Tony Online (AOL CLONE)

[togerland]

Version 0.1 Alpha I would like to thank the following members for their help with the coding :

James Rose

neufuse

You received credits in the about menu.

http://togermano.com/temp/Tony%20Online.exe

This is alpha and its very ugly.... But its a starting point... To get the browser portion to work type in the address hit + button first so it opens up a new web browser in that window. If you want to change the url later hit the go button and will change the URL in the opened window.

The news and games button work but I may change the links and use my own website sooner or later.

Some problems :

Internet Explorer Control I am using does not let javascripts to run..... How do I get one that does let them run?

In the future I would to use the Firefox rendering instead

Any suggestions? Or improvements let me know!

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Let's pretend I decided to be clever enough to stay well away from AOL when it was around, what exactly is this that you're offering? Is it a program? a set of services? A small, annoying purple monkey that will never leave your computer no matter how hard you try?

[robertobaggio2k]

Let's pretend I decided to be clever enough to stay well away from AOL when it was around, what exactly is this that you're offering? Is it a program? a set of services? A small, annoying purple monkey that will never leave your computer no matter how hard you try?

haha bonzi buddy! i forgot about that guy lol

[Bambii]

The monkey is a lie...

[togerland]

Let's pretend I decided to be clever enough to stay well away from AOL when it was around, what exactly is this that you're offering? Is it a program? a set of services? A small, annoying purple monkey that will never leave your computer no matter how hard you try?

Prob will be used by older people who want to keep things simple without the annoyance of aol problems and ads. Will be set of services once the program matures... I still need to think of a better name

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Prob will be used by older people who want to keep things simple without the annoyance of aol problems and ads. Will be set of services once the program matures... I still need to think of a better name

What kind of services? I'm trying to figure out why anyone would want to copy AOL's model today when it doesn't appear to serve a purpose anymore. Pretty much everything I use the Internet for gets accessed via my web browser, so why should I install this as well?

I'm not trying to kill your project before it's even taken off, I'm just genuinely intrigued as to its purpose compared to modern day solutions. Can you give me an example of something that can be done quicker in Tony Online than via an Internet browser?

[togerland]

What kind of services? I'm trying to figure out why anyone would want to copy AOL's model today when it doesn't appear to serve a purpose anymore. Pretty much everything I use the Internet for gets accessed via my web browser, so why should I install this as well?

I'm not trying to kill your project before it's even taken off, I'm just genuinely intrigued as to its purpose compared to modern day solutions. Can you give me an example of something that can be done quicker in Tony Online than via an Internet browser?

It is basically for me to learn how to program more.... If someone uses it cool if someone doesnt then no biggie. It is not geared for a tech site like this... Its good for grandma where alot of people still use AOL

[Nick H. Supervisor]

It is basically for me to learn how to program more.... If someone uses it cool if someone doesnt then no biggie. It is not geared for a tech site like this... Its good for grandma where alot of people still use AOL

Ah right, it's just an exercise. Cool, that's all I was trying to figure out. To be fair I've been trying to figure it out since you made the original suggestion a few weeks ago. "Why would anyone want to copy AOL?!" :laugh:

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Stop trying to suggest that your exercise in programming an app has any use to anyone! Suggesting your "learning app" is good for Grandma is ridiculous - my gran doesn't want to deal with badly coded unnecessary apps.

Keep it to your PC, or post it and ask for help. Don't try to mock-market it!

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Stop trying to suggest that your exercise in programming an app has any use to anyone! Suggesting your "learning app" is good for Grandma is ridiculous - my gran doesn't want to deal with badly coded unnecessary apps.

That's a bit harsh. I can see where he is coming from since the community did help him through the exercise, maybe they would want to see his Alpha build.

[togerland]

That's a bit harsh. I can see where he is coming from since the community did help him through the exercise, maybe they would want to see his Alpha build.

With that said, responding to nik louch's comments like that doesn't help anyone.

Its a American and British thing.... We are not as peace keeping as you switz are ;)

[bdsams Veteran]

Yeah, lets trash this app, who cares about building something because he wants too....I say, good job mate! You started out with an idea, worked hard and executed it...looks good from here.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

That's a bit harsh. I can see where he is coming from since the community did help him through the exercise, maybe they would want to see his Alpha build.

It's not harsh at all. I have in no way suggested that he stops coding his app, if it helps him learn. I will now suggest that his pursuit is in the wrong direction - making a "does everything" app is a terrible idea. Learn to programme by focussing on one specific need.

Getting feedback is great - so post the source of your app too!

What I don't think is a good idea is suggesting that elderly relatives install this app. It's just a shell for an ie control as far as I can see. My mum (of granparent age now) would be better off staying with Chrome as she is used to it, it delivers everything she needs. If this person wishes to offer support though...

