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The America Online Protocol Revealed

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you've-got-something dept.

Gods Misfit writes "The America Online protocol(Connecting, Logging In, Joining Chats, etc..) has remained a mystery for most of its life. The only way one could log into their AOL account was via the AOL software. A few months ago, some people set out to break down the AOL protocol and open the door for alternative America Online software. This document is the result: The AOL Protocol. A sign on example for Visual Basic programmers has been written and is available here." I suspect a fair number of people never try Linux or one of the BSDs because they're moderately happy with AOL as an ISP, and switching OSes would mean switching ISPs at the same time. A shame that AOL doesn't make this kind of information more easily available.

6 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. No, it's the other way around by fobbman · · Score: 2, Troll

    A Linux user logging into AOL would be like an MIT professor showing up on Springer.

  2. Something is missing... by Maj.+Kong · · Score: 0, Troll

    #include <me_too.h>
    #include <a-s-l.h>
    #include <ALLCAPS.H>

    --

    Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.
  3. ISP decides OS, yeah, whatever... by Zed2K · · Score: 0, Troll

    "I suspect a fair number of people never try Linux or one of the BSDs because they're moderately happy with AOL as an ISP, and switching OSes would mean switching ISPs at the same time."

    Oh yeah, thats it exactly, you hit it right on the head. I choose my OS by what ISP I have...bingo. I'm so glad slashdot folks are so damn smart.

  4. Re:AOL is just a modified PlayNet protocol by man_ls · · Score: 0, Troll

    It's great to hear from someone who actually helped to develop the protocol that is being used now. I have a copy of the AOL source and I pasted your comment in to it, but if you wish, I can remove it if you'd prefer to remain anonymous or uninvolved before I post it to Gnutella.

    Thank's for posting this.

    J.Koebel

  5. Oh now its ON! by elroyjenkins · · Score: 0, Troll

    Now I can steal the "Youve got Mail" sound bite and continue my plans to take over the world!

    --
    Did you just grab my ass?
  6. Re:Excellent! by fmaxwell · · Score: 3, Troll

    Pity it's $20 shareware

    Why is it a "pity" that someone can try to earn a living by writing useful computer software? Should talented programmers write software for free and earn a living by flipping burgers or selling drugs? You should be damned glad that he's made a useful package and is only asking $20 for it.

    This whole "all software should be free" crap is really annoying the hell out of me. If someone wants to give away the software that they write for the good of some community, that's very noble, but that doesn't mean that everyone should. I have found that most of the people in the "free software movement" are actually a bunch of leeches that just want to get something for nothing. They don't write software and are frequently just computer users. They give nothing back to the community. But they are the first ones on the FTP site when any new piece of free software hits the platters.

    If you like the package, pay the guy $20. Then send him an e-mail thanking him for making it available for such a small price.