Re: Reading the handbook from console
On my now-older computer (from July 2001, 256 MB RAM), svgalib ran on FreeBSD but was very crash-prone. svgalib in Linux was erratic and caused color distortions when switching to an X window. So I decided I wanted no part of svgalib on the new computer, FreeBSD or Linux. Use ASCII art or framebuffer? Tom ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Hello. TM On my now-older computer (from July 2001, 256 MB RAM), svgalib ran on FreeBSD but was very crash-prone. TM TM svgalib in Linux was erratic and caused color distortions when switching to an X window. TM TM So I decided I wanted no part of svgalib on the new computer, FreeBSD or Linux. TM TM Use ASCII art or framebuffer? If you're about to ascii then I'd say that 'svgatextmode' was great when I used linux. And, I don't believe the 'frame buffer' stuff is usable in freebsd. Thank you. -- Peter Vereshagin pe...@vereshagin.org (http://vereshagin.org) pgp: 1754B9C1 ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Polytropon wrote: On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:48:33 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: -Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) Reading the pkg-descr of elinks it seems to bring lots of extensions, some interesting, some not that interesting (at least for the use discussed here: reading FreeBSD supplied local documentation: no need for cookies, scripts, or HTTP referers). Other features like the ability to render tables might be a reason not to use a browser that cannot do this (maybe lynx can't?). (and do you enable console graphics?) No, I have to admit that I've never even _tried_ that. Somehow deep inside my brain there's the statement that graphics in console mode is libvga which is for Linux, not for FreeBSD, but that might not apply anymore. However, The FreeBSD Handbook and the FAQ mostly contain text, I mean, that's what they are about, and for reading text I don't see a need for graphics. If I want graphics, I have X. :-) What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Jan 13, 2013, at 12:15 PM, Fbsd8 wrote: Polytropon wrote: On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:48:33 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: -Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) Reading the pkg-descr of elinks it seems to bring lots of extensions, some interesting, some not that interesting (at least for the use discussed here: reading FreeBSD supplied local documentation: no need for cookies, scripts, or HTTP referers). Other features like the ability to render tables might be a reason not to use a browser that cannot do this (maybe lynx can't?). (and do you enable console graphics?) No, I have to admit that I've never even _tried_ that. Somehow deep inside my brain there's the statement that graphics in console mode is libvga which is for Linux, not for FreeBSD, but that might not apply anymore. However, The FreeBSD Handbook and the FAQ mostly contain text, I mean, that's what they are about, and for reading text I don't see a need for graphics. If I want graphics, I have X. :-) What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? Yes, some console-based browsers support displaying graphics directly on the console (read: ttyv*). -- Devin _ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. Thank you. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Sun, 13 Jan 2013, Polytropon wrote: On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) I tried it years ago. It was more trouble than it was worth. 640x400 (AFAIR), with eight glorious VGA colors, chosen by IBM for their ugliness. Also, it was prone to crashing the machine. There is a plain ASCII version of the Handbook along with the other formats at ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Polytropon wrote: On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) I use links/svgalib on my host without problems, the worst I can say is the mouse pointer is jumpy. So console graphics = any thing that uses this single svgalib. I understand now. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:48:01 +0100 From: Polytropon free...@edvax.de To: Fbsd8 fb...@a1poweruser.com Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com, dte...@freebsd.org, questi...@freebsd.org On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) Works fine on FreeBSD -- graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire') use it. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Robert Bonomi wrote: Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:48:01 +0100 From: Polytropon free...@edvax.de To: Fbsd8 fb...@a1poweruser.com Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com, dte...@freebsd.org, questi...@freebsd.org On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) Works fine on FreeBSD -- graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire') use it. How do you activate graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire')? ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Jan 13, 2013, at 4:01 PM, Fbsd8 wrote: Robert Bonomi wrote: Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:48:01 +0100 From: Polytropon free...@edvax.de To: Fbsd8 fb...@a1poweruser.com Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com, dte...@freebsd.org, questi...@freebsd.org On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) Works fine on FreeBSD -- graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire') use it. How do you activate graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire')? Try adding to /boot/loader.conf: screensave_load=YES screensave_name=fire_saver -- Devin P.S. The default is green_saver (which blanks the console, saving energy making it green). _ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. Thank you. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:58:35 -0600 (CST), Robert Bonomi wrote: Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:48:01 +0100 From: Polytropon free...@edvax.de To: Fbsd8 fb...@a1poweruser.com Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com, dte...@freebsd.org, questi...@freebsd.org On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:15:23 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: What do you mean by enable console graphics? Is this something different than x11? The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. However, this only works for local displays. As soon as there is a serial or SSH connection involved, it doesn't work anymore. I've actually never seen this working on FreeBSD; maybe it's just a Linuxism. Maybe it's just because I've never tried. :-) Works fine on FreeBSD -- graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire') use it. Oh, _that_ is this functionality? I've in fact tried and seen this working, I think... with the logo saver showing Beastie sliding across the screen, and with the warp saver. I assume it's the same functionality behind the option to show a spash screen when the system is booting (after the kernel has been loaded). -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 19:01:21 -0500 From: Fbsd8 fb...@a1poweruser.com Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console How do you activate graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire')? apropos screen saver will point one in the right direction. I compile into a custom monolithic kernel. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Robert Bonomi bonomi at mail.r-bonomi.com writes: ... The is a famous library, svgalib, a low level console graphics library which can - under _very_ specific circumstances - display graphics on the text mode console. There are few browsers, image viewers and even media players that can use this interface to display console graphics while _not_ needing X. ... Works fine on FreeBSD -- graphics-mode screen-savers (like 'fire') use it. ... Yes, it is famous indeed ... Is that still valid ? www.svgalib.org/svgalib.user.faq.html ... Why does a programs terminate immediatelly with svgalib: Cannot get I/O permissions.? svgalib programs need to be run as root. This means that either the user that runs them is root, or, if running by normal users is desirable, the program needs to be 'suid root', which means: the program must be owned by root (chown 0 program) and the suid bit needs to be set (chmod u+s program). ... jb ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
In freebsd-questions Digest, Vol 449, Issue 9, Message: 25 [ pardon loss of threading ] On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:56:24 -0800 dte...@freebsd.org wrote: From: Polytropon [mailto:free...@edvax.de] [..] There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. No that's right, it had been lynx since 2.2, if not earlier. Somewhere early in 5.x, by 5.2 at least, it had changed to links: === Options Editor NameValue NameValue - - NFS Secure NO Install Root/ NFS SlowNOBrowser package links NFS TCP NO Browser Exec/usr/local/bin/links NFS version 3 YES Media Type not yet set Debugging NO Media Timeout 300 No Warnings NO Package Temp/var/tmp Yes to All NO Newfs Args -b 16384 -f 2048 DHCPNO Fixit Console serial IPv6NO Re-scan Devices * Skip PCCARD NO Use Defaults[RESET!] FTP usernameftp Editor ee Tape Blocksize 20 Extract Detail high Release Name5.5-STABLE Use SPACE to select/toggle an option, arrow keys to move, ? or F1 for more help. When you're done, type Q to Quit. This is the browser package that will be used for viewing HTML docs === Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) I used to use lynx a lot, browsing the web through a 56k modem in the late '90s, however I made far more headway with links as it could deal reasonably well with basic functional javascript where lynx couldn't, at least then, and I seem to recall an issue with upstream maintenance. Ok, the reason I ask is actually because I have this insane (?) idea of shoving one of the aforementioned solutions onto the installation media so that (gasp) we can have that functionality back like we had in the days of sysinstall. Shock horror! :) No, not insane at all. I can't believe the disconnect from newer FreeBSD users' needs that bsdinstall presently represents, especially those with less than the latest awesome kit, and I applaud you carrying on with bsdconfig and improving bsdinstall, about which I have far too many suggestions that might steal this topic :) So naturally, my first question is which one? Thoughts? -- Devin Well I doubt links works any less well that it did, though it's probably not up to all the latest JS, CSS and other recent tricks 'out there'. Certainly for the stated purpose of rendering Handbook and FAQ it will do fine. It does (did then) weigh more than lynx but worth it, I feel: smithi on sola% ls -l `which links` -r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 2959956 Oct 25 2006 /usr/local/bin/links smithi on sola% ls -l `which lynx` -r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 1078068 Jul 26 2006 /usr/local/bin/lynx Polytropon concludes: However, The FreeBSD Handbook and the FAQ mostly contain text, I mean, that's what they are about, and for reading text I don't see a need for graphics. If I want graphics, I have X. :-) Exactly. Although regarding installing X on 9.1 before newer packages are available - and it IS painful or at least very slow to build on the likes of 1GHz laptops - I can't see any reason the X that was working as of mid-October would be any problem, unless there's been some major revision or security scare since? The 9.x ABI is constant. I grabbed: ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-9-stable/Latest/en-freebsd-doc.tbz (dated 10/16/12 09:13:00) and pkg_add'ed it, and will do the same for X when I get 9.1 also going on my 'big' 768MB RAM ThinkPad. For those with the horsepower, sure, build X, KDE/GNOME, OpenOffice etc. cheers, Ian ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Reading the handbook from console