It's an incomplete app, it has bugs and is going to be poorly coded - not questioning the OP's ability - just that this is a "learning app" - it WILL have bugs. Don't dress it up as anything more than that.

Its Alpha and I posted in the programming section as it is not ready to "market" It was to show people who helped me with some of the coding what I have done so far. If I was gonna market it I would post it in the software section.

It's not "Alpha". You are not "releasing" this. Be more concerned with coding and less concerned with calling things names. If you want to show your progress, make the source available too rather than a random EXE file.

Yeah, lets trash this app, who cares about building something because he wants too...

I'm not trashing his app in any way. Show me where I am!

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Its a American and British thing.... We are not as peace keeping as you switz are ;)

I'm English, I'm just located in Switzerland at the moment.

I say, good job mate! You started out with an idea, worked hard and executed it.

Exactly, this is the point.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

But if it's feedback you want:

1) Don't distribute the main EXE. What about dependancies and so on?

2) Your interface has 2 toolbars - why?

3) First thing I did was try to load www.google.com - here's the output:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Tony_Online.TonyOnline.ToolStripButton3_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.RaiseEvent(Object key, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEventInteractive(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEvent(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3625 (GDR.050727-3600)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
Tony Online
	Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
	CodeBase: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/njl.HTF/My%20Documents/Downloads/Tony%20Online.exe
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
	Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
----------------------------------------
System
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3631 (GDR.050727-3600)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3623 (GDR.050727-3600)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3636 (GDR.050727-3600)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3082 (QFE.050727-3000)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Runtime.Remoting
	Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
	Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
	CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
----------------------------------------
************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.
For example:
<configuration>
	<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>
When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

[/CODE]

From what I can see, you have made an app - dragged two toolbar controls in, worked with the browser control? You are already going in the wrong direction. Make a browser that works first, then add your toolbars and so on.

[Rudy]

Screenshots? I'm curious to see what it looks like :D But there's no way I'm just going to run a random exe lol

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

But there's no way I'm just going to run a random exe

In fairness, it's clean.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Just ran it myself and got this error message when going to www.google.com by using the "go" button instead of the "+":

The contents of the details are as follows:

EDIT: I removed the code contents since it seems to be identical to Nik Louch's error message.

EDIT2: So you have to hit the + button the first time to open a browser?

[HighwayGlider]

haha bonzi buddy! i forgot about that guy lol

Thanks for reminding about that... :D

[togerland]

Just ran it myself and got this error message when going to www.google.com by using the "go" button instead of the "+":

The contents of the details are as follows:

EDIT: I removed the code contents since it seems to be identical to Nik Louch's error message.

EDIT2: So you have to hit the + button the first time to open a browser?

Yes Ill work out some of the weird bugs if someone does something else.

[togerland]

It's not harsh at all. I have in no way suggested that he stops coding his app, if it helps him learn. I will now suggest that his pursuit is in the wrong direction - making a "does everything" app is a terrible idea. Learn to programme by focussing on one specific need.

Getting feedback is great - so post the source of your app too!

What I don't think is a good idea is suggesting that elderly relatives install this app. It's just a shell for an ie control as far as I can see. My mum (of granparent age now) would be better off staying with Chrome as she is used to it, it delivers everything she needs. If this person wishes to offer support though...

It's an incomplete app, it has bugs and is going to be poorly coded - not questioning the OP's ability - just that this is a "learning app" - it WILL have bugs. Don't dress it up as anything more than that.

It's not "Alpha". You are not "releasing" this. Be more concerned with coding and less concerned with calling things names. If you want to show your progress, make the source available too rather than a random EXE file.

Ah, name calling. Well done big man!

I'm not trashing his app in any way. Show me where I am!

Again it will do more.... I wanna learn how to program to the winsock and have it setup a chatting system and so on

[togerland]

Do you think each browser window should have its own back and forward button or should it all be on the MDI parent

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I think the idea of an MDI app is terrible to start with, for a web browser. A tabbed interface is hugely more suitable!

[togerland]

I think the idea of an MDI app is terrible to start with, for a web browser. A tabbed interface is hugely more suitable!

It will give the users a reason to upgrade to 2.0 ;) hahaha Joking I never delt with tabs or MDI before so I figured MDI would be easier for now and it will make more sense to have MDI once I have the tool bar loaded with more things

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Nononono. Don't program what you think would be easier. Program whats right!

[James Rose]

Since you are learning to write code, you will also need to learn to distribute your apps. Thankfully .NET includes the ability to create an installation app for your program. There are some details here: http://www.developer.com/net/net/article.php/3352511/Deploy-Windows-Applications-with-Visual-StudioNET-Part-1.htm

There are some comments here that ask about details, screen shots, etc. These people are correct, just linking to the EXE is not sufficient. (not a bitch, you should know) Put up a page for your app talking about the reason for the app, the benefits of using it and some screen shots.

Good luck.