CDplayer 1.1
by Mark Buckaway (mark@datasoft.com)

Introduction

This is the third release of CDplayer. The first release I wrote because I
did not run X and all cdplayers at the time required X. If you like the
command line, this program is for you. I updated the program because I got
bored late one Saturday night and thought a few concerned could be addressed.
The third release was prompted by Udo Munk sending me patches to make CDplayer
work with Coherent 4.2. This time through, I decided to stay up
late on a work night to play with CDplayer...I should have gone to bed :)


Copying

Please read the COPYING file for the conditions under which this
software can be used and distributed.


What is it?

CDplayer is a silly little utility to play audio CD's in a CDROM
drive attached to Linux or Coherent 4.2 system. The program is command line
oriented.  IT DOES NOT REQUIRE X-WINDOWS! Currently, it allows CD's:
- to play,
- to play starting from a track,
- to be stopped, 
- to be paused and resumed,
- to skip to the next track
- to change the volume
- and ejected. 

The program is run, the command processed, and the program exited.

The program is designed to be a quick and simple solution to getting
noise from your Linux/Coherent supported CDROM drive.

See the CHANGES file for what's has changed, been added, been fixed,
been broken, etc..


Compiling and Installing.

Do:

- to configure and compile, type 'make'
- to install, type 'make install'
- to clean up, type 'make clean'
- to get rid of everything, type 'make mrproper'

"make" automatically runs the Configure script which will ask a
few questions on how to setup CDplayer. Afterwards, the appropriate
entries in config.h are created.

"make install" does just that. It installs the program and manpage to the
selected directories.

"make clean" removes the compiled files.

"make mrproper" removes everything that can't be remade.


Using CDplayer

First, type "cdplayer" and read the options shown. If you can't figure this
out, please read the manpage. If you need help, please ask.

Just a little warning, you should set the permissions on CDplayer such
that those with console access can use it. Not a big deal for single
user system but you really won't want someone remotely changing the
song on you, eh? :)


Compatibility.

This program works in my system. I have a 386DX40, 16MB, Mitsumi (Blech...
single speed) CDROM, and Linux 1.1.9. I have heard of reports that various
SCSI CDROM's work. The "new" NEC CDROM code would grab the rest of them and
make them compatible. Micheal Peek (peek@math.utk.edu) says this
works with his NEC CDR-55JD. Udo Meek has made CDplayer work with Coherent
as well.


Future

At one point, I had planned to make a curses interface to CDplayer. Now, I have
found out that someone has crafted WorkBone, a cdplayer with a curses
interface, I have given up on this idea. Rather than re-invent the
wheel, methinks I'll leave CDplayer as a command line utility. Perhaps,
I will add in the future, support for telling the user the current status
and track that is playing, and perhaps random track selection.


Porting

If you port this program to another flavour of *NIX, please email me your
patches. The Configure script and program code has been setup to accept
patching for other *NIX systems. This type of thing usually prompts me
to get creative with the program as well as adding the patches.


Contacting the Author

You can contact me, Mark Buckaway, at:

Email: mark@datasoft.com (or mark@accesspt.north.net)
Voice: +1 416 756 4497 EST
Smail: DataSoft Communications
       62 Rock Fernway
       Willowdale, ON
       M2J 4N5
       CANADA


Thanks

Thanks to all those who have tried CDplayer and let me know it works. Also,
thanks for Micheal Peek (peek@math.utk.edu) for letting me know the version 1.0
compiles on his system and the NEC stuff works for him. Thanks to Udo Meek
for fiddling with the program to make it run on Coherent 4.2.


Where to find CDplayer

CDplayer is uploaded to sunsite.unc.edu and tsx-11.mit.edu. Check
the index files on these sites as to the appropriate location.