I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. All most all browsers need a desktop to function. I install the links port and select the vga option before doing make install on it. You can launch it from the command line and once started point it to the HD path where the handbook html is and wala. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
--As of January 10, 2013 12:37:06 PM -0600, Scott Eberl is alleged to have said: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? --As for the rest, it is mine. You'd need to install a cli browser, for the standard install. (Or a PDF viewer, IIRC.) You can go back and change your options for the handbook port if you want as well - one of the other options is to install it in plain text format, either as well or instead. (Other formats there are options for include PDF, Postscript, and a couple of HTML options.) Daniel T. Staal --- This email copyright the author. Unless otherwise noted, you are expressly allowed to retransmit, quote, or otherwise use the contents for non-commercial purposes. This copyright will expire 5 years after the author's death, or in 30 years, whichever is longer, unless such a period is in excess of local copyright law. --- ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 12:37:06PM -0600, Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Why won't you install one of the text-browsers? portmaster www/lynx (or another one) ist not a big thing and if you install a terminal multiplexer as well you can change between the handbook and the applying in a very simple way. Sabine -- Good fences make good neighbours. (N.N.) ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). All most all browsers need a desktop to function. Definitely NO. Do not confuse X with a window manager or a full desktop environment. Famous browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Opera _of course_ run only within X (even if there is no window manager or desktop environment installed). But that concept is totally against the goal to read the Handbook in text mode. In some worst-case scenario where no X is available, or on a server that has very tight security restrictions (for the server and for the environment you work in), having access to the Handbook and the FAQ in local text mode can be a real benefit (just as manpages). I install the links port and select the vga option before doing make install on it. The links browser can also work in normal text mode. You can launch it from the command line and once started point it to the HD path where the handbook html is and wala. Or you could call it directly with the Handbook entry or section TOC you want to access, on the command line, maybe using the shell's autocomplete capability. This might make navigation a bit easier in case you know what you're searching for. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
RE: Reading the handbook from console
-Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) (and do you enable console graphics?) -- Devin All most all browsers need a desktop to function. Definitely NO. Do not confuse X with a window manager or a full desktop environment. Famous browsers like Firefox, Chrome and Opera _of course_ run only within X (even if there is no window manager or desktop environment installed). But that concept is totally against the goal to read the Handbook in text mode. In some worst-case scenario where no X is available, or on a server that has very tight security restrictions (for the server and for the environment you work in), having access to the Handbook and the FAQ in local text mode can be a real benefit (just as manpages). I install the links port and select the vga option before doing make install on it. The links browser can also work in normal text mode. You can launch it from the command line and once started point it to the HD path where the handbook html is and wala. Or you could call it directly with the Handbook entry or section TOC you want to access, on the command line, maybe using the shell's autocomplete capability. This might make navigation a bit easier in case you know what you're searching for. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org _ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. Thank you. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:48:33 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: -Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) Reading the pkg-descr of elinks it seems to bring lots of extensions, some interesting, some not that interesting (at least for the use discussed here: reading FreeBSD supplied local documentation: no need for cookies, scripts, or HTTP referers). Other features like the ability to render tables might be a reason not to use a browser that cannot do this (maybe lynx can't?). (and do you enable console graphics?) No, I have to admit that I've never even _tried_ that. Somehow deep inside my brain there's the statement that graphics in console mode is libvga which is for Linux, not for FreeBSD, but that might not apply anymore. However, The FreeBSD Handbook and the FAQ mostly contain text, I mean, that's what they are about, and for reading text I don't see a need for graphics. If I want graphics, I have X. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
