NEWS

What has changed on the service, newest first.

1 August 2026

Web client now available... or roll your own!

We recently launched a WEB CLIENT that makes it easier than ever before to connect to Compunet Reborn. Nothing beats using a C64 (perhaps an Amiga?) but now you can do it from the comfort of your own web browser.

It runs in any modern browser, with nothing to install. The same code also packages into a proper desktop app, so native Windows, Mac and Linux versions follow from the same source — Windows is already built and won't be far behind.

All available via https://compunet.live/

Roll your own client

Alongside the web client, we've taken everything that makes Compunet what it is - the look and feel, the frame and directory formats, how uploads, downloads, mail and Partyline work, right down to the bytes on the wire - and codified it into a formal specification.

Nine separate clients have been built from that document alone — each by a fresh builder with no access to the Compunet source, and each tested against the live server. Every point where the spec turned out to be silent, ambiguous or simply wrong was logged and fixed.

So if you fancy a Compunet client for a machine we haven't thought of, everything you need is here:

https://github.com/tgreaves/compunet-reborn/tree/main/docs/spec

30 July 2026

A native Amiga client

Hi everyone,

Most of you will remember Compunet from the C64 perspective and all its glorious PETSCII glory.

There was also a client for the Amiga. I'd been trying to track it down for AGES but failed. Aminet? Nope. Web searches? Nope. Linked on any forum threads about Compunet? Nope. I assumed it was lost forever.

MW20 to the rescue: He found the client on a 17-Bit Software Public Domain disc!

As with the C64 client, this had a hard requirement on a real modem. I have disassembled it, converted it back to C, and added TCP/IP support. This means that if you have an Amiga with a TCP/IP stack (Kickstart 2.04+) you can connect to Compunet Reborn.

The Amiga client was released in the days of the Workbench 1.3, so it has a very dated look by Amiga standards (no modern GUI elements). It also relies on Amiga-style fonts for PETSCII rendering so everything is vertically stretched. All of that is authentic to the Amiga original!

The client can be found on the Compunet Reborn web site and, of course, on Aminet!

Enjoy,

Tristan // ADMIN

https://compunet.live/

29 June 2026

Compunet Reborn: v1.0.0 (First stable release)

After months of intensive development and testing with the community, I'm pleased to announce that Compunet Reborn has reached v1.0.0 — our first stable release.

The Community

We now have 93 registered users and a growing library of user-contributed content:

  • 269 pages across 57 directories
  • 385 text frames (graphics, articles, news)
  • 146 programs available for download
  • Active Partyline chat sessions most evenings

What's New Since My Last Email

Performance

  • ACK-based flow control — page loads and downloads are dramatically faster. The server adapts to your connection speed with zero fixed delays.
  • LINKING — the terminal code is now downloaded on-demand from the server in ~3 seconds. Client PRG reduced from 12K to 5.5K. Server-side updates deploy instantly to all users on next connect.
  • 8K CRT cartridge — plug in and go. Works on VICE and C64 Ultimate.
  • CNLOAD/CNSAVE — cache the terminal to disk for instant reconnects (skips the 3-second download).

Partyline

  • Multi-room chat with *enter, *who, *where, *alias, *call, *dice
  • Scrollable chat history (255 lines, cursor up/down)
  • *save — save your chat log to disk as a SEQ file
  • Room names and aliases match original Compunet conventions (8 char max)

PETSCII Terminal Mode (port 6401)

  • Full server-rendered BBS interface — no custom client required
  • Works with SyncTerm, CCGMS, StrikeTerm, UltimateTerm, or any PETSCII terminal
  • Complete command set, XMODEM file transfers, frame editor, mail, partyline

Content & Features

  • "WHAT'S NEW?" dynamic page — see the latest uploads at a glance
  • Upload replace — update your own content without creating duplicates
  • VOTE/NUM column matching original Compunet format
  • Courier mail with proper header logo (thanks JS7!)
  • Upload date column, directory paging, UCAT improvements

Stability

  • Dozens of crash fixes (NMI/banking conflicts, memory corruption, protocol edge cases)
  • TCP keepalives prevent idle disconnects through NAT/firewalls

How to Connect

  • Website: https://compunet.live
  • C64 Ultimate / SwiftLink: vme.compunet.live:6400
  • PETSCII Terminal (SyncTerm): vme.compunet.live:6401
  • Downloads: https://compunet.live/connect (CRT, PRG, D64)

What's Next

We're continuing to add content, improve historical accuracy, and work on a modern cross-platform client. If you have original Compunet content (SEQ files, programs, screenshots), we'd love to hear from you.

