Alan Ianson wrote to Andy Alt <=-

I have always had syncterm installed. It has always built and run for
me even on the console but I haven't had success building syncterm here without xorg and friends.

On your LFS system?

What if you do this? (or is this what you did?)

Download syncterm-1.1-src.tgz from the official project page
Extract the source
From the root of the source directory, cd to 'src/syncterm'
enter in 'make RELEASE=1

That should build the syncterm binary in

src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.release

For me, it's not linking to any xorg or SDL2 libs:

ldd syncterm
linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffe9cfce000)
libdl.so.2 => /lib64/libdl.so.2 (0x00007f550d9b8000)
libutil.so.1 => /lib64/libutil.so.1 (0x00007f550d9b3000)
libncursesw.so.6 => /lib64/libncursesw.so.6 (0x00007f550d975000)
libtinfo.so.6 => /lib64/libtinfo.so.6 (0x00007f550d944000)
libm.so.6 => /lib64/libm.so.6 (0x00007f550d7fc000)
libpthread.so.0 => /lib64/libpthread.so.0 (0x00007f550d7db000)
libc.so.6 => /lib64/libc.so.6 (0x00007f550d5fa000)
/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f550d9cf000)

Though I didn't do that in LFS, I did it in the slackware-build-essential docker container (https://hub.docker.com/repository/docker/andy5995/slackware-build-essential/general)

I have xorg and friends installed now so I'm sure I can get it done but minicom is working for me anyway.

Nice to hear!

--
-Andy
Website: https://andy5995.github.io


--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52-c9c24da
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

I have always had syncterm installed. It has always built and run for
me even on the console but I haven't had success building syncterm here
without xorg and friends.

On your LFS system?

Yes, it wouldn't build for me and I was short of time then to have a closer look.

What if you do this? (or is this what you did?)

Download syncterm-1.1-src.tgz from the official project page
Extract the source
From the root of the source directory, cd to 'src/syncterm'
enter in 'make RELEASE=1

Yes, that's the way I have always built syncterm. Usually I also do "sudo make install" when make is done and I am good to go.

That should build the syncterm binary in

src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.release

Yes. When I build syncterm an a machine with out xorg or SDL it runs fine from the console. It doesn't have any desktop support (which is also nice) but works fine from the console.

For me, it's not linking to any xorg or SDL2 libs:

ldd syncterm
linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffe9cfce000)
libdl.so.2 => /lib64/libdl.so.2 (0x00007f550d9b8000)
libutil.so.1 => /lib64/libutil.so.1 (0x00007f550d9b3000)
libncursesw.so.6 => /lib64/libncursesw.so.6 (0x00007f550d975000) libtinfo.so.6 => /lib64/libtinfo.so.6 (0x00007f550d944000)
libm.so.6 => /lib64/libm.so.6 (0x00007f550d7fc000)
libpthread.so.0 => /lib64/libpthread.so.0 (0x00007f550d7db000)
libc.so.6 => /lib64/libc.so.6 (0x00007f550d5fa000) /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f550d9cf000)

Though I didn't do that in LFS, I did it in the slackware-build-essential docker container
(https://hub.docker.com/repository/docker/andy5995/slackware-build-essential/g
neral)

I wish I would have dug in a bit more but I'll do that on the next go around.

I have xorg and friends installed now so I'm sure I can get it done but
minicom is working for me anyway.

Nice to hear!

Yep, I like minicom. I am about to get xmms installed. It needs an older version of glib installed. The source and a bunch of patches live in the slackware tree so I'll go grab it from there and try my luck.

I usually use vlc or audacious but xmms is nice too.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

I have always had syncterm installed. It has always built and run for
me even on the console but I haven't had success building syncterm here
without xorg and friends.

On your LFS system?

I just tried again to get syncterm installed. The build fails for me on lfs for reasons unknown.

