[OT] tin newsreader

[anon]

For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
developed. If the guide seems long, it's because I've painstakingly
listed every single keystroke. But if you look at the actual steps,
you'll see that it's literally a 5-minute process. Good luck and enjoy!

1. Install tin

a. sudo apt-get install tin

2. Configure auto-login

a. nano .newsauth
b. Enter: [newsserver] [password] [user]
Example: us.news.astraweb.com 1234 joe999
c. ctl-x (save)
d. chmod 400 .newsauth

3. Run tin

a. tin -rg [newsserver]
Example: tin -rg us.news.atraweb.com
b. Hit enter once to bypass greeting
c. "y" to show all groups (MUST do before step d, don't ask why)
d. "M" to configure tin
(My recommended settings)
9 Sort articles by : Date (descending)
10 Sort threads by : Nothing
133 Invocation of your editor : nano -r72 %F
142 Interval in secs to reread active : 999999
143 Reconnect to server automatically : ON
144 Cache NNTP overview files locally : ON
e. "q" to exit Options Menu
f. "/" to find a newsgroup
g. "s" to subscribe to group

4. Navigation keys
(can also substitute arrow keys)
"j" = down
"k" = up
TAB = read next unread group/thread/message
space = next page
"b" = previous page
"q" = return to group/thread level
"f" = post a followup
"p" = post a message

Tips:

1. If you won't be subscribing to any more new groups, can speed up
tin next time with the -Q flag.
Example: tin -rQg us.news.astraweb.com
2. If tin seems slow at first, don't worry, because it's just caching
all the headers. I can guarantee that this console newsreader is
as fast and efficient as it gets.
3. No need to type the tin command every time from the terminal,
can bring up previous commands using the up arrow.

[Joseph Rosevear]

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
developed. If the guide seems long, it's because I've painstakingly
listed every single keystroke. But if you look at the actual steps,
you'll see that it's literally a 5-minute process. Good luck and enjoy!

Yeah, tin!

I'm a long time tin user. Great newsreader!

-Joe

[John F. Morse]

Post by Joseph Rosevear

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
developed. If the guide seems long, it's because I've painstakingly
listed every single keystroke. But if you look at the actual steps,
you'll see that it's literally a 5-minute process. Good luck and enjoy!

Yeah, tin!
I'm a long time tin user. Great newsreader!
-Joe

I concur.

The SLRN users should try it. The NN users should definitely try it! ;-)

[Simon Jones]

Post by John F. Morse

Post by Joseph Rosevear

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
developed. If the guide seems long, it's because I've painstakingly
listed every single keystroke. But if you look at the actual steps,
you'll see that it's literally a 5-minute process. Good luck and enjoy!

Yeah, tin!
I'm a long time tin user. Great newsreader!
-Joe

I concur.
The SLRN users should try it. The NN users should definitely try it! ;-)

Well I used to have SLRN and now am happy with Pan, might try tin for
something to do though! :-)

[John F. Morse]

Post by Simon Jones

Post by John F. Morse

Post by Joseph Rosevear

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
developed. If the guide seems long, it's because I've painstakingly
listed every single keystroke. But if you look at the actual steps,
you'll see that it's literally a 5-minute process. Good luck and enjoy!

Yeah, tin!
I'm a long time tin user. Great newsreader!
-Joe

I concur.
The SLRN users should try it. The NN users should definitely try it! ;-)

Well I used to have SLRN and now am happy with Pan, might try tin for
something to do though! :-)

It is easy to operate.

For instance, when entering a group, to get to the last message you can just use the Up Arrow key to go from message #1 to
the highest-numbered message. It is a "wrap-around."

You can also use the Right Arrow and Left Arrow keys to go into and out from each level (drill). Those two keys get most of
the activity.

The lowercase q key will quit the current function and go back one level for each press. But if you use the uppercase Q, you
can immediately quit the program.

One possible use for Tin is to run it remotely via SSH from a different computer or location. Set up Tin on a computer at
home, then access it from a motel that might not provide an NSP service, or blocks a port.

I'm not very familiar with filtering in Tin, but I know SLRN is very powerful for filtering.

# Filter file V1.0.0 for the TIN newsreader
#
# Format:
# comment=STRING Optional. Multiple lines allowed. Comments must be placed
# at the beginning of a rule, or they will be moved to the
# next rule. '#' is not a valid keyword for a comment!
# group=STRING Mandatory. Newsgroups list (e.g. comp.*,!*sources*).
# case=NUM Mandatory. Compare=0 / ignore=1 case when filtering.
# score=NUM|STRING Mandatory. Score to give. Either:
# score=NUM A number (e.g. 70). Or:
# score=STRING One of the two keywords: 'hot' or 'kill'.
# subj=STRING Optional. Subject: line (e.g. How to be a wizard).
# from=STRING Optional. From: line (e.g. *Craig Shergold*).
# msgid=STRING Optional. Message-ID: line (e.g. <***@ether.net>) with
# full references.
# msgid_last=STRING Optional. Like above, but with last reference only.
# msgid_only=STRING Optional. Like above, but without references.
# refs_only=STRING Optional. References: line (e.g. <***@ether.net>) without
# Message-ID:
# lines=[<>]?NUM Optional. Lines: line. '<' or '>' are optional.
# gnksa=[<>]?NUM Optional. GNKSA parse_from() return code. '<' or '>' opt.
# xref=PATTERN Optional. Kill pattern (e.g. alt.flame*)
# time=NUM Optional. time_t value when rule expires


That file is ~/.tin/filter on my Ubuntu 8.04 LTS installation. It's been a long time since I set it up, so it might be
elsewhere on another installation.

