Date: 2024-10-10
Last update: 2024-10-10

Usenet gameplay on Plan 9
-------------------------

One wold not expect that all can be done within Plan 9 operating
system. Here we go with few steps to reach gopher usenet newsgroup.

Register to get free access to text only Usenet News.

; abaco http://www.eternal-september.org/RegisterNewsAccount.php

Fill some name, email and userid. You will receive your password to
your email. Now you have access to Usenet.
If you wish to change your password or email, just login there:

; abaco http://www.eternal-september.org/userfunctions.php

Change it how you wish.
That's all HTTP traveling. Let's reach lovely Usenet from your
gorgeos Plan 9 system. Run command in rc window:

; echo 'key proto=pass service=nntp server=news.eternal-september \
user=USERID !password=PASSWORD>' >/mnt/factotum/ctl

USERID is UserID and PASSWORD your password in Eternal September you
registered above. This command will add your credential to factotum.

Run nntpfs service and connect to Eternal September:

; nntpfs -a news.eternal-september.org

Nothing will happen, at max factotum will ask for your user and pass.
You are now connected to Usenet ;/ It is mounted in /mnt/news in
hierarchical way. All newsgroups and articles are there. That is
not so friendly for browsing and posting your article. Open Acme.
Anywhere in acme type:

News comp.infosystems.gopher

Select it with mouse and middle click.

Boom you now browse Usenet Gopher Newsgroup email style.
You right click on a number and article will open for you.
If you wish to reply to that post, you hit middle click Reply.
Remember to add first line above Subject:

From: your@email.adr (name)

Obviously your email and name in the format above.

If you wish to browse or search all newsgroups, you can do it
manually with any tool you like in /mnt/news  or even in
Eternal September website:

; abaco http://www.eternal-september.org/hierarchies.php

comp.infosystems.gopher is in /mnt/news/comp/infosystems/gopher/

If you would like to check any other newsgroup, just type in acme
News your.newsgroup.thing and middle click on it.

If you are first time there, I recommend to go and test things in
the testing newsgroup of Eternal September

News eternal-september.test

Remember abut namespacing in Plan 9. All above works only in window
you initialized commands. It means open acme in the rio window you 
previously started nntpfs. That command mounted Usenet into
/mnt/news in the particual window.

Happy useneting ;/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it
.