The build of cryptlib fails I think, make doesn't even get to syncterm itself.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

I wish I would have dug in a bit more but I'll do that on the
next go around.

I believe that a major issue is libtinfo.so.6 which is not included in a stock lfs build.

Life is good,
Maurice

o- -o -o -o o- -o -o -o -o o- o- -o -o -o -o o- /) (\ (\ (\ /) (\ (\ (\ (\ /) /) (\ (\ (\ (\ /) ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ... Fidonet 4K - You load sixteen penguins and what do you get?
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.2989)

I wish I would have dug in a bit more but I'll do that on the
next go around.

I believe that a major issue is libtinfo.so.6 which is not included in a stock lfs build.

That may well be it. I see libtinfo in Andy's ldd output of syncterm.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

That may well be it. I see libtinfo in Andy's ldd output of
syncterm.

He must have an older version since the source I just dl'ed builds fine and has no shared ncurses libraries linked.

I didn't try it since I already have the terminal I require and have for decades now. /usr/share/terminfo/l/linux is your friend.

Life is good,
Maurice

-o -o -o o-
(\ (\ (\ /)
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
... Wynn bruceþ þe can wana lyt, sares and sorge.
Happiness is enjoyed by the one who knows little want, sorrow or suffering. --- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: Little Mikey's EuroPoint @ (2:280/464.113)

That may well be it. I see libtinfo in Andy's ldd output of
syncterm.

He must have an older version since the source I just dl'ed builds fine and had no shared ncurses libraries linked.

Did you build syncterm successfully?

I didn't try it since I already have the terminal I require and have for decades now. /usr/share/terminfo/l/linux is your friend.

I use ssh when it's avalable and plain old telnet when it's not.

I only need minicom or syncterm if I need to grab files with zmodem.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

Did you build syncterm successfully?

Yes. I nabbed https://syncterm.bbsdev.net/syncterm-src.tgz a little while ago, and it unpacked to ./syncterm-20230302 which looks current. Here are some gory details;

:r !ldd ~/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.debug/syncterm | sed 's/\t/ /'
linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffe96f4f000)
libncursesw.so.6 => /usr/lib/libncursesw.so.6 (0x00007fefe1f8a000)
libm.so.6 => /usr/lib/libm.so.6 (0x00007fefe1eab000)
libc.so.6 => /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x00007fefe1cca000)
/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007fefea75f000)

Looks like I was mistaken about the shared ncurses but at least libtinfo isn't one of them.

I use ssh when it's avalable and plain old telnet when it's not.

I only used telnet the other day which is the first time in AGES. I used to use telnet (rlogin before that) back in a time long, long ago in a land far, far away.

I only need minicom or syncterm if I need to grab files with
zmodem.

Okay. Does that happen often?

Life is good,
Maurice

-o -o -o -o -o o- -o o- o- -o -o -o o- o- o- -o
(\ (\ (\ (\ (\ /) (\ /) /) (\ (\ (\ /) /) /) (\
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ... Fidonet 4K - Sweet Sixteen Penguins of the Apocalypse.
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.2989)

Looks like I was mistaken about the shared ncurses but at least libtinfo isn't one of them.

That's interesting. I have been using the 1.1 version because of reported upload bugs but hat is old and they are likely solved now.

I'll grab that version and try again.

I use ssh when it's avalable and plain old telnet when it's not.

I only used telnet the other day which is the first time in AGES. I used to use telnet (rlogin before that) back in a time long, long ago in a land far, far away.

I don't use it often anymore but once in a while.

I only need minicom or syncterm if I need to grab files with
zmodem.

Okay. Does that happen often?

