DCTelnet is a Telnet client for Commodore Amiga computers. It is easy to
use, lightweight, and reliable.
In fullscreen mode, DCTelnet is ideal for accessing Telnet-enabled BBS
systems on classic Amiga hardware, and supports file transfers via ZModem.
It is also perfect for regular Telnet usage thanks to its windowed mode on
Workbench.
More info/sources : https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet
Note: Starting with the v1.7 release in 2026, this package provides
recompiled versions of DCTelnet, including a 68000-compatible binary for
classic Amiga systems (A500, A600, A2000 with KS 2.0 or higher), as well as
an optimized 68020 build.
DCTelnet was originally written by Zed. His latest releases (v1.5-1.6,
published between 1998 and 2000) were compiled for 68020+ CPUs only.
The new releases also offers simplified installation, improved
documentation and bug fixes.
- Contact & Discussion:
Want to chat, give feedback, or share your ideas about DCTelnet?
You can reach me on Retro 32 BBS, where I go by "Bruno", or join the
discussion on the EAB forum thread:
https://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=121939
---
v1.10 Changelog
The ANSI renderer 'ibmcon.device' has received a major update. Version
1.11 is now included with DCTelnet. The device's changelog is as follows:
- 1.5: pens for the ANSI colours (IBMCMD_SETPENS)
- 1.6: deferred wrap at the last column; CTerm 24-bit colour ignored
- 1.7: Insert Lines fixed (issue #9)
- 1.8: closing the console no longer frees the opener's signal (issue #3)
- 1.9: cursor position for DSR answers; Cursor Backward/Forward stop at
the margins (issue #11)
- 1.10: iCE colours (bright backgrounds), erase characters (CSI X),
ESC 7 / ESC 8, application cursor key mode reported to DCTelnet
- 1.11: blinking text; a copy of the screen DCTelnet can read back
Build & Packaging
- Switched to VBCC Docker builder image: walkero/docker4amigavbcc
(simplify reproducibility, help automate builds workflows)
- Alternative build toolchain added: Bebbo's Amiga-GCC 6.5.0b
---
## Features
- 68000 compatible
- ZModem upload & download using XPR libraries
- Fast and efficient design : DCTelnet access the TCP/IP stack directly
- Flexible display modes: fullscreen, windowed on Workbench or minimizable/
iconifiable
- Address book with username & password entries
- Additional terminal emulations via XEM libraries
- User-definable screen modes & fonts
- multiple simultaneous Telnet connections
- No MUI, ClassAct or ReAction required
- No telser.device required
---
## Requirements
- Kickstart / Workbench v2.00 (V36) or higher
- A TCP/IP stack: AmiTCP, Roadshow, Miami, UAE bsdsocket.library or
compatible
---
## Installation
1. Download the DCTelnet package either from Aminet:
https://aminet.net/package/comm/tcp/DCTelnet
or from the GitHub releases section:
https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/releases
2. The DCTelnet archive includes an Installer script.
When available, using the *Installer* tool is the recommended
installation method.
---
### Manual installation
On older AmigaOS versions where the *Installer* tool is not present (for
example, pre-3.1.4 systems), DCTelnet can be installed manually. In this
case, copy the required files to their respective system directories:
- DCTelnet/Devs/ibmcon.device -> DEVS:
- Libraries from DCTelnet/Libs -> LIBS:
- Fonts from DCTelnet/Fonts -> FONTS:
On AmigaOS / Kickstart 2.00 & 2.02, the default versions of
reqtools.library and xprzmodem.library fail to load.
Replace them with the following compatible versions:
- DCTelnet/Libs-r36/reqtools.library -> LIBS:
- DCTelnet/Libs-r36/xprzmodem.library -> LIBS:
---
## How to use
Please refer to the included DCTelnet.guide documentation for detailed
usage instructions.
It is in AmigaGuide format and can be opened directly on AmigaOS 3.*
On AmigaOS 2.*, the AmigaGuide tool is required (available on Aminet:
https://aminet.net/package/text/hyper/aguide34). In this case, update the
"Default Tool" of the DCTelnet.guide icon to: SYS:Utilities/AmigaGuide
---
## Known Bugs
### Character display issues and font selection
If some characters appear incorrect or garbled after connecting to a BBS,
the issue is usually related to the selected terminal font. Make sure the
font matches the character set expected by the remote system.
