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From: Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.programmer
Subject: Re: Text based synchronous communication tool for Linux?
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2024 16:32:35 +0100
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On 08.12.2024 14:14, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
> Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> writes:
>> I have faint memories on a communication tool that I think have used
>> on a DEC VAX under VMS in the 1980's. Unlike the common modern tools
>> like chat systems or SMS exchange on mobile phones it didn't operate
>> line-wise or message-wise, but rather (synchronous) character-wise.
>> And I think it was a tool usable only to connect people on the same
>> system (but I'm not sure about that). I thought its name would have
>> been 'talk' but searching the web led me to a document "VMS Phone
>> Utility Manual"[*] which describes such a tool (it's actually called
>> 'phone') and it seems to be what I still remember about the tool I'm
>> looking for.
>>
>> Some characteristics I'd prefer - not all supported by the 'phone'
>> utility - are that it's
>>  * text-oriented (preferably with Unicode support), fast (no GUI)
>>  * instantly/synchronously exchanging any typed characters
>>     * optionally: switching modes (instant/character-wise, line-wise)
>>  * more than two persons can communicate
>>  * works across distributed [Unix-]systems
>>
>> Is there such a tool (free of charge and open source) available for
>> Linux? (Or something that comes close?)
> 
> ytalk would fit the requirements, I think, but it’s been abandonware
> for the last couple of decades.

I generally don't mind using "abandonware"; if it's a stable version
that has the well thought through features implemented without errors,
and that is focusing on its main task that it's designed for - that's
perfect. - The opposite sort of tools, tools that suffer from feature
creep, have their own principal issues.

From elsewhere I was pointed to 'utalk' (labeled 1.0.1.beta-7); which
also doesn't look like a "fresh" software. But anyway; I'll try that.

Janis