Subj : NEWS::: DogBone
To   : All
From : August Abolins
Date : Mon Jun 21 2021 07:53 pm

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NEWS::: Overheard in the FIDOTEST echo,
       a new FTN project is in the works
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>============================================================<
** Original area               : "/FIDO/FIDOTEST"
** Original message from       : John Dovey@4:920/69
** Original date/time          : 21 Jun 21, 09:08
>============================================================<

..I have a concept in mind that I think could be useful. One
which encapsulates a number of different aspects. Just one of
those is auto updates to the nodelist. That's the simplest and
least important aspect, I think. Extending out from that is
auto-discovery and routing, shared (distributed) registry of
nodes and users, registry of echos and which are carried by
which nodes etc.

I wrote a server and a client that would share this info, but
realised that convincing sysops to install yet another piece of
software would be a real struggle until/unless the concept was
proven.. and even then, it would be much MUCH simpler to first
convince the BBS writers to include the functionality into the
BBS software suite. So I decided to take the tools already
available, and build something that works to make that proof of
concept tangible. I decided that writing a netmail based
"robot" that would allow sysops and users to register and/or
update their information was both in-line with current/old
Fidonet procedures/technology and required nothing more than
what everyone on FTN already has access to ie Netmail. Thus
this proof of concept I requested testing of.

The current model is hugely flawed. I suspect that a better
model will end up having the nodelist data imported into it's
own table, and any changes to it only allowed with a password.

Then as a secondary table, have user data that people can
choose to submit. This would function something like a "white
pages" for netmail addresses. One aspect of that would be the
AKA funtion as most of us have multiple addresses across the
FTN networks for example, simply registering on a new BBS gives
you a new netmail address on every FTN and QWK network that the
new BBS is a part of.

A next stage might be for sysops to opt in to register which
Echos they carry. Additional info might be to add their up/down
links. From that from the user perspective, it would be easy
enough to find a place to pick up the conferences which they
are interested in, especially those that don't have a wide
distribution. It would also allow for some auto mapping of
routes and flows of echomail that it not dependent on wading
through all the various available echos.

There are numerous aspects to this that I have only barely
speculated on, for example, cross referencing the echos with
the Elist that Vincent maintains would be really helpful as
well as maintaining cross-network links of echos and gateways.
As I said. Proof of concept. Putting my money where my mouth
is. Exploring the options. Figuring out what works for users
and what doesn't. YMMV. Caveat Emptor.

Net ter inligting, ek hou baie daarvan om met Nederlandse mense
te praat in Afrikaans.. al voel dit vir julle as of die taal
heel vreemd voorkom ;-)

All the best
John
===
* El Gato de Fuego (The Fire Cat) 4:920/69  * Pedasi, Panama
... Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.
-+- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
+ Origin: El Gato de Fuego - Pedasi, Panama (4:920/69)
>============================================================<


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A comment from the FUTURE4FIDO Roving Reporter:
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Additional info from John:

"..send a netmail to dogbone@4:920/1. Subject doesn't matter.
In the body just include /INFO on a line by itself and it will
send you a help message back. Part of the test is to see if
that is self-explanatory enough.

I have a terminal view access to the database (I will send the
login details privately to those who ask) also accessible as a
door from my BBS under (1) Main/(10) DogBone."
--- OpenXP 5.0.50
* Origin: FUTURE4FIDO = https://t.me/joinchat/SV_BQ0XcbSRoP4bt (2:221/1.58)

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