So today I ran across yet another attempt (zulip) to re-invent USENET newsgroups and IRC. Sigh.
#usenet
1 post1 participant0 posts today
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You might enjoy #Usenet. Articles are almost exclusively plain text. I get annoyed by images and screenshots and videos. I want to read words or listen to words.
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Why did Usenet fail?
#reddit #usenet #lemmy
Recently I've seen at attempts to ressurect & promote Usenet.
Here is what I think about it in 2025.
- Lack of web gateways.
- lack of web clients
- There are few web "archives" that are just filled with spam & flood from 2000's
- lack of high quality discussions, content
- no bridges with different protocols
- obsure, outdated architecture and design. in era of zeronet
And other reasons listed in article below, that's also why people won't use web forums that are not part of wider network (such as #lemmy #activitypub #fediverse etc )
I am seeking #BBS software for #Linux that has built-in #NNTP server and can feed with other #Usenet servers. I would like some suggestions and reasoning. A BBS with actually secure passwords and authentication would be best, since a lot of them are not secure by modern standards.
@selfhosting@a.gup.pe @retro@a.gup.pe @usenet@a.gup.pe @bbs@a.gup.pe @linux@a.gup.pe @nostalgia@a.gup.pe @opensource@a.gup.pe @networks@a.gup.pe @infostorm@a.gup.pe
@selfhosting@a.gup.pe @retro@a.gup.pe @usenet@a.gup.pe @bbs@a.gup.pe @linux@a.gup.pe @nostalgia@a.gup.pe @opensource@a.gup.pe @networks@a.gup.pe @infostorm@a.gup.pe
NEWSCARD: Decentralized, Encrypted Paste Bin via Usenet Newsgroups
NEWSCARD Publish and fetch permanent named records via Network News
Newscard creates a decentralized, encrypted, named record paste bin.
[git repo] https://codeberg.org/OCTADE/newscard (use most recent version only)
With a single command, name the card, snarf the file and encrypt it.
With another command, push the encrypted file to the public network.
With another short command, snarf a file from the network.
Only users knowing the name [key] of the record will be able to decrypt it.
If a strong passphrase is used to name the file, it will be very secure.
This is useful for quickly snarfing, encrypting, and publishing a text file:
$~: card enc [passphrase] [file]
$~: card put [passphrase]
It is useful for retrieving a text file with just a key:
$~: card get [passphrase]
$~: card show [passphrase]
If and when you want the general public to access the record just share the keyword.
Newscard uses nine (9) (NINE) layers of encryption with OpenSSL chacha20 cipher.
Newscard generates 9 each of: cipher keys, salts, key iteration parameters.
It would be nice if something like this were added to the ActivityPub protocol, such that keyword[@]host.url would do the same thing. Then secret text records could be stored securely for later retrieval or revelation.
#NewsCard #Pastebin #Usenet #NNTP #NetworkNews #Encryption #Cryptography #Messaging #Anonymity #Protocols #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #BlackHackJack #Censorship #Retro #InfoSec #Ciphers #Codes #FOSS
@infostorm@a.gup.pe @crypto@a.gup.pe @infosec@a.gup.pe @selfhosting@a.gup.pe
NEWSCARD Publish and fetch permanent named records via Network News
Newscard creates a decentralized, encrypted, named record paste bin.
[git repo] https://codeberg.org/OCTADE/newscard (use most recent version only)
With a single command, name the card, snarf the file and encrypt it.
With another command, push the encrypted file to the public network.
With another short command, snarf a file from the network.
Only users knowing the name [key] of the record will be able to decrypt it.
If a strong passphrase is used to name the file, it will be very secure.
This is useful for quickly snarfing, encrypting, and publishing a text file:
$~: card enc [passphrase] [file]
$~: card put [passphrase]
It is useful for retrieving a text file with just a key:
$~: card get [passphrase]
$~: card show [passphrase]
If and when you want the general public to access the record just share the keyword.
Newscard uses nine (9) (NINE) layers of encryption with OpenSSL chacha20 cipher.
Newscard generates 9 each of: cipher keys, salts, key iteration parameters.
It would be nice if something like this were added to the ActivityPub protocol, such that keyword[@]host.url would do the same thing. Then secret text records could be stored securely for later retrieval or revelation.
