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  • New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail

    From DaiTengu to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 09:16:08 2026
    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Nightfox to All on Wed Mar 25 2026 05:14 pm

    Based on the request of a fellow sysop, I've created a new offline QWK mail reader (with the help of Claude AI), which I call SlyMail. Currently I consider it to be a beta version, as it hasn't been tested thoroughly, so there may be some bugs, but currently it's functional as far as being able to read messages from a QWK packet and save new messages, etc.


    I'll have to check it out. I love my GoldEd+ (which I use mostly for fidonet messages these days), but I'm always willing to try out something new.

    I Starred it on github, maybe I'll play around with it a bit.

    ...The cause of problems are solutions!
  • From Mortar@VERT/EOTLBBS to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 10:44:49 2026
    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Nightfox to All on Wed Mar 25 2026 17:17:01

    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via FTP or SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should make it easier to download QWK packets.

    Not sure I got that. RU saying SlyMail can conncet with another SlyMail on another system?

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
  • From fusion@VERT/CFBBS to Mortar on Thu Mar 26 12:15:00 2026
    On 26 Mar 2026, Mortar said the following...

    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Nightfox to All on Wed Mar 25 2026 17:17:01
    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via F SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should make it easier to download QWK packets.

    Not sure I got that. RU saying SlyMail can conncet with another SlyMail on another system?

    in the synchronet ftp server if you try to download a specific non-existant file, say "VERT.qwk" it'll create that packet on the fly and let you download it.

    so basically SlyMail would be able to grab that without logging in to the BBS part

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/25 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: cold fusion - cfbbs.net - grand rapids, mi
  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to Mortar on Thu Mar 26 09:31:55 2026
    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Mortar to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 2026 10:44 am

    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via FTP
    or SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should make it
    easier to download QWK packets.

    Not sure I got that. RU saying SlyMail can conncet with another SlyMail on another system?

    No, it can connect to, say, a BBS to download a QWK packet. As a BBS user, you can often download a QWK packet from a BBS to use it with an offline reader; SlyMail allows you to do that from within SlyMail - It can connect to a remote system via FTP or SSH, and that system would usually be a BBS, and it lets you select a QWK packet to download, and then read.

    For instance, if you connect to a Synchronet BBS via FTP or SSH for secure file transfers, the BBS will list a QWK packet file if there are new messages for you - You can then download that and use it with an offline reader. Similarly, QWK reply (rep) packets can be uploaded in a similar fashion. This is how QWK networking works with Dove-Net.

    Nightfox

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
  • From Mortar@VERT/EOTLBBS to fusion on Thu Mar 26 11:31:49 2026
    Re: Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: fusion to Mortar on Thu Mar 26 2026 12:15:00

    in the synchronet ftp server if you try to download a specific non-existant file, say "VERT.qwk" it'll create that packet on the fly and let you download it.

    In this example, sounds like you'd end up with an empty packet. Is there a use case for that?

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
  • From Mortar@VERT/EOTLBBS to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 11:44:49 2026
    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Nightfox to Mortar on Thu Mar 26 2026 09:31:55

    No, it can connect to, say, a BBS to download a QWK packet.

    Ahh, gotcha.

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
  • From Errol Casey@VERT/TL-QWK to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 13:35:16 2026
    On March 26 2026, Nightfox wrote:
    Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Nightfox to All on Wed Mar 25 2026 05:14 pm

    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via
    FTP or SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should
    make it easier to download QWK packets.

    Didn't see that mentioned when I downloaded it. Will have to check it out. I hope absinthe bbs has SSH; so I can use slymail with it :-)

    ---
    Amessyroom, Sysop of Too Lazy BBS - toolazy.synchro.net 2323 telnet 22 ssh

    ... I parked my Hard Disk, and got a ticket!

    --- BinktermPHP v1.8.8
    * Origin: Amessyroom - https://bbs.amessyroom.fyi (1:3634/58.1337)
    þ Synchronet þ Too Lazy BBS - toolazy.synchro.net:2323
  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to Errol Casey on Thu Mar 26 16:29:15 2026
    Re: Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Errol Casey to Nightfox on Thu Mar 26 2026 01:35 pm

    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via FTP
    or SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should make it
    easier to download QWK packets.

    Didn't see that mentioned when I downloaded it. Will have to check it out. I hope absinthe bbs has SSH; so I can use slymail with it :-)

    If it supports FTP, that should work too.

    Nightfox

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com
  • From MRO@VERT/BBSESINF to Mortar on Fri Mar 27 08:28:45 2026
    Re: Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: Mortar to fusion on Thu Mar 26 2026 11:31 am

    Re: Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: fusion to Mortar on Thu Mar 26 2026 12:15:00

    in the synchronet ftp server if you try to download a specific non-existant file, say "VERT.qwk" it'll create that packet on the fly and let you download it.

    In this example, sounds like you'd end up with an empty packet. Is there a use case for that?

    Why do you think that?
    Due to the magic of synchronet you are getting your qwk packet.

    Yes there was a "use case" for it. We were using it.
    I prefer nntp msg networking, though.


    --
    "Before using Wildcat....This Company did not have a convenient way of
    looking after some of the richest clients in the world...Now we do!"


    President of BBS Sysop's Union +++ https://bbses.info/union
    ---
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  • From Agent@VERT/DMINE to NIGHTFOX on Fri Mar 27 19:03:49 2026
    On 25/03/2026 21:14, Nightfox wrote:

    It's available on GitHub, and there are screenshots: https://github.com/EricOulashin/SlyMail

    Looks fantastic, well done. Exciting to see more offline mail readers and BBS server packages enter the scene!
    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Diamond Mine Online BBS - sbbs.dmine.net:24 - Fredericksburg, VA USA
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Nightfox on Sat Mar 28 12:25:08 2026
    Nightfox wrote to All <=-

    Based on the request of a fellow sysop, I've created a new offline QWK mail reader (with the help of Claude AI), which I call SlyMail.
    Currently I consider it to be a beta version, as it hasn't been tested thoroughly, so there may be some bugs, but currently it's functional as far as being able to read messages from a QWK packet and save new messages, etc.

    Nice, checking it out now!


    ... Always the first steps
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Nightfox on Sat Mar 28 12:25:08 2026
    Nightfox wrote to All <=-

    Also, I forgot to mention, SlyMail can connect to remote systems (via
    FTP or SSH) to download QWK packets from within SlyMail, which should
    make it easier to download QWK packets.

    Again, very cool. I use a script to download .qwk files and upload .reps
    with Multimail, having that built in will be slick.



    ... Are there sections? Consider transitions
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Mortar on Sat Mar 28 12:25:08 2026
    Mortar wrote to fusion <=-

    In this example, sounds like you'd end up with an empty packet. Is
    there a use case for that?

    BBSNAME.QWK is a magic filename - requesting to receive it triggers the
    BBS to generate a QWK packet. Ditto for sending a BBSNAME.REP packet -
    the reply packet is automatically tossed into the message areas.

    It's very handy, I use it on my BBS all the time in a batch file that
    downloads the packet, opens MultiMail, then uploads the replies.




    ... Don't give Chad a big neural network
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    þ Synchronet þ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.
  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to poindexter FORTRAN on Sat Mar 28 18:40:21 2026
    Re: Re: New offline QWK mail reader: SlyMail
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Sat Mar 28 2026 12:25 pm

    Again, very cool. I use a script to download .qwk files and upload .reps with Multimail, having that built in will be slick.

    Although SlyMail has the built-in ability to download & upload QWK packets, it's not automated. I've thought of possibly making it automated with SlyMail though.

    Nightfox

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com