🚀 go-pugleaf

I'm checking around before I do anything rash--like writing something myself.

Is there a program that will let me download a file (from Un*x)
while I continue to work in a shell over the same telephone line?

If not, I'll write it myself.  The problem is that I hear that Minix
can't handle RS-232 very well yet (and I don't have Minix, yet),
so I suppose I'll have to write it under TOS.  The problem with TOS
is that I'll have to start from scratch since the TOS programs I've seen
don't make use of the Un*x-like standard interfaces.  For example,
I don't see how I could use a previously written terminal emulator.
I'd have to write one of my own, duplicating effort and producing a
measly VT52 compatability (because, no, I don't have the time for a
VT100 or higher emulator).  

So, if you've heard of a special background filetransfer program like 
what I'm looking for, please save me the time of writing it!
I've heard the uw folks wanted to do such a thing--uw is so close 
to this idea already, I'm surprised I havn't heard of it being able
to do so.  If you have any idea about how I can avoid writing this
in such a way that it will be good for only one thing and be of
no use to anyone in the future as they program other things,
please let me know.  I believe software should be built upon other software,
and I hate doing something someone else has already done.

Thanks.

11011011_____jdb9608@ritcv.UUCP_____prefered==>__jdb9608@ritvax.BITNET
-- 
11011011_____jdb9608@ritcv.UUCP_____prefered==>__jdb9608@ritvax.BITNET