Thanks to everyone who has tested, reported bugs, contributed content, and kept the spirit of Compunet alive.

Kind regards,

Tris // ADMIN

THE LIVE ONE LIVES ON — 2026

30 May 2026

Terminal support // v0.8-beta

Hi everyone,

Firstly, a reminder that our very first PARTYLINE PARTY will be held on Sunday at 7:30pm UK time. Looking forward to seeing as many there as possible.

Terminal access launched!

We now support TERMINAL CONNECTIONS to Compunet. This means you can fire up your favourite PETSCII client on Windows / Mac / Linux (e.g. SyncTerm), or on an actual Commodore 64 (CCGMS, Ultimate Term). I have recreated the Compunet user experience in a classic terminal environment, including the use of XMODEM for file transfers.

The native C64 clients remain the Gold Standard [TM]. Mainly due to the terminal clients not supporting changing the background colour on the fly which is essential for some of the cool frame graphics we know and love.

FULL DETAILS: https://compunet.live/connect

Feedback welcome

Please continue to send your feedback and suggestions. You can Courier ADMIN or use the 'Contact' page on the website.

Bugs and feature requests can also be raised on the GitHub page: https://github.com/tgreaves/compunet-reborn/issues

v0.8-beta

Here's everything new with the latest releases of Compunet Reborn:

0.8.1-BETA (2026-05-30)

  • Terminal:
    • Fixed: charset inconsistency on C64 terminal clients (#56). DIR and MAIL screens no longer switch charset during rendering — eliminates flickering and graphical corruption when scrolling.
    • Terminal type selection on connection: C64 clients get full charset switching, PC terminals (SyncTerm) suppress $8E/$0E to avoid conflicts with fixed-font rendering.
    • Fixed: frame charset detection now properly parses RLE codes instead of naively scanning for $0E bytes (was misidentifying RLE counts as charset switches).
    • ID command implemented in MAIL duckshoot (user ID lookup with real name display).
    • Partyline: shared command handler (process_input) for both protocol and terminal clients — all commands available (dice, kick, ban, call etc). Proper PETSCII-to-ASCII conversion preserves mixed case. Name displayed on separate line from message (matches C64 client format).
    • Partyline: scrollable chat history (100 lines, cursor up/down).
    • Partyline: double-RETURN to send (first RETURN = line break).
    • Font recommendation changed to "Commodore 64 (LOWER)" for SyncTerm.

0.8-BETA (2026-05-29)

  • PETSCII Terminal Mode (port 6401):
    • Server-rendered BBS interface for any PETSCII terminal (SyncTerm, CCGMS, StrikeTerm, UltimateTerm). No custom client required.
    • C64-accurate directory display with borders, duckshoot, welcome screen.
    • Full command set: DIR, SHOW, BACK, GOTO, MAIL, ACCNT, LIFE, VOTE, BUY, UPLD, EDITR, UCAT, HELP, LEAVE, WHO.
    • XMODEM-CRC/1K file transfers (upload and download).
    • Frame editor with 20-frame memory, free cursor editing, GET/PUT/STORE.
    • Mail: inbox browsing, read, compose with COURIER envelope and delivery.
    • Partyline: bordered chat UI, integrated with protocol client users.
    • Auto-detect Raw/Telnet connections.
  • Client:
    • Page numbers right-aligned in directory listings.
    • Column headers indented one space from separator.
  • Server:
    • Port 6401 listener added to main server event loop.
    • Dockerfile updated: terminal.py included, port 6401 exposed.
    • docker-compose.yml: port 6401 mapped.
  • Website:
    • Connect page: PETSCII terminal setup instructions (SyncTerm), registration step, C64 terminal client recommendations.

0.7.2-BETA (2026-05-29)

  • Client:
    • Fixed: CPU JAM ($0008) on MAIL command and other multi-packet directory responses. NMI handler now saves/restores $01 and ensures I/O is visible (ORA #$06) before accessing ACIA registers. Previously, if NMI fired while the directory parser had KERNAL banked out ($01=$34) to read RAM under I/O, the hardware NMI vector at $FFFA/$FFFB read $0000 from RAM causing a jump to zero page.
    • Hardware NMI vector at $FFFA/$FFFB in RAM now set to $CF00 (NMI handler address) during ACIA_INIT, ensuring correct NMI vectoring regardless of current bank configuration.
  • Server:
    • Fixed: WHO IS ONLINE missing users. When a user reconnected (new TCP connection before old session timed out), the old session's disconnect handler removed the user from _online_users even though the new session was still active. Now uses reference-counted tracking — user is only removed from the online set when their last session disconnects.

Thanks everyone for your continued support!

Kind regards,

Tris // ADMIN.