In addition to these fixes, some minor updates regarding color palette initialization and a keyboard mapping fix were included.

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Another note on startup crashes - in most applications, crashes that happen on startup are almost always a problem with the preferences file. If SigmaTerm is crashing on startup (though that should be fixed!) you can hold down the option key to ignore the preferences and load an internal default instead.

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1. Added keyboard mapping capability. Map to any text or escape sequence, as well as just
   about any menu function.
2. Added more codepages (ISO-8859-15,7,8,9), KOI8-R
3. Fixed some cursor size and redraw bugs that occurred when radically changing the font size all at once
   (like changing from fixed font mode to scalable and back.)
4. Made the default screen size a little larger, along with the default font.

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Stay tuned!

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XCode Notes

Copy files considered harmful

Watch the freaking “Copy files”-type build steps. The default settings for an executable target will strip debug symbols from the copied files. Anything signed before this point (like executables or frameworks from another project) will be rendered invalid, and will need signed again. Solve this by either unchecking “Strip Debug Symbols During Copy” in the properties for your target, or pre-stripping your files before signing them in their original project.

XCode’s signing settings

XCode has some tempting settings for targets relating to code signing. This includes some simple drop-downs for signing your app or framework for each build. This works for simple applications - a straight app bundle. But doesn’t work for frameworks at all. Frameworks must be signed using their individual versions. From the command line you’d sign Foo.Framework/Versions/A instead of Foo.Framework. XCode does the latter, and screws everything up. Use a Run Script build step to run codesign manually with something like this:

ID="Debug"

codesign -f -s ${ID} “${BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR}/${WRAPPER_NAME}/Versions/A”


When to sign

Apple recommends not signing your apps until you’re ready to release. That way, you can be sure that debug versions or unfinished software doesn’t get out there with your signature on it. It’s a nice sentiment, but in practice, if I have to hit one more freaking “Allow” button on a keychain dialog, I will murder someone.

The solution, of course, is to use two identities. One is a self-signed “Debug” identity, and one your final identity. Notice above in the Run Script example that if we’re building a release version, we sign with ETrow’s identity. Anything else gets the Debug identity. Apple has a quick writeup for creating your own self-signed certificate.

The self-signed versions of your app won’t validate on anyone else’s machine except yours, and it keeps those annoying dialogs down to a minimum during development. The best of both worlds.

Where to get your certificate

Have you checked the prices for code-signing certificates lately? If you’re a small development house, $299+ a year might seem like a lot of cash to lay out for a four kilobyte text file. Fortunately, there are cheaper options.

The best one I found was Comodo - direct from their web site, they offer a $179/year version. But there are a pile of resellers around that give discounts. Of these, the venerable Tucows offers those who sign up as developers a $75 version of the Comodo certificate that works great. If you’re a certificate snob, Tucows also offers a discounted $160 Thawte certificate.

Don’t be put off by Comodo’s statements about browsers and what their certificate can be used for (Sign your .exe files!) The signup works fine in Safari Beta 4 (and probably older versions) and the resulting certificate works well. One note about Thawte - last time I used them to get a code signing certificate, it forced me to use Internet Explorer on a Windows machine. Ick.

Remember, you’ll need some documentation when signing up with any of the code signing providers. Comodo will work with small shops and individuals, but be prepared with phone bills, incorporation papers, etc. Thawte is much less accommodating to individuals.

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Changes for version 1.0.0 Alpha/16

1. In preparation for Beta, SigmaTerm is now being signed. This will remove the constant
   keychain “allow” dialogs you get every time you upgrade. You’ll see one more, then
   never again.
2. Updated the font cache to allow for more frequent cache hits when using color-heavy apps.
3. Added support for XTerm/DEC 200 mouse control for terminals. Works in VT2xx, VT3xx, VT420, XTerm and Linux emulations.
4. Added some small status icons to the status toolbar item to show capture mode, transparent print, and
   xterm mouse mode.
5. Fixed jittery scrolling while using two fingers on a trackpad.

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Changes for version 1.0.0 Alpha/15

1. Added right-click context menu for copy, paste, and select all.
2. Added “Disallow close while connected” option to help prevent accidental window closures.
3. Added “Only allow remote disconnect” option for use with those systems in which you REALLY, REALLY,
   need to perform a logout procedure before disconnecting a session.
4. New icon for saved configuration files to differentiate them from the app icon.
5. Added new “default settings” concept. A collection of settings may now be saved as the default
   for all new opened windows. Use the “Make settings default” menu item under Connection.
6. Updated auto-login code to handle more systems. Should work for just about everything now.
7. Fixed a crashing bug when resizing while using the scrollback buffer.

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So we ditched it. While SigmaTerm itself will validate keys itself, as of /14, it will no longer register these with our server. This is partially controlled by the key that was issued. If you would like your key re-issued to never require this, please contact support@etrow.com and we’ll get it done.

Thanks,
Scott.

Changes for version 1.0.0 Alpha/13

1. Fixed vertical resize growth where lines could be duplicated on screen
2. Fixed a cursor destination problem that resulted in “line doubling” when shrinking
   the emulator window with the cursor not on the last line.

1. Changed default SCO-ANSI Alt1/2 codepages to be CP-437 instead of ISO-8859-1 (fixes line draw)
2. For SCO-ANSI, Changed default backspace character to ^H instead of default delete. This also
   overrides “Send Backspace as Delete”
3. Fixed SSH compression stepper.
4. Disabled “Copy identity to host” until some bugs are fixed
5. Improved searching in Edit host keys window.

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