Wiki edit of http://wiki.synchro.net/wiki:user:digital_man by digital man: created an essay: Why BBS?

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On 09/22/18, wiki.synchro.net pondered and said...

Wiki edit of http://wiki.synchro.net/wiki:user:digital_man by digital
man: created an essay: Why BBS?

Great article Rob, thanks for posting it up :)

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Paul Hayton to Digital Man on Sun Sep 23 2018 07:26 am

On 09/22/18, wiki.synchro.net pondered and said...

Wiki edit of http://wiki.synchro.net/wiki:user:digital_man by digital man: created an essay: Why BBS?

Great article Rob, thanks for posting it up :)

Thanks for reading!

I was a little torn about writing on it my wiki (with a web browser) rather than just posting it as a text message on my <gasp> BBS. So I figured I'd just do both. :-)

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #45:
Synchronet External "Plain Old Telephone System" support was introduced in 2007.
Norco, CA WX: 89.7øF, 38.0% humidity, 14 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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On 09/22/18, Digital Man pondered and said...

Thanks for reading!

I was a little torn about writing on it my wiki (with a web browser) rather than just posting it as a text message on my <gasp> BBS. So I figured I'd just do both. :-)

Heh... you might just inspire me to blog a bit also... it's been a while.

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* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (3:770/100)
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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Paul Hayton to Digital Man on Sun Sep 23 2018 04:53 pm

On 09/22/18, Digital Man pondered and said...

Thanks for reading!

I was a little torn about writing on it my wiki (with a web browser) rather than just posting it as a text message on my <gasp> BBS. So I figured I'd just do both. :-)

Heh... you might just inspire me to blog a bit also... it's been a while.

<thumbs up>

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #54:
The Synchronet source code consists of over 500,000 lines of C and C++.
Norco, CA WX: 69.5øF, 41.0% humidity, 0 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Paul Hayton on Sat Sep 22 2018 04:10 pm

I was a little torn about writing on it my wiki (with a web browser) rather than just posting it as a text message on my <gasp> BBS. So I figured I'd just do both. :-)

I suppose one good thing about posting it on the wiki is that it's a page that can be relative easily found, whereas a message in a BBS message base could eventually end up deleted when enough new messages are posted in the sub-board and old messages are cycled away.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Paul Hayton to Digital Man on Sun Sep 23 2018 04:53 pm

Heh... you might just inspire me to blog a bit also... it's been a while.

Years ago, I used to use LiveJournal, which was a sort of blogging site with social networking. I usually had a hard time thinking of things I wanted to write about in it though. I've never really had ideas often enough, and I never repeatedly felt like I was inspired to blog to the world about stuff.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Nightfox to Paul Hayton on Sat Sep 22 2018 23:41:21

Years ago, I used to use LiveJournal, which was a sort of blogging site with social networking. I usually had a hard time thinking of things I wanted to write about in it though. I've never really had ideas often enough, and I never repeatedly felt like I was inspired to blog to the world about stuff.

I used several sites but many disappeared so I decided a while ago I did my own website. Its dual language (this time no joke lol, Dutch and English): https://www.ramonddevrede.nl

Depending on your language in OS you get Dutch or English.

HAWKEYE

- MASH BBS - mash4077.ddns.net - The Netherlands -

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Sat Sep 22 2018 11:39 pm

Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Paul Hayton on Sat Sep 22 2018 04:10 pm

I was a little torn about writing on it my wiki (with a web browser) rather than just posting it as a text message on my <gasp> BBS. So I figured I'd just do both. :-)

I suppose one good thing about posting it on the wiki is that it's a page that can be relative easily found, whereas a message in a BBS message base could eventually end up deleted when enough new messages are posted in the sub-board and old messages are cycled away.

Sub-board messages can be flagged as non-purgeable (permanent) by a sys/sub-op. I suppose when I migrate to echicken's web UI I might feel more comfortable posting essays ("blogging") directly on the BBS. For now, I just copy/pasted into a local msgbase the text from the wiki page with minor format fix-ups.

