Skypix Explained

Skypix is the name of a markup language used to encode graphics content such as changeable fonts, mouse-controlled actions, animations and sound to bulletin board system. The system was written by Michael Cox on the Amiga in 1988, and first hosted on the Atredes BBS system,^[1] which was later renamed Skyline.^[2] Skypix allowed BBS sysops to create interactive BBS systems with graphics, fonts, mouse-controlled actions, animations and sound.

Skypix used an extension of the ANSI graphics system that added new instructions. The graphics were normally created using Skypaint, which could generate Skypix files directly from a familiar-looking paint program. The files could be placed in the system and any Skypix-enabled terminal program would notice the encoding and recreate the graphics.

The underlying BBS software could be programmed in the ARexx language (a variant of REXX for the Amiga). This resulted in an enthusiastic group of Skypix hobbyists.

Skypix was available only on the Amiga computer, hosted on the Skyline BBS and accessed using the Skyterm terminal emulator. Skypix support was later implemented in JR-Comm by Johnathan Radigan.^[3] At one time over a thousand Skyline systems were operating the world over. Amiga inventor Jay Miner himself ran a Skyline system for a time.

With the terminal program JR-Comm, other BBS software programs started to support Skypix. C-Net Amiga Pro BBS Software was one of them.^[4] Today there are several of these boards still alive using Telnet. One of these boards still offers Skypix graphics when using JR-Comm.^[5]

External links

• "BBS: The Documentary, An Overview of BBS Programs", expanded view. This document is part of the making of the DVD.
• (Ripscrip Graphic Protocol Specs citating briefly Skypix as primitive markup language)
• MC MIcroComputer Magazine issue nr. 97, June 1990, Italy; PDF Collection of Computer Magazine MC-Microcomputer (In Italian Language) citing briefly Skypix as emerging promising language for BBS.
• "Computers are no fun anymore", a discussion of 2003 on [http://forums.randi.org/forumindex.php JREF Forum] (James Randi Educational Foundation) featuring the author of Skyline BBS participating the discussion.
• Ansi/Skypix Specs and Tutorials at Amiga Aminet official repository (in AmigaGuide and text format).

Notes and References

1. Web site: AtrTerm.DOC . Software documentation . Michael Cox . 1989-05-24 . 2024-05-02 . "Skypix is a way of sending graphics, fonts, brushes, and (soon) sound samples over the phone line via modem. It is an extension of ANSI that takes advantage of the Amiga's graphic power. ... At this writing (May 24) most of the systems listed will still be running Atredes 1.0, a much less sophisticated system than 1.1. ... ATREDES, SKYPIX, and SKYPAINT are Copyright © 1988, 1989 Michael Cox. All rights reserved worldwide.".
2. Web site: An Overview of BBS Programs . . Scott Lee . "Skyline BBS, for the Amiga, was originally marketed under the name 'Atredes BBS'. It was written by someone named Michael Cox who lived in El Paso, TX in the mid/late 80s. ... It was, BTW, cool software which allowed for plain text, ANSI graphics, as well as a proprietary graphical point and click 'SkyPix' UI using special terminal software ('SkyTerm')." . 5 December 2017.
3. Web site: MAGazine, vol 7, num 9, 1991 . official magazine of Memphis Amiga Group . 5 December 2017.
4. Web site: C-Net Amiga Pro . Storm's Edge Technologies. 3 October 2019.
5. Web site: Reign of Fire BBS . Spitfire Inc. . 3 October 2019.