Welcome to Zipper Alpha 1!

Get the MOST CURRENT version from my website:
	http://users.vnet.net/ashman/zipper


Intro and Errata.

This software is COPYRIGHT 1997 Ashley R. Bowers.  It is not Public Domain,
but you can use it freely, and give it away, as long as you preserve the
entire archive as is AND you do not distribute any changes that you might
make.

Zipper is a IRC client written primarily in TCL/TK and with a little help
from "C" every now and then.  Zipper was started by me as project to help
me learn TCL/Tk and also because i wanted an IRC client for X-windows that
worked the way I wanted it too.  It is not intended to compete with the
existing clients, but rather as an alternative.


Zipper currently is still missing a bit of functionality as far
as recognizing IRC server messages.  There are also still quite a few
bugs present.  Remember, this is ALPHA software.  There are NO warranties
either expressed or implied!  


At the current time it is relatively stable and i have used it on a 
regular basis to connect to EFNet servers.  It still crashes once in 
a while but those time are becoming less and less.



Anyone that would like to tackle some of the bugs that you may encounter,
feel free to do so, but please email me with the fix so that it can be 
incorporated into the distribution.  Full credit for working fixes and
useful additions that are added to the archive will be given.


Installation

Installing Zipper! is a simple matter.  You need 2 files.  The "install" shell
script and the zipper*.tgz file.  Running "install <directory>" where
<directory> is where you want to install zipper, will take care of almost 
everthing for you!  The only other thing you need to do is add Zipper!'s
directory to your path.  Please note that for some reason Zipper! does
not want to fully recognize the new path, unless you log off and then
log on.


Zipper!

Ok, you are probably asking by now what Zipper! stands for.  Well to 
answer that question in one word: Nothing.  I needed a name, a cute 
catchy name, and Zipper! stuck in my head.  It seems like that are
ton of other IRC clients that want to be cute and have "irc" somewhere
in there name.  Well not so here!!  :)

Zipper uses a simple point click and type interface.  It functions in a 
similar fashion the windows clients mIRC and Pirch.  Currently only single
server connections are supported, although it is possible to clone
multiple client processes.

Zipper has working notify, ignore, dcc chat, dcc send and 
receive, and a variety of useful irc commands (see customrc for currently
supported commands).  The standard ircII slash ("/") command syntax is/will
be supported.


Coming soon 

BETTER HELP :)  
I will be adding more server message support and more IRCII commands.  
Server event handling
better alias support with multiple irc commands per line
support for executing custom TCL scripts outside of the main program. (in progress)



Installation


To install Zipper! untar the archive into an empty directory, then type
"install".  You will now be prompted for the directory in which zipper is
to permanently reside.  Once you hit enter, the files will be installed
into the appropriate directory.  If you later decide to move the files, then
you will need to reinstall zipper, or manually edit the paths in the files.
Once the files are copied, the Zipper! resource files will be installed into
your home directory.  They are installed in a hidden subdirectory, but are 
needed in order for Zipper! to be used by multiple people.

Now just be sure Zipper! is in your path, and type the command "zipper".  If
all goes well, the main Zipper! window should appear.


Current Features

Please see the file FEATURES for this information.



End Stuff


Well, i know this program is not as good as it could be and has a number
of annoying problems which will hopefully be fixed.  But use it and enjoy
it if you can, and let me know if you like it, or what might make it better,
or if there is just something you really don't like about it.

I want honest criticism, both good and bad, but please don't flame the program.
Send those to alt.flame, or /dev/null.


Thanks a Bunch!

Ash Bowers
wolfie@vnet.net