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #2:
ARS = Access Requirement Strings
Norco, CA WX: 82.2øF, 40.0% humidity, 13 mph ENE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sun Sep 23 2018 16:35:22

sys/sub-op. I suppose when I migrate to echicken's web UI I might feel more comfortable posting essays ("blogging") directly on the BBS. For now, I just copy/pasted into a local msgbase the text from the wiki page with minor format fix-ups.

I'm considering a page (and a textmode module) that would use a message base for blog posts. Original messages as posts, replies as comments. A bit of a twist on a normal message reader whether web-based or on the BBS.

(I got a start on it the other day, then delved into finding a way to present the content nicely in both contexts. Hence my messing around with markdown stuff.)

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electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: echicken to Digital Man on Sun Sep 23 2018 08:21 pm

Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sun Sep 23 2018 16:35:22

sys/sub-op. I suppose when I migrate to echicken's web UI I might feel more comfortable posting essays ("blogging") directly on the BBS. For now, I just copy/pasted into a local msgbase the text from the wiki page with minor format fix-ups.

I'm considering a page (and a textmode module) that would use a message base for blog posts. Original messages as posts, replies as comments. A bit of a twist on a normal message reader whether web-based or on the BBS.

(I got a start on it the other day, then delved into finding a way to present the content nicely in both contexts. Hence my messing around with markdown stuff.)

Ah, yeah, a markup/down would be good. I started a dokuwiki markup parser in JS once or twice, but the recursive nature of many of the tags stalled me.

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #37:
NNTP = Network News Transfer Protocol
Norco, CA WX: 79.0øF, 50.0% humidity, 16 mph NE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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On 09/22/18, Nightfox pondered and said...

with social networking. I usually had a hard time thinking of things I wanted to write about in it though. I've never really had ideas often enough, and I never repeatedly felt like I was inspired to blog to the world about stuff.

You and me both. I think the best bet is to post something when you have something to say else don't as you end up just posting waffle or feeling like you need to post for the sake of it. etc.

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to echicken on Sun Sep 23 2018 17:32:04

Ah, yeah, a markup/down would be good. I started a dokuwiki markup parser in JS once or twice, but the recursive nature of many of the tags stalled me.

I looked at a few markdown specs and then decided to go with something barebones to meet my needs. It does all of the basic stuff: headings, lists, tables, blockquote, horizontal rules, links, images, bold text. One custom change is italics, where the format is _ctext_, where 'c' is a colour indicator a la ctrl-a codes (on the web it just shows up italicized). Bold and colour can be combined for high colour.

I didn't go recursion crazy, but some stuff can be nested. Bold and colorized text in lists, tables, links and images in lists, tables. No lists within tables or vice-versa; some other limitations.

Tables on the BBS side are pretty lame for now; if they overflow the terminal width they just get chopped off. Doing all of the 'best fit' stuff for that (finding appropriate column widths, wrapping text within a cell) will be a pain if I ever get to it.

The goal isn't to get too fancy, just to provide a way to format content for both the web and the terminal in one shot. When viewed on the web, it looks like normal-ish web content; when viewed on the BBS, it can have some special formatting.

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On 09-23-18 20:21, echicken wrote to Digital Man <=-

I'm considering a page (and a textmode module) that would use a message base for blog posts. Original messages as posts, replies as comments.
A bit of a twist on a normal message reader whether web-based or on the BBS.

That sounds cool. I was wondering how one might best implement a blog style service on a BBS. :)


... Internal Error: The system has been taken over by sheep at line 19960
=== MultiMail/Win v0.51
--- SBBSecho 3.03-Linux
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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sun Sep 23 2018 04:35 pm

Sub-board messages can be flagged as non-purgeable (permanent) by a sys/sub-op. I suppose when I migrate to echicken's web UI I might feel more comfortable posting essays ("blogging") directly on the BBS. For now, I just copy/pasted into a local msgbase the text from the wiki page with minor format fix-ups.

Ah, I didn't know sub-board messages can be flagged as permanent. That's a cool feature.

