Text-based apps

[yurimxpxman]

Have any of you used text-based apps very much? I've been toying around
with them lately and I must say that I'm quite impressed. I'll probably
write an article about them, as well as others, as I haven't been
exploring my options very long.

I just installed the lynx web browser today. It's quite nice. It has
text replacements for just about everything, even things you would
normally think weren't possible to do with text. Of course, there are no
graphics, but it substitutes them with the alt text very nicely, and
everything's layed out in a logical manner. It handles complex web pages
very well, with the exception of JavaScript, but it's able to make most
pages usuable anyways. One of my favorite features is the ability to
edit the contents of a text box in an external application (I'm writing
in nano right now). Nano was the default, but I'm sure there's probably
an option somewhere in the config to change it to vi or whatever you
want.

I've been using gaim-text quite a bit, too. It has a nice, rather basic,
window system with an alt-tab-like structure (yes, you can see the
contents of the windows beneath it). Do any of you guys have any
favorite text-based apps besides the ones I've mentioned?

[gvblake22]

HAHA, never even knew such things existed to be honest!

[yurimxpxman]

I don't normally run these in a terminal emulator, mind you, but I thought some screenshots would be nice for those of you haven't seen these apps.

Lynx (web browser):


Gaim-text:


Nano:


Note that these apps work a lot better in a tty. For instance, gaim-text wasn't displaying 100% correctly in the screenshot, and it's finicky about the key combos when run in an emulator. Lynx and nano seem to work perfectly in a terminal emulator, though.

[Quakindude]

Whew! Flash back to my BBS days! I like it!

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Whew! Flash back to my BBS days! I like it!

What's BBS?

[screwballl]

wow... no thanks I have come to love my graphical interfaces

Whats BBS??? Whats BBS??
thats like saying whats a punchcard or an Apple Lisa

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by yurimxpxman

What's BBS?

It's how we shared information, a cyber-community and traded pron in the early days of the Internet explosion. There were usually a few server sided text based games members could play. First connection speeds? Done with a 2400 baud modem.

[gvblake22]

HAHAHA, I love the last screenshot with Tyreal giving you crap!

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

It's how we shared information, a cyber-community and traded pron in the early days of the Internet explosion. There were usually a few server sided text based games members could play. First connection speeds? Done with a 2400 baud modem.

Interesting. I didn't realize there was an alternative to Usenet (which I actually still use..).

Originally Posted by gvblake22

HAHAHA, I love the last screenshot with Tyreal giving you crap!

hehe. You don't know the half of it. You just see the sausage.. you don't know how it's made!

[MantaBase]

Gheesh? You guys don't know what BBS is?? What about MUDS? Zork?????

Eamon?

Elm?

Pine?

Vi?

Man - you guys missed the real fun.
Back when computers were computers and the sheep were scared!


Manta