#NewsCard #Pastebin #Usenet #NNTP #NetworkNews #Encryption #Cryptography #Messaging #Anonymity #Protocols #OpenSource #FreeSoftware #BlackHackJack #Censorship #Retro #InfoSec #Ciphers #Codes #FOSS
@infostorm@a.gup.pe @crypto@a.gup.pe @infosec@a.gup.pe @selfhosting@a.gup.pe
Since the passing of Retro Guy some volunteers have started a project to continue the Rocksolid Light legacy with a new NNTP server coded in golang. The new platform is named, 'Pug Leaf' after Retro Guy's avatar of a little pug holding a leaf in its maw.
https://rocksolid-us.pugleaf.net/
#NNTP #Usenet #RocksolidLight #Retro #PugLeaf
https://rocksolid-us.pugleaf.net/
#NNTP #Usenet #RocksolidLight #Retro #PugLeaf
rocksolid-us.pugleaf.netHome - go-pugleaf | RockSolid RetroBBS NetNews Server
For some reason (peer pressure), I revived https://nl.news-admin.org/. And then I also started up peering for nl.* on my newsserver again. And it is not even September yet! #usenet #tinc
nl.news-admin.orgnl.* newsgroups
#usenet it's still full of nerds with good geek/tech content away from VC's and shitty companies advertising AI bullshit at "Hacker" news.
I can post from anywhere, and I have no bullshit blocks a la HN telling me I can't comment for a while because "I'm posting too fast".
Looks like DrunkenSlug registrations are open this morning. It's a great NZB platform for finding downloads on Usenet. (You'll also need a Usenet subscription to get access to the actual downloads.)
Works great (way better than torrents) with self-hosted UseNet apps like SABnzbd, along with Prowlarr, Sonarr, and Radarr.
drunkenslug.comLogin - DSLogin
Random things I miss: my old #Usenet .sig file.
Posting isn't the same without some pithy little bon mot or song lyric at the end.
Replied in thread
Why did Usenet fail? – Terence Eden’s Blog
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/why-did-usenet-fail/
This is annecdata - not a serious academic study. Adjust your expectations accordingly. When I first got online, the World Wide Web was still in its infancy - so CompuServe was my gateway to the Internet. I loved their well organised chat room. A couple of clicks and I could be discussing Babylon 5 with people in another country, downloading wallpapers, and uploading my poor attempts at…
Terence Eden’s Blog · Why did Usenet fail?
More from 
Terence Eden
Continued thread
# 
Friday June 6 @ 21:00
La Pianola Bar, Lavapies
Metro L3 Lavapies
Join us to hack for a more humane, transparent & decentralized future! 
Topics: #Meshtastic, #Reticulum, #learn2hack mentoring, #usenet_reborn & Telefonica pay phones
https://2600.madrid
#hacking #hackers #hackerculture #privacy #FOSS #usenet #rust @2600@mastodon.online @2600@lemmy.world
2600.madrid2600 Madrid! – 2600 Madrid
Replied to Stéphane Bortzmeyer
@bortzmeyer : Le grand retour en force de #Usenet ?
Replied in thread
@johncarlosbaez @CGM
There's a great guide here: <https://www.big-8.org/wiki/Getting_Started_with_Usenet>, it worked for me.
Usenet Big-8 Management BoardGetting Started with Usenet
Through the pages of John Baez <https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez> (see also <https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com>) I've seen that the sci.physics usenet newsgroup, especially sci.physics.research, always had quite interesting physics discussions; see for instance <https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics>.
Finally I managed to join, but it looks like I'm late to the party. Lots of spam and very insulting posts on sci.physics, and sci.physics.research (luckily a moderated group) seems to have very little activity – unless I'm misjudging the levels of activity of some years ago.
So I'd like to ask @johncarlosbaez (when/if he has time): what happened to these newsgroups? I'd be curious to hear the story. And which other similar newsgroups or venues are available today? Probably I'm not the only one with these wonderings. Cheers!
math.ucr.eduJohn Baez's Stuff
Hello #hackers and #DIY friends,Im away from #Mastodon,the reality is that
never liked microblogging, I was one of the pionners because I do like the
open/decentralized internet,but now I'm using #usenet a LOT & the new cool #hacker
playgrounds #nomadnet #reticulum #LoRa #meshtastic,offgrid,decentralized,meshes
Come chat @ 'hispagatos HQ' @ 4ce9566abcec9619f67d181c5959dfdc in reticulum/nomadnet
in #usenet 2600.* and hispagatos.* comp.lang.go alt.comp.lang.rust newsgroups rek2.hispagatos.org
Back in the day when 40 column displays were common on microcomputers, was email and newsgroup participation with 80 column systems awkward? Be that FidoNet and Echomail or the real ARPANET / Internet if (somehow) available.
By the time I was connecting to BBS systems I had access to an 80 column machine, so I don't personally recall.