# W3C Reference Library README

    	(c) COPYRIGHT MIT 1995.
    	Please first read the full copyright statement in the file COPYRIGH.

This is the README file which you get when you unwrap the W3C Reference Library distribution package. Each package contains source code for building the Library and a set of example applications. The set of modules included in the package is:

- Reference Library (libwww)
- Line Mode Browser (www)
- Mini Server (webd)
- Command Line Tool (w3c)
- Mini Robot (webbot)
- Socket Listen Tool (listen)

## Handling the Distribution Files

A distribution file contains the source code and documentation for the Library and the example applications. You can get the distribution files from the Library top page All distribution files are available as compressed tar files, gzipped tar files, or as zip files. For the compressed tar files, first uncompress and untar the file `w3c-libwww-X.X.tar.Z` where X is the version number, for example 4.0:

    	uncompress w3c-libwww-X.X.tar.Z

    	gunzip w3c-libwww-X.X.tar.gz

Then untar the file by typing

    	tar xf w3c-libwww-X.X.tar

For the zip files, type the following:

    	unzip w3c-libwww-X.X.zip

## Installation

Please look at the special installation documentation

## Reference Library (libwww)

The W3C Reference Library is a general code base that can be used to build clients and servers. It contains code for accessing HTTP, FTP, Gopher, News, WAIS, Telnet servers, and the local file system. Furthermore it provides modules for parsing, managing and presenting hypertext objects to the user and a wide spectra of generic programming utilities. The Library is the basis for many World-Wide Web applications and all the W3C software is build on top of it. The Library is a required part of all other W3C applications in this distribution.

## Line Mode Browser (www)

The W3C Line Mode Browser is a simple character based client. It is developed for use on dumb terminals and as a test tool for the Common Code Library. It can be run in interactive mode, non- interactive mode and as a proxy client. Furthermore it gives a variety of possibilities for data format conversion, filtering etc. It is primarily intended as a test-tool for quick access to the Web or used in batch jobs.

Installation is very simple as the application can run without any particular setup. You can specify your own HOME PAGE using the `WWW_HOME` environment variable. Remember toy setup a `NNTPSERVER` environment variable before you try to access a news server.

## Mini Server (webd)

The W3C Mini Server is a cross platform server frame work that can be used as a basis for writing portable servers. It is NOT a full server - only a frame! It is developed in C and serves as an example of a server application using the W3C Reference Library.

## Command Line Tool (w3c)

The W3C Command Line Tool is a cross platform command line tool for accessing the Web. It is developed in C and serves as an example of a client application using the W3C Reference Library and as a test-tool for quick access to the Web from scripts, cron jobs etc. It gives a variety of possibilities for data format conversion, filtering etc. It is primarily intended as a test-tool for quick access to the Web or used in scripts, cron jobs etc.

## Mini Robot (webbot)

The W3C Mini Robot is a cross platform command line tool for accessing the Web. It is developed in C and serves as an example of a robot application using the W3C Reference Library and as a test-tool for quick access to the Web from scripts, cron jobs etc. It is primarily intended as a test-tool for quick access to the Web or used in scripts, cron jobs etc.

## Socket Listen Tool (listen)

The W3C Socket Listen Tool is a cross platform tool for debugging what is being sent over the wire. It simply listens on a socket and forwards everything to stderr or whatever is available on the actual platform. It is developed in C and serves as an example application using the W3C Reference Library

## Got Problems or Comments?

If you encounter problems, would like to feed back suggestions good ideas etc. then please send a mail explaining your problem and the version of the W3C software to libwww@w3.org

Have fun!