Many PC-based BBSes require an IBM Code Page 437 (CP437) font to display
line-drawing characters and ANSI artwork correctly. In such cases, select
one of the bundled IBM/ANSI fonts: HyperANSI, IBM, P0T-IBM, or ANSEY.
On Amiga-based BBSes, graphics are often designed for the classic Topaz
font. This is the case, for example, on Retro 32 BBS.
### Rendering glitches and compatibility issues on several BBSes
Rendering issues occur on multiple BBSes, whether using ibmcon.device or
XemVT340.library for display. Some screens freeze, misalign the UI, or fail
to display animations.
Improved with ibmcon.device 1.9: Cursor Backward and Forward stop
at the edge of the line, and CTerm 24-bit colour sequences are ignored
instead of moving the cursor. Not yet confirmed on every BBS in the report.
Details on GitHub: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/11
### Network issues with AmiBerry and FS-UAE on Linux
Connection issues have been reported when using the integrated TCP/IP stack
provided by AmiBerry or FS-UAE under Linux. The problem appears to be
specific to these emulators' bsdsocket.library implementations. Using a
different IP stack resolves the issue.
Details on GitHub: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/13
### Fullscreen editors leave old lines on screen (fixed in ibmcon.device 1.7)
Insert Lines (CSI L) moved only a few pixel lines, so an editor that scrolls
down, such as on ABBS/MBBS, left old text behind.
Details on GitHub: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/9
### Connection stuck after changing display settings (fonts, XEM, screen
mode) or iconifying the application (fixed in v1.8)
This issue had existed since DCTelnet 1.1 and occured when used with
certain versions of "bsdsocket.library", notably UAE bsdsocket.library 4.1
(WinUAE) and Amiberry's built-in library.
The cause is fixed in ibmcon.device 1.8: closing the console freed a signal
of the program that opened it (bit 31, which bsdsocket.library can hold).
Details on GitHub: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/3
### Address Book Profile may not be saved correctly (fixed in v1.8)
This bug has been present at least since the original version 1.1 release.
Details on GitHub: https://github.com/bruno-frederic/dctelnet/issues/4
### On AmigaOS / Kickstart 2.00 & 2.02 (fixed in v1.8)
The xprzmodem.library bundled with DCTelnet since v1.1 fails to load on
these OS versions.
Starting with v1.8, a compatible version of the library is included in the
"Libs-r36" directory.
---
## Build environment
As of August 2026:
- IDE: VS Code (on Windows)
- Docker/Podman running a telnetd container for testing
- Compiler: VBCC and GNU Make on Windows, using my custom toolchain :
https://github.com/bruno-frederic/vbcc-bin/tree/Bruno_toolchain
- The project can also be built with SAS/C v6.58 under AmigaOS 3.2
- Icon Editor : IconEdit from AmigaOS 3.2.3
### Source code
All source code referenced below, including DCTelnet 1.5 / 1.6 and its
required third-party libraries, is publicly available on Aminet.
- Based on the DCTelnet 1.5 / 1.6 sources:
https://aminet.net/package/comm/tcp/dct16_src
The required third-party source code dependencies are also included:
- ReqTools 2.9 from https://aminet.net/package/util/libs/ReqToolsDev
- XPRZModem 3.1 library and sources from "comm/misc/xprz31.lha" package
on Aminet CD 2
- Xem 2.0 from https://aminet.net/package/comm/term/XEM2_0
---
## Credits
- DCTelnet was originally written by Zed.
- new 68000-compatible build by Bruno FREDERIC
- PETSCII Mode, per-BBS settings, RTG/256-colour support, the palette
editor and ibmcon.device 1.5-1.11 by spotUP (https://github.com/spotUP).
The PETSCII key and fallback tables are from SyncTERM by Rob Swindell
(LGPL).
- ReqTools is Copyright © Nico François and Magnus Holmgren
---
## License
The original DCTelnet code by Zed was released without an explicit license
and remains all rights reserved. See "LICENSE" file for details.
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