HomePak

HomePak, published in 1984 by Batteries Included, is an integrated application written for the Atari 8-bit family and ported to the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, IBM PCjr, and Apple II.[2] It includes a word processor (HomeText), database (HomeFind), and terminal communications program (HomeTerm). HomePak was designed by Russ Wetmore (who previously wrote the game Preppie!) for Star Systems Software, Inc. The Commodore 128 version was ported by Sean M. Puckett and Scott S. Smith.

HomePak
Original author(s)Russ Wetmore
Developer(s)Batteries Included
Ariolasoft[1] (EU)
Initial release1984 (1984)
Written inAction!
PlatformAtari 8-bit, Apple II, Commodore 64 / 128 IBM PCjr

The original Atari 8-bit version of HomePak is implemented in the Action! programming language from Optimized Systems Software.[3]

Reception

Ahoy! warned "don't expect more than you pay for", stating that while HomeText was "quite nice" and HomeTerm was "wonderful," HomeFile was "very disappointing. Anyone who needs to use the database for even a mildly sophisticated operation will be frustrated and confused ... a total mess".[4]

In a review of the HomeTerm portion of the package, Ron Luks wrote in a 1984 review for ANALOG Computing, "A superb terminal program is rare indeed, but in my collection of over two dozen Atari terminal programs, I have two or three that meet the "superb" criteria. Only one, however, can be the best. Hometerm is, quite simply, the best."[5]

In a 1986 Page 6 review, the author had technical problems using HomeTerm in the UK.[1] He called HomeFind, "elegant, friendly and very easy to use," and wrote that HomeText, "might even tempt me away from my trusty old Atariwriter."

Legacy

With Sparky Starks, Wetmore co-authored a similarly-styled application called HomeCard, an Atari 8-bit application advertised as an "electronic filing box" and "intelligent Rolodex." It was published by Antic Software in 1985,[6] not Batteries Included.

References
  1. Davison, John S. (September 1986). "Review: Homepak". Page 6 (23).
  2. "News & Products: New Products From Batteries Included". COMPUTE! (74): 117. July 1986.
  3. Chadwick, Ian (1985). "Author's Preface To The Revised Edition". Mapping the Atari. Greensboro, North Carolina: Compute! Publications, Inc. pp. v–vi. ISBN 0-87455-004-1.
  4. Schleimer, Rachel (April 1985). "HomePak". Ahoy!. pp. 82–83. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. Luks, Ron (December 1984). "HOMETERM". ANALOG Computing (25).
  6. "HomeCard advertisement". Antic. 4 (3): 26. July 1985.
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