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399 lines
7.8 KiB
399 lines
7.8 KiB
# TermTCP - Command Line TCP Terminal Client
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A lightweight, zero-dependency command-line TCP client for connecting to TCP servers and BBS systems.
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## Features
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- ✅ **Minimal Dependencies** - No GUI libraries, just standard C POSIX
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- ✅ **Multiple Host Support** - Store and quickly connect to configured hosts
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- ✅ **Session Logging** - Automatic timestamped logging of all traffic
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- ✅ **Color Output** - Optional ANSI color for better readability
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- ✅ **Non-blocking I/O** - Responsive input/output handling
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- ✅ **Command System** - Built-in commands for connection management
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- ✅ **Configuration File** - Easy setup via ~/.termtcprc
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- ✅ **Lightweight** - Single C file, ~400 lines
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## Quick Start
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### Build
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```bash
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make -f Makefile_CLI
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./termtcp
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```
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### First Run
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The application will create `~/.termtcprc` with default configuration.
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### Connect
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```
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> connect 0 # Connect to first configured host
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> list # Show all configured hosts
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> status # Show connection status
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```
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### Send Data
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```
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> Type anything here (not starting with /) to send to server
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> Hello, BBS! # Sends "Hello, BBS!\r"
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```
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### Disconnect
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```
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> disconnect # Close connection
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> quit # Exit the application
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```
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## Configuration
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Edit `~/.termtcprc` to add hosts:
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```
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# Format: host port name
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# Comments start with #
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localhost 8011 Local BBS
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example.com 8011 Remote BBS
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bbs.example.net 9000 Another System
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```
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## Commands
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### Connection Commands
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```
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connect [N] - Connect to host N (default: 0)
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disconnect - Close current connection
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status - Show connection status
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list - List all configured hosts
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```
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### Session Commands
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```
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log on - Enable session logging
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log off - Disable logging
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color on - Enable colored output
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color off - Disable colored output
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```
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### Help & Exit
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```
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help - Show command list
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quit - Disconnect and exit
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exit - Same as quit
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```
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## Command-Line Options
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```
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termtcp [OPTIONS]
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Options:
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-c, --connect N Auto-connect to host N on startup
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-l, --log Enable logging on startup
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-n, --no-color Disable colored output
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-h, --help Show help message
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```
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## Examples
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### Connect and Log Automatically
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```bash
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termtcp -c 0 -l
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# Connects to host 0 and starts logging
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```
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### No Color Mode
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```bash
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termtcp -n
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# Runs without ANSI colors
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```
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### Standard Usage
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```bash
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termtcp
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# Starts interactive, allows manual connection
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```
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## Logging
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When logging is enabled:
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- Creates timestamped log files in current directory
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- Format: `hostname_port_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.log`
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- Records both sent and received data with timestamps
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- Automatic log opening when connecting
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- Use `log off` to disable
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Example log entry:
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```
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[14:35:22] SEND: Hello, World
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[14:35:23] RECV: Welcome to the system!
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```
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## Building
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### Dependencies
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- GCC or Clang
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- POSIX-compliant system (Linux, macOS, BSD)
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- Standard C library
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### Compilation
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```bash
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# Standard build
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gcc -Wall -O2 -o termtcp termtcp_cli.c
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# Or use Makefile
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make -f Makefile_CLI
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```
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### Make Targets
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```
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make -f Makefile_CLI build # Build
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make -f Makefile_CLI run # Build and run
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make -f Makefile_CLI debug # Debug build
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make -f Makefile_CLI install # Install to /usr/local/bin/
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make -f Makefile_CLI clean # Remove artifacts
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```
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## Usage Patterns
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### Simple Connection
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```bash
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$ termtcp
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> list
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Configured Hosts:
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[0] localhost:8011 - Local BBS
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[1] example.com:8011 - Remote BBS
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> connect 0
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Connecting to localhost:8011...
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Connected to: Local BBS
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[Status] Connected to localhost:8011
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> help
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Available Commands:
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connect [host#] - Connect to a host (default: 0)
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...
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> Hello there!
