Hey all,

I'm trying to work through a problem and so far haven't found a solution, so wondering if anyone has either of these two challenges figured out. Searched messages a bit to no avail.

Actual problem:
I'd like to get the text of a dokuwiki onto my BBS. I don't like the idea of some sort of automated text export, then updated to text files on the BBS, but I suppose that's the ultimate fallback. Gopher seemed interesting, but I don't think there's a good way to do that.

Crappy solution:
So I was thinking, why not just make a browser door? Ended up playing around with adding Links2 as a door, as described in http://wiki.synchro.net/howto:linuxapps . But as I suspected, there are multiple security issues, the worst of which is that Links2 in text mode has File->OS Shell in the menu with no way I can find to disable it.


Anyone solved either of these problems or have any good (or bad) ideas to try?


Thanks,
Andre

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þ Synchronet þ Radio Mentor BBS - bbs.radiomentor.org

Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Andre to All on Mon Feb 07 2022 08:36:04

I'd like to get the text of a dokuwiki onto my BBS. I don't like the idea of some sort of automated text export, then updated to text files on the BBS, but I suppose that's the ultimate fallback. Gopher seemed interesting, but I don't think there's a good way to do that.

It may be possible to do this in Synchronet's javascript environment, depending on how you can pull content from Dokuwiki.

We have exec/load/http.js, which does HTTP(S) and could query your wiki.

We also have exec/load/wiki-markup.js which parses DokuWiki markup (to some extent anyway) and will render it to a terminal-friendly format.

This may be worth pursuing if you can't sufficiently lock down a web browser.

So I was thinking, why not just make a browser door? Ended up playing around with adding Links2 as a door, as described in http://wiki.synchro.net/howto:linuxapps . But as I suspected, there are multiple security issues, the worst of which is that Links2 in text mode has File->OS Shell in the menu with no way I can find to disable it.

I think what you want is to run links2 with the -anonymous switch. It does a lot of "kiosk mode" type things that you'd want here, and it appears to remove the "OS Shell" menu option among other things.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
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El 7/2/22 a las 11:36, Andre escribi¢:

Hey all,

I'm trying to work through a problem and so far haven't found a solution, so wondering if anyone has either of these two challenges figured out. Searched messages a bit to no avail.

Actual problem:
I'd like to get the text of a dokuwiki onto my BBS. I don't like the idea of some sort of automated text export, then updated to text files on the BBS, but I suppose that's the ultimate fallback. Gopher seemed interesting, but I don't think there's a good way to do that.

Crappy solution:
So I was thinking, why not just make a browser door? Ended up playing around with adding Links2 as a door, as described in http://wiki.synchro.net/howto:linuxapps . But as I suspected, there are multiple security issues, the worst of which is that Links2 in text mode has File->OS Shell in the menu with no way I can find to disable it.

Anyone solved either of these problems or have any good (or bad) ideas to try?

At one point I thought of making a module that converts docuwiki files
to ansi or ctrl-a. and make a "sbbswiki"
But I was never able to develop the idea.

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þ Synchronet þ Dock Sud BBS TLD 24 HS - bbs.docksud.com.ar

El 7/2/22 a las 18:30, echicken escribi¢:

Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Andre to All on Mon Feb 07 2022 08:36:04

An> I'd like to get the text of a dokuwiki onto my BBS. I don't like the idea
An> of some sort of automated text export, then updated to text files on the
An> BBS, but I suppose that's the ultimate fallback. Gopher seemed
An> interesting, but I don't think there's a good way to do that.

It may be possible to do this in Synchronet's javascript environment, depending on how you can pull content from Dokuwiki.

We have exec/load/http.js, which does HTTP(S) and could query your wiki.

We also have exec/load/wiki-markup.js which parses DokuWiki markup (to some extent anyway) and will render it to a terminal-friendly format.

ohhhhh just notice this modules.. I see it later! very good

to get dokuiki pages you can access to local filesystem (raw text files)
or via xmlrpc api via https to dokuwiki instance

This may be worth pursuing if you can't sufficiently lock down a web browser.

An> So I was thinking, why not just make a browser door? Ended up playing
An> around with adding Links2 as a door, as described in
An> http://wiki.synchro.net/howto:linuxapps . But as I suspected, there are
An> multiple security issues, the worst of which is that Links2 in text mode
An> has File->OS Shell in the menu with no way I can find to disable it.

I think what you want is to run links2 with the -anonymous switch. It does a lot of "kiosk mode" type things that you'd want here, and it appears to remove the "OS Shell" menu option among other things.

yeap.. anonymous is mandatory... also you must check the configured
viewers because you can use it at kiosk mode too

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þ Synchronet þ Dock Sud BBS TLD 24 HS - bbs.docksud.com.ar

Re: Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Ragnarok to echicken on Mon Feb 07 2022 14:45:15

to get dokuiki pages you can access to local filesystem (raw text files) or via xmlrpc api via https to dokuwiki instance

The API is what I was wondering about - I don't think I've ever looked at that part of dokuwiki. That opens up a lot of possibilities.

