minitel

low teck, node powered, it needed to be done

this module allow you to connect to a minitel, a terminal for an obsolete pre internet version of a country wide (France) intranet.

this it allow you to get key pressed from the keyboard and write to the terminal from node, or display content of a textfile.

this module is currently in an experimental stage and i need to discover and implement more features.

Install

npm install minitel --save

usage

• hook up your minitel via a serial cable or an arduino like thing
• instantiate a new minitel setting up the port accordingly.
• power up the minitel

var Minitel = require('minitel');
var minitel = new Minitel({
  port:'/dev/tty.usbserial-A9M5DF7B', // your path will be different 
  speed:4800 // minitel defaults to 1200
});

// event fired when the module open the serial communication to the minitel 
// do NOT call any minitel method before it is fired 
minitel.on('ready', function () {
  minitel.readMsg('ascii/j5.txt');
});

API

wrChars

minitel.wrChars('yo');

writes char to the minitel

wrLn

minitel.wrLn('I'm writing a line here');

writes a full line to the minitel by concatenating the string and fill the remaining char to 40 char (full line) with space if the line is more than 40 lines the rest is not displayed

wrFile

minitel.wrFile('pathTo/file.txt')
clear the minitel output and read the selected file, displaying it line by line using wrLn func.

beep

minitel.beep()
make some NOIZE

clear

minitel.clear()
clear the minitel output

notes

• currently line longer that 40 char will be spliced the rest goes to the sharks.
• on the minitel keyboard Fct-P then 4 to set speed to 4800 bauds and set up the speed option to 4800 to have a better frame rate

resolution : teletext 40 * 24 char

change log

1.0.0 : basic version 1.1.0 : basic api, events for established serial connection

TODO

• multiline support (create proper line for the wrLn func)
• put asserts in proper tests
• repl for interactive terminal
• stream support
• npm module
• better doc