| Willem's public directory
|
0.75 Beta Release - 07/13/99
INTRODUCTION --
TiK is a pure Tcl/Tk 8.0 version of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). The
TiK client began its life as a scaled down version of the native Windows
and Macintosh clients. However, TiK now has most of the features the
native clients have, plus some extras. TiK includes a graphical buddy
list display plus packages for away messages, buddy pounce, buddy
ticker, quick chat, and im capturing. It is very easy for end users
to add new features to TiK, using Tcl/Tk. TiK is meant to give UNIX
users an alternative to the Java client.
While TiK does work on Windows and Macintosh platforms, we do not
test on these platforms, and provide no active support. Most
Windows and Macintosh users should use the native clients, available from
http://www.aol.com/aim/ However experienced Windows and Macintosh users
are welcome to try out TiK.
TiK *REQUIRES* Tcl/Tk 8.0, since 8.0 has better binary, socket,
and file event support. Development and testing of TiK is currently
done with Tcl/Tk 8.0.4. The Tcl/Tk 8.1 alpha releases should work with
TiK, however we do not support them or actively test with them.
Tcl/Tk 8.0 is available from http://www.scriptics.com.
The Tac client is not longer included with TiK. Please visit
the TiK homepage for a link to the new Tac web page.
HOMEPAGE --
Please check for new versions at http://www.aim.aol.com/tik,
before reporting bugs or feature requests. Things are
changing rapidly right now.
FAQs --
There are several FAQs on the home page.
INSTALLATION --
1) Change into the the location where you want the "tik" directory created:
"cd /usr/local" for example.
2) Unarchive the client: "gzcat tik.tar.gz | tar -xf -"
3) OPTIONAL: Add a link into a directory in your path so you
just have to type "tik" to run the client.
"ln -s /usr/local/tik/tik.tcl /usr/local/bin/tik"
TO RUN --
Once you have Tcl/Tk 8.0 installed you should just need to run TiK with:
"tik.tcl" or "tik"
Some machines don't have a plain "wish" binary installed, and instead
have the version number attached. So you may need to use:
"wish8.0 tik.tcl" or "wish8.0 /usr/local/tik/tik.tcl"
When you run TiK, it will automatically create a ~/.tik directory
and copy the example tikrc and tikpre files there.
PACKAGES --
For a short while packages lived in the ~/.tik/packages
directory. This was very confusing to new users. They
now ONLY live with TiK itself, in the packages directory.
You do NOT need to do anything to start using the included
packages. Delete the packages you don't wanted loaded.
PROTOCOL --
TiK uses the TOC application protocol which is documented in the PROTOCOL
file. We have provided a tcl implementation of TOC inside of toc.tcl. The
TOC application protocol runs on top of SFLAP, which is a framing
transport protocol. The TOC protocol is not the same as the full
protocol used by the native AOL Instant Messenger clients.
IMPORTING/EXPORTING CONFIG --
TiK stores the buddy list on the server. It is possible to import
and export the buddy list from the server using the configTool.tcl
program, or from the File menu in TiK. The format of the saved config
file is very simple, however it is NOT the same as that used by that
Java client or native clients.
Newer version of TiK can import the buddy list from
the Java Client AIM.cfg file or from the config file for native
clients. It doesn't import the permit/deny settings however.
CONTRIBUTORS --
The following people have contributed ideas or code segments to
TiK and have given permission for their name and/or email address
to be included. If we have missed listing your name, please send
us mail (tictoc-list@aol.net).
Vikash Ravi Goel
Erik Fichtner
Sheraz Sharif
Bucky LaDieu
Alexey Nogin
Michael D. Beynon
Mike LoPresti
Ward I Fisher
Brian Lalor
Bob Dedrick
Will Woods
Ken Oster
Larry Clapp (AIM: BvSrRobin)
Don Kennedy
Kriston J. Rehberg
Bob Dedrick
Jeff Taylor
Jamus Jegier
|