spacer graphic

e-Picture

Be Developers:
Put your banner here!

spacer graphic
infoIcon graphic [Bar]


IconWorld
A Guide to BeOS System Objects

 

Icon

The SerialConnect Icon
Location in the BeOS:
/beos/apps/SerialConnect

[INTERIOR:DAY Television studio of a local access cable station. Two weathered but fashionable chairs sit on opposite sides of an glass-top coffee table that has seen better days. Camera and lighting equipment feed into a bank of computers running the BeOS.]

[F/X: Icon World intro theme music]

[F/X: Applause]

[Fade up houselights to reveal weathered but fashionable host Trent Bafflegaff sitting with this week's guest]

TRENT: Welcome to Icon World! I'm your host, Trent Bafflegaff. This week, we're honored to have with us in the studio the lovely and talented SerialConnect. Welcome, Serial.

SerialConnect: Thanks, Trent.

TRENT: So Serial, as I understand it, one of your main duties is serial debugging?

SerialConnect: Yes, that's right.

TRENT: Fascinating. So, can you tell us exactly which serial tends to give users the most trouble? Fruit Loops? Trix? I know I only understand about half of what my Rice Krispies tell me to do every morning.

SerialConnect: Ummm, what I do has nothing to do with breakfast cereal.

TRENT: It doesn't?

SerialConnect: No.

[TRENT hurriedly consults The Regis Guide to Talk Show Host Suaveness]

TRENT: [laughing] Well then, it looks like our producer has another of his nephews working in the research department.

[F/X: Strained Laughter]

SerialConnect: Serial debugging actually refers to serial line debugging.

TRENT: Ah, now I understand.

SerialConnect: Do you?

TRENT: Err, no.

SerialConnect: When working on an operating system or application, it's useful to know exactly what's going on a step-by-step level. This way, if something goes wrong the engineer has a pretty good idea of what causes the error and how to fix it. This information is passed out the serial port, through a cable to me. Then I display it for the engineer.

TRENT: Why not just display it on the screen of the computer with the problem?

SerialConnect: What if the problem is with the video display and you can't see anything?

TRENT: Oh, right.

SerialConnect: Besides, most users don't want to be bothered with that information.

TRENT: So most users will never see you? That's just great. Well, that's about all the time we have for...

SerialConnect: [interrupting] Actually, Trent there's more.

TRENT: More? My brain is already full.

SerialConnect: I can also be used with a modem to connect to other computers remotely.

TRENT: A-ha! People use you to connect to the Internet, right?

SerialConnect: Wrong.

TRENT: Darn.

SerialConnect: My good friend DialUpNetworking handles connections to the Internet - that requires a TCP/IP stack. I'm used more for connecting directly to another computer, perhaps one that is running a BBS.

TRENT: Well, I didn't understand most of what you said, but I'm sure it was fascinating.

SerialConnect: As are you Trent.

TRENT: Of course! Thanks for coming on the show, and I hope you had a great experience.

SerialConnect: Not really.

TRENT: Whatever. [turns to cameras] Thanks for tuning in to Icon World. Be sure to tune in next week for more inside stories of BeOS icons. I'm your host, Trent Bafflegaff. Click safely.

[F/X: Icon World exit theme music]

[Fade lights]

[Roll credits]


Copyright ©1998 Be, Inc. Be is a registered trademark, and BeOS, BeBox, BeWare, GeekPort, the Be logo and the BeOS logo are trademarks of Be, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Icons used herein are the property of Be Inc. All rights reserved.
Comments about this site? Please write us at webmaster@be.com.