIGS are of course enhanced as well. This means the Cater app will not run on older, non-enhanced Apple II.

4. Getting Started

4.1. Launch Cater on your Apple II system by mounting the PO image on a TNFS server or SD card.
4.2. Use the application to establish a Telnet or SSH connection to a remote system.

5. Usage Tips

5.1. Screen Size

Cater reports a default screen size of 80×24 characters.

5.2. Character Set

To avoid UTF-8 compatibility issues, use the following command on the remote system:
```
export LANG=C
export TERM=VT100
```

5.3. Function Key Emulation

For applications requiring F1-F10 keys, use the following key combination:
- Press 'Esc' followed quickly by a number key (1-0)
- Example: 'Esc' + '1' emulates F1

5.4. Midnight Commander Usage

Launch Midnight Commander on the remote system.
Use Ctrl-O to toggle panel visibility.

6. Limitations

6.1. Highlighting

Cater for Apple II does not support text highlighting.
This may affect visibility of selections in multi-file operations.

6.2. Retry Functionality

Due to the fast disk I/O on Apple II, Cater does not include a retry feature for program loading.
Users can quickly rerun the program if needed by selecting it from the BitsyBye menu.

7. Performance

Cater offers exceptional speed by writing directly to video RAM, bypassing abstraction layers. This design choice enables smooth operation of complex terminal applications.

8. Origin and Development

Cater was originally developed as a serial terminal for the Commodore 64. It was later adapted for use as a Telnet client on both the C64 and Apple II. The current version incorporates FN-Lib, replacing the previous Telnet code.

9. Support

For additional support or information, please refer to the original Cater documentation or visit us on the FujiNet Discord. Links to the Discord are available at http://fujinet.online.

This guide provides a simple overview of the Cater application for Apple II users, focusing on its key features, usage instructions, and important considerations.

Some Images of Cater on an Apple IIc: