The SerialConnect Icon
Location in the BeOS:
/beos/apps/SerialConnect

[F/X: Icon World intro theme music]

[F/X: Applause]

[Fade up houselights to reveal weathered but fashionable host Trent Bafflegaff sitting with this week's guest]

TRENT: Welcome to Icon World! I'm your host, Trent Bafflegaff. This week, we're honored to have with us in the studio the lovely and talented SerialConnect. Welcome, Serial.

SerialConnect: Thanks, Trent.

TRENT: So Serial, as I understand it, one of your main duties is serial debugging?

SerialConnect: Yes, that's right.

TRENT: Fascinating. So, can you tell us exactly which serial tends to give users the most trouble? Fruit Loops? Trix? I know I only understand about half of what my Rice Krispies tell me to do every morning.

SerialConnect: Ummm, what I do has nothing to do with breakfast cereal.

TRENT: It doesn't?

SerialConnect: No.

[TRENT hurriedly consults The Regis Guide to Talk Show Host Suaveness]

TRENT: [laughing] Well then, it looks like our producer has another of his nephews working in the research department.

[F/X: Strained Laughter]

SerialConnect: Serial debugging actually refers to serial line debugging.

TRENT: Ah, now I understand.

SerialConnect: Do you?

TRENT: Err, no.

SerialConnect: When working on an operating system or application, it's useful to know exactly what's going on a step-by-step level. This way, if something goes wrong the engineer has a pretty good idea of what causes the error and how to fix it. This information is passed out the serial port, through a cable to me. Then I display it for the engineer.

TRENT: Why not just display it on the screen of the computer with the problem?

SerialConnect: What if the problem is with the video display and you can't see anything?

TRENT: Oh, right.

SerialConnect: Besides, most users don't want to be bothered with that information.

TRENT: So most users will never see you? That's just great. Well, that's about all the time we have for...

SerialConnect: [interrupting] Actually, Trent there's more.

TRENT: More? My brain is already full.

SerialConnect: I can also be used with a modem to connect to other computers remotely.

TRENT: A-ha! People use you to connect to the Internet, right?

SerialConnect: Wrong.

TRENT: Darn.

SerialConnect: My good friend DialUpNetworking handles connections to the Internet - that requires a TCP/IP stack. I'm used more for connecting directly to another computer, perhaps one that is running a BBS.

TRENT: Well, I didn't understand most of what you said, but I'm sure it was fascinating.

SerialConnect: As are you Trent.

TRENT: Of course! Thanks for coming on the show, and I hope you had a great experience.

SerialConnect: Not really.

TRENT: Whatever. [turns to cameras] Thanks for tuning in to Icon World. Be sure to tune in next week for more inside stories of BeOS icons. I'm your host, Trent Bafflegaff. Click safely.

[F/X: Icon World exit theme music]

[Fade lights]

[Roll credits]