Arachne is an Internet suite for DOS, consisting of a graphical web browser, email client, dialer and some other components. It was released first in 1996 for DOS, with Linux beta support added in 2001.
The Arachne core source code has been released as open source (GPLv2) with version 1.73 in 2003.
The LOPIF graphics library for DOS source code is provided under the terms of GPLv2 (or later). See lopif/copying.txt.
You will need a copy of Borland C++ 3.1 to build the source code. Cross-compilation is not supported, but DOSBox can be used.
Download and install the Arachne v1.99;GPL DOS package. Earlier versions may also work. Installation is straight-forward, just follow the installer instructions.
Open the CORE.PRJ (386+), CORE-086.PRJ (PC/XT) or CORE-!87.PRJ (no FPU) project file and select "Compile > Build all". After compilation is finished, replace CORE.EXE with the new version.
To build the SDL2 version, run "make" from the "sdl2" directory.
To build the SVGALIB version, run "make" from the "svgalib" directory.
I have not created a package for the support files (fonts, icons, user interface, help and configuration files) yet, so you need to install them manually. Start by downloading the Arachne GPL v1.95;GPL Linux package.
Do not run the install script from the archive.
Do not run the arachne-install script, either.
Extract the following files from the package:
man/man1/arachne.1 -> /usr/share/man/man1/
doc/arachne/html/* -> /usr/share/doc/arachne/html/
share/arachne/gui/* -> /usr/share/arachne/gui/
share/arachne/ikons/* -> /usr/share/arachne/ikons/
share/arachne/iso-8859-1/* -> /usr/share/arachne/iso-8859-1/
share/arachne/iso-8859-2/* -> /usr/share/arachne/iso-8859-2/
share/arachne/mime.conf -> /usr/share/arachne/mime.cfg
share/arachne/templates/toolbar.cfg -> /usr/share/arachne/toolbar.cfg
share/arachne/templates/entity.cfg -> /usr/share/arachne/entity.cfg
Edit your new /usr/share/arachne/mime.cfg (note the new file name):
- in [MIME], replace the image/jpeg, image/png and image/x-png entries:
image/jpeg JPG>BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
image/png PNG>BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
image/x-png PNG>BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
- in [ARACHNE], replace the .jpg, .jpe and .png entries:
file/.jpg >BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
file/.jpe >BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
file/.png >BMP|convert $1 bmp3:$2
Create an initial configuration file in $HOME/.arachne/arachne.cfg:
# Arachne configuration
HomePage http://www.frogfind.com
Multitasking No
HTTPKeepAlive No
- Michael Polák, for creating Arachne in the first place.
- Glenn McCorkle, for maintaining Arachne for the last 20-odd years.
- All other contributors over the years.