IRATA.ONLINE: A Community for Retro-Computing Enthusiasts | Hacker News Reader

IRATA.ONLINE: A Community for Retro-Computing Enthusiasts

irata.online

218 pointsBluestein59 comments

Irata.online: A PLATO service for retro computing enthusiasts - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32600338 - Aug 2022 (26 comments)

Irata.online a modern implementation of the PLATO computing system - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24207044 - Aug 2020 (1 comment)

Thom did great work on the Plato stuff. Also be sure to check out his Fujinet work, really nicely done. Ported to many platforms too.

Can someone explain what this is? It says its a community, so is it forum? But if it is than what does it mean by installing it? Or is it a forum software that anyone can install on one of the compatible platforms to start a new community?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmWcGhlXqA

Sorry, i get what the PLATO system is (was?), but I can't get what the IRATA.ONLINE is and how its related. Is it a revival of this PLATO., or a PLATO system, what's the cool thing about it? that you can get Apple II to connect to a service and stream ASCII?

Really, this video is not really descriptive, and question by @op stays.

https://irata.online/#features seems to cover it? It's a multi-user terminal system where you can log in, send text to other users, and run games and applications. It's not clear if the server software is available, but the links are to various client software for connecting to their service.

Sounds like the Mex language back in the BBS era.

Is this in any way related to the Irata of Commodore 64 fame? The site doesn’t seem to contain a reference. The Irata I knew from the C64 demo scene is https://csdb.dk/scener/?id=4380

Not that I am aware of. It is a revival of the PLATO networked learning environment.

For context:

Donald Bitzer, a pioneer of cyberspace and plasma screens, dies at 90

He helped shape cyberculture as the father of PLATO, a computer-based educational network that sparked the development of plasma screens and digital messaging.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/12/13/donald-...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42406158

I am. And it is the best thing. Happiness on a level for no money that money alone cannot buy.

You can connect to it via the cross-platform microM8 Apple IIe emulator https://paleotronic.com/microm8 -- there's an option on the startup menu screen to connect to irata.online using the Apple II DHGR client

Man, I have to get my 800xl running again.

This looks very interesting!

I had one of those. Good times! Also, came with a (treasured) spacefighting game on a cartridge (can't remember the name) and another - rather more strange one - on a listing, where you could run a (rather detailed) nuclear plant. Great machine ...

Probably Star Raiders. Great Game!

I am sure that was it. Now, to find an emulator online :)

Alterra is one of the better ones.

That is a great game! It was very influential too.

No scoring system, just a rank. I still enjoy playing once in a while.

There is a slow down that happens when multiple enemies are destroyed and the computer cannot compute all the particles.

Someone fixed it a while back and the game runs at a perfect 60/50hz. I played that and the game seemed stale, not "alive" like the original.

Same with an arcade game by Williams: DEFENDER. The slowdowns are awesome and add to the game experience in ways not really foreseen by the original creator.

Kind of like an unforeseen "bullet time"?

The reactor simulation was probably Scram. I had it on cassette. It was written in Basic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scram_(video_game)

Indeed. It being BASIC tracks well with my remembering having played it, with no tape drive. I must have typed it! :)

This is amazing.

Are there any Windows 3.11 programs that support PLATO?

I'd love to add this by default on my virtual PC at pieter.com.

Would be great if this could be accessed with an iPad .. anyone working on an iOS client?

The web client can be used on any system with a suitable web browser. Press the orange button on the website. :)

Retro computing with those massive modern buttons with insane padding rings a bit…

The PTerm app no longer works on modern MacOS unfortunately.

Yep. Per the developer(s):

NOTE: 12/1/2024 - We are aware that the Mac DMG does not install on Mac OS Sequoia. You can try the Java Pterm until such time that the programmer can get a new Mac and test and build a new package.

https://cyber1.org/pterm.asp

'īrāta' means 'angry [woman]', fwiw.