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```
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### Scripted/Automated Connection
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```bash
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# Auto-connect and log
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termtcp -c 0 -l
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# Non-interactive, pipe commands
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echo -e "connect 0\nQUERY\nquit" | termtcp
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```
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### Session Logging for Support
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```
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> log on
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> [do something that fails]
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> log off
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# Now you have a complete log to send to support
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```
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## Configuration File Format
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The `~/.termtcprc` file is simple text format:
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```
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# Comments start with #
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# Empty lines are ignored
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# Format: hostname port shortname
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# BBS Systems
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bbs1.example.com 9000 BBS One
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bbs2.example.com 9000 BBS Two
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# Local Services
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localhost 3000 Local Dev
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192.168.1.10 8080 Lab Server
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# Remote Services
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production.example.com 443 Production
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```
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Notes:
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- Hostname: Can be IP or FQDN
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- Port: Numeric port number (1-65535)
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- Shortname: Display name, no spaces
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## Troubleshooting
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### "Connection timeout"
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- Check hostname/IP is correct
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- Check port number is correct
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- Verify the server is running
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- Check firewall settings
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### "Connection refused"
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- Server is not listening on that port
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- Check port number
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- Server may be down
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### "Failed to resolve hostname"
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- Check DNS configuration
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- Try using IP address instead
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- Check hostname spelling
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### Terminal appears frozen
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- Press Ctrl+C to interrupt
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- Type `quit` and Enter to exit gracefully
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### Characters not displaying
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- Try `color off` if color codes appear
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- Check terminal encoding (should be UTF-8)
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## Performance
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- **Memory Usage**: ~50KB
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- **CPU Usage**: Minimal (event-driven)
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- **Binary Size**: ~40KB (stripped)
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- **Startup Time**: <100ms
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- **Max Line Length**: 512 bytes
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## Technical Details
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### Implementation
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- Single-threaded event loop using `select()`
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- Non-blocking socket I/O
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- Raw terminal mode for responsive input
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- Efficient circular buffering for display
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### Compatibility
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- **Linux**: Full support
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- **macOS**: Full support
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- **BSD**: Full support
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- **Windows**: Possible with Cygwin/WSL
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### Signal Handling
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- SIGTERM: Graceful shutdown
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- SIGINT (Ctrl+C): Immediate exit
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## Limitations
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- Maximum line length: 512 characters
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- Maximum hosts in config: 5
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- Single connection at a time
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- No TLS/SSL support (use tools like `openssl s_client` for secure connections)
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- No proxy support (use SSH tunneling instead)
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## Future Enhancements
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- [ ] IPv6 support
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- [ ] Scripting/automation interface
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- [ ] Terminal scrollback buffer
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- [ ] Search in history
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- [ ] Aliases for commands
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- [ ] Custom prompt configuration
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- [ ] Binary mode (for file transfer)
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## Comparison: CLI vs GTK3 Version
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| Feature | CLI | GTK3 |
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|---------|-----|------|
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| Dependencies | None | GTK3 dev files |
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| Binary Size | 40KB | 500KB+ |
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| Memory | 50KB | 20MB+ |
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| Startup | <100ms | 500ms+ |
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| GUI | No | Yes |
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| Multiple Connections | No | Yes (planned) |
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| Port Monitoring | No | Yes |
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| Scripting | Yes | No |
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| Configuration | .termtcprc | GUI + ini file |
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## Installation
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### From Source
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```bash
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git clone <repo>
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cd termtcp
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make -f Makefile_CLI install
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termtcp
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```
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### Pre-built (if available)
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```bash
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sudo apt install termtcp # Ubuntu/Debian
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sudo dnf install termtcp # Fedora
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```
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## Creating a Desktop Entry
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On Linux, create `~/.local/share/applications/termtcp.desktop`:
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```ini
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[Desktop Entry]
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Type=Application
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Name=TermTCP
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Exec=gnome-terminal -- termtcp
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Terminal=true
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Categories=Utility;Network;
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```
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## Examples & Use Cases
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### Connect to a BBS
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```bash
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# Edit ~/.termtcprc with BBS addresses
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termtcp
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> connect 0
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> help
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```
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### System Monitoring
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```bash
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# Check system metrics from a remote server
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termtcp -c 0
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> STATUS
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> QUERY
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```
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### Testing TCP Services
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```bash
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# Quick test of a TCP service
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termtcp -c 0
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> HELLO
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> [see response]
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> quit
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```
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### Log Everything for Debugging
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```bash
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termtcp -l
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> connect 0
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> [do something]
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> log on
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> [reproduce issue]
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> log off
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```
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## Getting Help
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- Type `help` in the application
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- Check ~/.termtcprc for configuration examples
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- Review this README
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- Check application output for error messages
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## License
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Same as TermTCP project.
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## Version History
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- **v1.0.0** (2026-06-23) - Initial CLI release
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- Basic TCP connectivity
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- Command system
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- Session logging
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- Configuration file support
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---
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**TermTCP CLI** - Lightweight TCP terminal client for power users.
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Start with: `make -f Makefile_CLI && ./termtcp`
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