retrocomputing

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Is there a precedent for a really delay-tolerant command line interface? (A bit off-topic) (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 4 months ago by CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org to c/retrocomputing@lemmy.sdf.org

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I've been playing with an idea that would involve running a machine over a delay-tolerant mesh network. The thing is, each packet is precious and needs to be pretty much self contained in that situation, while modern systems assume SSH-like continuous interaction with the user.

Has anyone heard of anything pre-existing that would work here? I figured if anyone would know about situations where each character is expensive, it would be you folks.

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[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Ask NASA

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Do they post their software somewhere? What they use for space probes is exactly what I would need, but I kind of figured it would be a trade secret.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I was kidding. 😁 There’s nothing real time about C&C with space probes. And the ISS is close enough I doubt it’s an issue.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah, I want not real time. The goal of having containers in the first place is to enable as much as possible without needing to put a human in the loop, since you have no idea how long each packet will spend in transit.

If I could emulate Curiosity's onboard computer that would be a decent starting point.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

In that case it might not hurt to reach out to some NASA email addresses. The people who write that stuff are, after all, nerds like us, and would probably be happy to share whatever they are allowed to share.

It’s funded by taxes so, security issues aside, there shouldn’t be a lot of trade secrets.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 4 months ago

Government agencies, in my experience, tend to believe in security through obscurity; even the ones that don't worry about spies as much as NASA. That said, maybe it's worth a shot. I'll have to figure out who's the best person to bug.