RE: Reading the handbook from console
-Original Message- From: Polytropon [mailto:free...@edvax.de] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:41 PM To: dte...@freebsd.org Cc: 'Fbsd8'; scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:48:33 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: -Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) Ok, the reason I ask is actually because I have this insane (?) idea of shoving one of the aforementioned solutions onto the installation media so that (gasp) we can have that functionality back like we had in the days of sysinstall. So naturally, my first question is which one? Thoughts? -- Devin Reading the pkg-descr of elinks it seems to bring lots of extensions, some interesting, some not that interesting (at least for the use discussed here: reading FreeBSD supplied local documentation: no need for cookies, scripts, or HTTP referers). Other features like the ability to render tables might be a reason not to use a browser that cannot do this (maybe lynx can't?). (and do you enable console graphics?) No, I have to admit that I've never even _tried_ that. Somehow deep inside my brain there's the statement that graphics in console mode is libvga which is for Linux, not for FreeBSD, but that might not apply anymore. However, The FreeBSD Handbook and the FAQ mostly contain text, I mean, that's what they are about, and for reading text I don't see a need for graphics. If I want graphics, I have X. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... _ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. Thank you. ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:56:24 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: Ok, the reason I ask is actually because I have this insane (?) idea of shoving one of the aforementioned solutions onto the installation media so that (gasp) we can have that functionality back like we had in the days of sysinstall. So my stupid brain remembered something that actually has happened? A text mode browser in the default installation? Called /usr/bin/lynx maybe? It must be a long time ago... So naturally, my first question is which one? The UNIX philosophy suggests to use one that is sufficient for the purpose. A look at dependencies would be useful. From that point of view, lynx seems to be okay, as it will do all the things which are required: Render the HTML in a readable manner, make the hyperreferences accessible, evenprovide NLS if the installation has a requirement for that (newbie non-US users probably will find that feature useful), no dependencies regarding graphics hardware, so it will even work on a serial terminal (when in use at a museum) or via SSH if urgently needed. However, it seems that lynx does not support UTF-8, but again, that doesn't matter, as there is no such content in the documents, and it doesn't work in text mode anyway. And if you need a transparent background, clean your terminal. :-) It would also be possible to use w3m with ja- users in mind, disabling the inline image functions to get rid of x11, fb, and gtk2 dependencies. If desired, w3m can use the lynx keyboard map. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Reading the handbook from console
dte...@freebsd.org writes: -Original Message- From: Polytropon [mailto:free...@edvax.de] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:41 PM To: dte...@freebsd.org Cc: 'Fbsd8'; scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:48:33 -0800, dte...@freebsd.org wrote: -Original Message- From: owner-freebsd-questi...@freebsd.org [mailto:owner-freebsd- questi...@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Polytropon Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 2:33 PM To: Fbsd8 Cc: scotteb...@gmail.com; questi...@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Reading the handbook from console On Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:47 -0500, Fbsd8 wrote: Scott Eberl wrote: I went ahead and installed the FreeBSD handbook onto my system and I was able to find it on disk per the motd notes but I'm wondering if there is a preferred method for reading these since they are in html format. I tried w3m and lynx and it looks like they are both not installed. Is there something i'm missing for reading these or do I just need to install a cli browser? Viewing html takes some form of browser. There is no text mode web browser in the base system. Installing one is easy: As the HTML files generated for the Handbook are good quality, they display nicely in lynx, links, and w3m (probably the most prominent three text mode web browsers). I must know... What is Polytropon's favorite of those listed? (and perhaps also elinks ?) Hard to say, now that X is everywhere... :-) In the past, I've started using lynx because it was the default. Somehow I even tend to remember that it was part of the default installation in around FreeBSD 4 or so... but that could be wrong. Later on I tried w3m and also found it usable. Today I'd say I prefer links for interactive text mode browsing. Still lynx -dump is a welcome tool in some of my scripts, and never change a running system. :-) Ok, the reason I ask is actually because I have this insane (?) idea of shoving one of the aforementioned solutions onto the installation media so that (gasp) we can have that functionality back like we had in the days of sysinstall. So naturally, my first question is which one? Thoughts? I just looked at the DVD install disk and it has firefox, links1, links, and w3m. That should take care of most needs, but I don't know about the CD disks. -- Carl Johnsonca...@peak.org ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