There is also ~/Tin/posted which I believe I created in that location, then pointed the configuration toward. It holds the
sent (posted) message file, which is in a mbox format (but even that is an option in ~/.tin/tinrc the run control file). The
database for the mbox is ~/.tin/posted

Finally, there is a system-wide configuration file /etc/tin/tin.defaults in which I have made no changes.

My home directory is peppered with various directories and files for the many newsreaders and news servers I use. Trying to
keep them separate is a challenge.

The Tin developer is Urs Janßen, and he is active in Usenet groups. Tin is very well documented.

[Simon Jones]

Post by John F. Morse
That file is ~/.tin/filter on my Ubuntu 8.04 LTS installation. It's been a
long time since I set it up, so it might be elsewhere on another
installation.
There is also ~/Tin/posted which I believe I created in that location,
then pointed the configuration toward. It holds the sent (posted) message
file, which is in a mbox format (but even that is an option in
~/.tin/tinrc the run control file). The database for the mbox is
~/.tin/posted
Finally, there is a system-wide configuration file /etc/tin/tin.defaults
in which I have made no changes.
My home directory is peppered with various directories and files for the
many newsreaders and news servers I use. Trying to keep them separate is a
challenge.
The Tin developer is Urs Janßen, and he is active in Usenet groups. Tin
is very well documented.

Saved for a rainy day, you're a mine of information! :-)

Thanks again.

[Chris Davies]

Post by John F. Morse
I'm not very familiar with filtering in Tin, but I know SLRN is very
powerful for filtering.

Tin's filtering is pretty good, especially if/when you start playing
with scoring.

Chris

[andrew]

Post by John F. Morse
The SLRN users should try it. The NN users should definitely try it! ;-)

Tried it a while back, it is a reasonable alternative to slrn :).

Andrew

[Chris Ahlstrom]

Post by andrew

Post by John F. Morse
The SLRN users should try it. The NN users should definitely try it! ;-)

Tried it a while back, it is a reasonable alternative to slrn :).

What are the standout differences, in your opinion?

Aside: I found out by accident that mutt can also do newsreading.

[John F. Morse]

Post by Chris Ahlstrom
Aside: I found out by accident that mutt can also do newsreading.

I've read that several times, and even attempted it. No luck though,
although Mutt will work for e-mail.

Got any clues? Links? Etc.?

[Chris Ahlstrom]

Post by John F. Morse

Post by Chris Ahlstrom
Aside: I found out by accident that mutt can also do newsreading.

I've read that several times, and even attempted it. No luck though,
although Mutt will work for e-mail.
Got any clues? Links? Etc.?

No, but just hit ? and look for the various entries with the word
newsgroup in them. For example, in my setup, 'i' changes newsgroups.

Never bothered to actually use it to make a post.

[Bob]

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
snip

What does this offer that Forte Agent does not have?

[Lew Pitcher]

Post by Bob

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
snip

What does this offer that Forte Agent does not have?

Well, for one, it comes in an executable that is native to Linux.
Also, tin is open source where Agent is not; if so inclined, the OP can
modify tin to his/her requirements, and cannot modify Agent.

[anon]

Post by Bob

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
snip

What does this offer that Forte Agent does not have?

The convenience/efficiency of CLI, for one. For example, you can read
news with just 5 keys (j, k, space, tab, q), while keeping your hands
completely still.

But I'm not an advanced user (despite using tin for years), and probably
don't even know most of its features. All I know and wanted to share is
how easy it actually is to use and set up.

[Bob]

snip

How well does it handle binary files?

[John F. Morse]

Post by Bob

snip

How well does it handle binary files?

Just fine.

Usenet is binary, just like everything involving binary computers.

[Mike Yetto]

Post by John F. Morse

Post by Bob

snip

How well does it handle binary files?

Just fine.
Usenet is binary, just like everything involving binary computers.

So, that 81 bit ternary cpu I just ordered was a waste.

Mike "good thing it was a Best Buy Black Friday order" Yetto

[anon]

Post by Bob
How well does it handle binary files?

Do people still use newsreaders for that? Binsearch + nzb is your
friend. Free, no headers to download, and archived to 1100 days.

http://binsearch.info
sudo apt-get nzb

[Dan C]

Post by Bob

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a
venerable, user-friendly console newsreader that's still being actively
snip

What does this offer that Forte Agent does not have?

Bugger off, Win-droid. This is a Linux newsgroup.

[Man-wai Chang]

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a

Check out SLRN as well!
http://www.slrn.org/

[Dan C]

Post by anon
For some of the posters who've indicated an interest in trying out a
different newsreader, the following is a step-by-step guide to tin, a

Check out SLRN as well! http://www.slrn.org/

Yeah.

User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1

Bugger off, Win-droid.

[Man-wai Chang]

Post by Dan C

User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1

Bugger off, Win-droid.

Game-droid, Baptist Dan C! Games!

Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and your family! :)