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The America Online Protocol Revealed
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.
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.