Not often no. Usually there are other options like ftp but there are times when zmodem is the only option.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Yes. I nabbed https://syncterm.bbsdev.net/syncterm-src.tgz a little while ago and it unpacked to ./syncterm-20230302 which looks current. Here are some gory details;

:r !ldd ~/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.
debug/syncterm | sed 's/\t/ /'
linux-vdso.so.1 (0x00007ffe96f4f000)
libncursesw.so.6 => /usr/lib/libncursesw.so.6 (0x00007fefe1f8a000)
libm.so.6 => /usr/lib/libm.so.6 (0x00007fefe1eab000)
libc.so.6 => /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x00007fefe1cca000) /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007fefea75f000)

I tried to build this version and it is also failing here the same as the 1.1 version.

In both cases there is a fatal error early in the build of cryptlib because it fails to find cryptlib.h.

It says no such file or directory. I wonder why it's failing here?

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

In both cases there is a fatal error early in the build of
cryptlib because it fails to find cryptlib.

find shows it located in ./3rdp/src/cl/cryptlib.h.

It says no such file or directory. I wonder why it's failing
here?

Not sure but it might be something to do with your path. See COMPILNG in the syncterm directory of the source. It mentions setting up SRC_ROOT in the commandline. I didn't have to do that here and simply switched to the directory ./syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/ and run make. Also I haven't bothered installing it anywhere.

Life is good,
Maurice

-o o- o- o-
(\ /) /) /)
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
... Hafa ðu geleafa to lifes frumon; gewuna þar ðu wunodest.
Have faith in the creator of life; dwell where you have dwelt.
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: Little Mikey's Brain - Ladysmith BC, Canada (1:153/7001)

It says no such file or directory. I wonder why it's failing
here?

Not sure but it might be something to do with your path. See COMPILNG in the syncterm directory of the source. It mentions setting up SRC_ROOT in the commandline. I didn't have to do that here and simply switched to the directory ./syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/ and run make. Also I haven't bothered installing it anywhere.

I moved my /etc/profile out of the way and then it built fine. Something in there (I'm not sure what) was stepping on us.

The above version did, the 1.1 version got past the cryptlib.h issue but failed to build syncterm further on. I'm not sure why.

It doesn't run here but I'll see if I can massage that some other time. ;)

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

It doesn't run here but I'll see if I can massage that some other
time. ;)

Sounds like a plan.

Personally I don't have a use/need for it and the below bothers me enough to call it a day;

:r !ls -alh ~/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.debug/syncterm
-rwxr-xr-x 1 maurice users 4.9M Mar 2 11:40 /home/maurice/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.debug/syncterm

:r !ls -alh /usr/bin/telnet
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 139K Mar 1 04:34 /usr/bin/telnet

Hm ... over 4.8M just to get zmodem?!?!?!?! ;-)

It ain't gonna happen.

Life is good,
Maurice

o- o- o- o- o- o- o- o- -o o- o- o- o- o- o- -o /) /) /) /) /) /) /) /) (\ /) /) /) /) /) /) (\ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ... Fidonet 4K - You load sixteen penguins and what do you get?
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.2989)

Hm ... over 4.8M just to get zmodem?!?!?!?! ;-)

Strip it!

It's only useful if you have a use for it.

But if you need a terminal syncterm is a good one. A lot of BBSs are very retro. They still use a lot of cp437 encoded ansi. Syncterm can present them as expected even on a utf8 terminal.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

Strip it!

It is/was. Here is the evidence;

:r !file ~/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.debug/syncterm | sed 's/^/ /'
/home/maurice/WeBeBashing/source/syncterm-20230302/src/syncterm/gcc.linux.x64.exe.debug/syncterm: ELF 64-bit LSB pie executable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2, for GNU/Linux 4.14.0, stripped

Note the "stripped" at the end of the line.

A lot of BBSs are very retro.

You forgot to mention "hotbeds of activity". :::wink, wink, knudge, knudge:::

telnet works okay and runs beautifully on the linux terminal along with framebuffered mplayer playing a full screen 4K mp4, all without requiring a gui. BUT if using a gui then "mplayer -vo vdpau -fs 16penguins.mp4" is something to write home to mother about.

Remember you read it here first.