I see that somebody wrote this:

https://github.com/gerardnico/dokuwiki-plugin-api/

Which is potentially even better since it saves the client from having to handle XML. I think we still have E4X in Synchronet's JS engine, but it probably won't be there forever.

---
echicken
electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
---
þ Synchronet þ electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com

Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Andre to All on Mon Feb 07 2022 08:36 am

Hey all,

I'm trying to work through a problem and so far haven't found a solution, so wondering if anyone has either of these two challenges figured out. Searched messages a bit to no avail.

Actual problem:
I'd like to get the text of a dokuwiki onto my BBS. I don't like the idea of some sort of automated text export, then updated to text files on the BBS, but I suppose that's the ultimate fallback.

DokiWiki articles are already plain text (stored in your data/pages directory), for example:

====== Welcome ======

~~META:title=Wiki~~

This is the [[wp>Wiki|Wiki]] for everything related to [[http://www.synchro.net/|Synchronet]] BBS Software.

Not sure what a BBS is?
* Videos:
- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWdr4zeE3JU|Lon.TV: Retro Review - Computer Bulletin Board ( BBS ) Systems]]
- [[https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kzm4j3/the-lost-art-of-warez|VICE: The Lost Art of Warez]]
- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvhLK8Mbw_g|34C3: BBSs and early Internet access in the 1990ies]]
- [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OwGSX2IiQ|Al's Geek Lab: Back to the BBS]]
* Articles:
- [[https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/11/the-lost-civilization-of-dial-up-bulletin-board-systems/506465/|The Atlantic: The Lost Civilization of Dial-Up Bulletin Board Systems]]
- [[https://www.howtogeek.com/686600/remember-bbses-heres-how-you-can-visit-one-today|How-to Geek: Remember BBSes? Here

So... no export would be needed if you just want to make specific DokuWiki namespaces available as general text files on your BBS.

Gopher seemed interesting, but I
don't think there's a good way to do that.

Crappy solution:
So I was thinking, why not just make a browser door? Ended up playing around with adding Links2 as a door, as described in http://wiki.synchro.net/howto:linuxapps . But as I suspected, there are multiple security issues, the worst of which is that Links2 in text mode has File->OS Shell in the menu with no way I can find to disable it.

"Use the source Luke". :-) As with most things *nix, as a last resort, you could just modify the source code to remove that option/feature and rebuild it.

Anyone solved either of these problems or have any good (or bad) ideas to try?

I've wanted to make my DokuWiki pages available to terminal server users in the past too, but I was thinking more just the individual file route and not following links between pages and such (like an actual browser).
--
digital man (rob)

Rush quote #23:
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose
Norco, CA WX: 73.1øF, 14.0% humidity, 8 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
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Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: echicken to Andre on Mon Feb 07 2022 04:30 pm

I think what you want is to run links2 with the -anonymous switch. It does a lot of "kiosk mode" type things that you'd want here, and it appears to remove the "OS Shell" menu option among other things.

When I was rushing around setting it up, copying the script from the wiki page, I saw that it had the -anonymous switch and then started flailing. What I hadn't noticed is that the script does an is_sysop check for whether or not it uses that switch.

So yes, obviously you are right. I made a wiki section to explain this a bit, and reminded readers that people can still do questionable things while browsing from your IP address.

Thanks for the patience.

- Andre

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þ Synchronet þ Radio Mentor BBS - bbs.radiomentor.org

Re: Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Ragnarok to echicken on Mon Feb 07 2022 02:45 pm

ohhhhh just notice this modules.. I see it later! very good

Can always count on Synchronet to have the kitchen sink.

to get dokuiki pages you can access to local filesystem (raw text files) or via xmlrpc api via https to dokuwiki instance

I'd say the latter is preferred for me, since the wiki is hosted out in the internets somewhere. I'll have to take a look at that option.


Thanks,
Andre

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þ Synchronet þ Radio Mentor BBS - bbs.radiomentor.org

Re: wiki browsing with links2 ?
By: Digital Man to Andre on Mon Feb 07 2022 11:07 am

DokiWiki articles are already plain text (stored in your data/pages directory), for example:

I didn't realize that. Will be a good fallback option if I can't figure out a way to keep things live. On the other hand, downloading flat text files certainly adds to the BBS-nostalgia realism.

"Use the source Luke". :-) As with most things *nix, as a last resort, you could just modify the source code to remove that option/feature and rebuild it.

I considered that as an option. After more carefully reading the links2.js script on the wiki, I found my problem was more about reading the source than using it...

Luke: "I don't, I don't want to read it."
Yoda: "That is why you fail."

I've wanted to make my DokuWiki pages available to terminal server users in the past too, but I was thinking more just the individual file route and not following links between pages and such (like an actual browser).

It's a hell of a lot more secure, that's for sure.


Thanks,
Andre

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þ Synchronet þ Radio Mentor BBS - bbs.radiomentor.org