Nightfox

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Mon Sep 24 2018 10:16 am

Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Sun Sep 23 2018 04:35 pm

Sub-board messages can be flagged as non-purgeable (permanent) by a sys/sub-op. I suppose when I migrate to echicken's web UI I might feel more comfortable posting essays ("blogging") directly on the BBS. For now, I just copy/pasted into a local msgbase the text from the wiki page with minor format fix-ups.

Ah, I didn't know sub-board messages can be flagged as permanent. That's a cool feature.

Yup, one of those infrequently-used features.

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #16:
DOVE = Domain/Vertrauen
Norco, CA WX: 78.0øF, 54.0% humidity, 9 mph NNE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: echicken to Digital Man on Sun Sep 23 2018 09:16 pm

Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to echicken on Sun Sep 23 2018 17:32:04

Ah, yeah, a markup/down would be good. I started a dokuwiki markup parser in JS once or twice, but the recursive nature of many of the tags stalled me.

I looked at a few markdown specs and then decided to go with something barebones to meet my needs. It does all of the basic stuff: headings, lists, tables, blockquote, horizontal rules, links, images, bold text. One custom change is italics, where the format is _ctext_, where 'c' is a colour indicator a la ctrl-a codes (on the web it just shows up italicized).

Um... so _bBlue_ would be italiced in HTML and blue in a terminal? The underscores are sometimes used to denote an underlined word. In dokuwiki, double-slashes are used to indicate an italicized word. One problem with using an alphabetic char is that'll baffle spell-checkers (e.g. the one built into your browser). Probably best to avoid using alphabetic chars for your markup syntax.

The goal isn't to get too fancy, just to provide a way to format content for both the web and the terminal in one shot. When viewed on the web, it looks like normal-ish web content; when viewed on the BBS, it can have some special formatting.

Yeah, we have a couple of attempts to do that in CVS now (e.g. html2asc.js) - but a wiki or markdown-like markup language would be better to have.

I'd love to have a (working) dokuwiki syntax parser for the terminal server, that way all the wiki pages could be nicely viewable over Telnet/SSH/RLogin. :-)

digital man

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #38:
NUL = ASCII 0
Norco, CA WX: 77.7øF, 59.0% humidity, 0 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: Digital Man to echicken on Tue Sep 25 2018 14:09:15

Um... so _bBlue_ would be italiced in HTML and blue in a terminal? The underscores are sometimes used to denote an underlined word. In dokuwiki, double-slashes are used to indicate an italicized word. One problem with

I looked at a few markdown types and this is among the inconsistencies. The few I've used most recently use underscore for italics.

I didn't bother with underlined words here, but I could.

using an alphabetic char is that'll baffle spell-checkers (e.g. the one built into your browser). Probably best to avoid using alphabetic chars for your markup syntax.

Didn't occur to me; I don't use spell-checkers and ignore them when they're around. I could just scrap it and use the backslash-1 notation for colours, and ignore them on the web where they would be tacky.

Yeah, we have a couple of attempts to do that in CVS now (e.g. html2asc.js) - but a wiki or markdown-like markup language would be better to have.

I wanted to avoid those sorts of conversions in either direction, as either way they tend to look cheesy.

I'd love to have a (working) dokuwiki syntax parser for the terminal server, that way all the wiki pages could be nicely viewable over Telnet/SSH/RLogin. :-)

I'll see if I can line this up with at least some basic dokuwiki markdown syntax for now. With all of the links in those pages you'd probably want some kind of 'wiki browser' module ... or just a web browser.

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echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230
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Re: Re: [wiki.synchro.net] page added: wiki:user:digital_man
By: echicken to Digital Man on Tue Sep 25 2018 05:46 pm

I'll see if I can line this up with at least some basic dokuwiki markdown syntax for now. With all of the links in those pages you'd probably want some kind of 'wiki browser' module ... or just a web browser.

I didn't really ponder links... yet.

digital man

Synchronet "Real Fact" #12:
Synchronet was the first BBS software to ship with built-in RIPscrip support. Norco, CA WX: 63.3øF, 85.0% humidity, 0 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

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