Life is good,
Maurice

-o o- o- o- o- o- -o o- -o o- o- o- -o -o o- o-
(\ /) /) /) /) /) (\ /) (\ /) /) /) (\ (\ /) /)
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ... Fidonet 4K - Sweet Sixteen Penguins of the Apocalypse.
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.2989)

Strip it!

It is/was. Here is the evidence;

OK, I guess that's the best we can do.

A lot of BBSs are very retro.

You forgot to mention "hotbeds of activity". :::wink, wink, knudge, knudge:::

They were at one time. When I first started BBSing that was "online". Times have changed. Significantly, but I am still a BBSer.

telnet works okay and runs beautifully on the linux terminal along with framebuffered mplayer playing a full screen 4K mp4, all without requiring a gui. BUT if using a gui then "mplayer -vo vdpau -fs 16penguins.mp4" is something to write home to mother about.

I just realized the other day that vlc has an ncurses interface but I have never tried it. I played some music with it but didn't have any movie files to try at the time.

I'm going to have to get mplayer installed and try it out on the console.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

OK, I guess that's the best we can do.

Nope. It doesn't even come close to the worst terminal /usr/share/terminfo/ has to offer which means by default ANYTHING native to that will be better. Also I'd add that /usr/share/terminfo/l/linux *IS* the best no matter what. Thus what I am currently using to reply to you *IS* the best we can do.

When I first started BBSing that was "online".

Understood. My first login to a BBS was from a VAX/VMS dumb terminal rlogin to a geology library running a BBS as a frontend to the library's database. That was sometime around 1989-ish if I am not mistaken. Later it was farmed out to the horticultural department and they turned it into the first fidonet BBS I ever saw. It worked great. I don't recall the vt deployed by the dumb terminal but I bet it is more retro than anything the DOS-think sysops are even aware of.

Speaking of which;

:r !find /usr/share/terminfo -type f | wc -l | sed 's/^/ /'
2869

I just realized the other day that vlc has an ncurses interface
but I have never tried it.

I did but haven't for about 20 years now. I plan to add it into the mix soon.

I'm going to have to get mplayer installed and try it out on the
console.

I'd like to see that on your nvidia setup. It should work excellent on there using the fbdev2 video output. I've personally tested it with i915drmfb and amdgpu.

Too much fun.

Life is good,
Maurice

-o o- -o -o -o -o o- o- -o o- -o o- -o o- o- o-
(\ /) (\ (\ (\ (\ /) /) (\ /) (\ /) (\ /) /) /)
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ... Fidonet 4K - Sweet Sixteen Penguins of the Apocalypse.
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.2989)

I'd like to see that on your nvidia setup. It should work excellent on there using the fbdev2 video output. I've personally tested it with i915drmfb and amdgpu.

I had a quick look at installing the nvidia drivers but it failed for some reason. My nvidia card is not old but it is considered "legacy" by nvidia. It uses the nvidia-legacy-390 package.

It works well on my slackware setup with the 5.18.* kernel that ships with slackware-15.0. One day I am going to ask for advice from the LFS group and see if they can help me get that working. I think my chances are about 50/50 but I'll see what I can come up with.

Aside from that I think there's a pretty good chance it would work with the nouveau driver that I am using now.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Hey Alan!

Aside from that I think there's a pretty good chance it would work
with the nouveau driver that I am using now.

If you are now getting boot penguins on there then for sure mplayer will cooperate with the fbdev2 video output that should now associate with the kernel's nouveau driver that you are now using. You are pretty well much there whether or not you are aware of exactly where you are.

Life is good,
Maurice

-o o- o- -o
(\ /) /) (\
^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
... Onlær þinum bearne bysne goda, and eac swa some eallum leoda.
Teach your child by good example, and all people likewise.
--- GNU bash, version 5.2.15(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
* Origin: Little Mikey's Brain - Ladysmith BC, Canada (1:153/7001)