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Text-Console Based Word Processing?
chipperdog asks: "I am looking for an activly maintained console based word processor, similar to what one could find with Appleworks, from the Apple // era (Prodos 8 version, pre-//gs), or even one comparable to DOS versions of WP and Microsoft Word. An open-source one that compiles and runs in Linux would be best, although it would be nice to find one that could run on a 486DX2 50MHz with 8MB. A Google and Freshmeat search only turned up editors that seem to lack some of the necessary word processing features I am seeking.
Although I mostly use VI (and *TEX when necessary), some no-so-geeky end users need the quasi-WSIWYG interface."
How well will emacs work on a 486DX2 50MHz with 8MB?
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Some people think that "legacy stretching back further than TeX" is not a "win".
These same people might question why you are suggesting that something "used for man page formatting on tty devices" should be used for printed documentation.
Of course, such people clearly don't know the power of groff (for those people: try printing man pages out, and you'll see that it handles paper copy very well), but you're not exactly selling it.
And really I would recommend (La)TeX because I think it's more usable (closer to "what you see is what you mean" than roff); but if someone doesn't want to use TeX, I would recommend looking to modern-day roff users for information on using it: Plan 9.
--Matthew
If there was a console version of lyx, I'd be very happy. As it is, the X requirement makes it frequently unusable, though it is my WP of choice, and what I usually end up using.
Everyone keeps suggesting text editors. Text editors are great, but they are NOT word processors!
Word processors give you functionality that text editors don't. With a word processor, you can define the paper size, the margins on the paper, as well as things like fonts (Arial, anyone?), kerning, justification, etc. ad nauseum. Even more, word processors generally have printer support, so you can submit a print job from the program instead of the command line, select the printer you want to use, even manage print jobs.
A word processor lets you put multiple columns on a page. A word processor lets you embed images in a document.
Show me a text editor that has all these features and I'll show you a word processor. Yes, there *were* console (read: non-graphical) word processors that could do this. As the parent says, like WordPerfect and Word for DOS.
So why doesn't the parent use WordPerfect or Word for DOS? For one thing, they are hard to find. For another thing, they cost money. For a third thing, it would be awfully nice to have an open source one.
Next time read the parent! If they say "word processor" don't suggest "text editor!"
Give me my freedom, and I'll take care of my own security, thank you.
Hrmph. I think joto got the short stick from moderators...
I think he's right -- it used to be that console based WP's were popular because it required less resources and ran much faster than GUI WYSIWYG WP's. But that was back in the days when console-mode VGA ops were still magnitudes faster than rendering the same text on the graphics-mode VGA.
Times have changed -- with HW acceleration, gobs of memory, and 2,000 MHz PC's (with much faster execution clock counts), there's just no market (community) need for new WP's to be text-based.
What's wrong with WordPerfect? There has been Linux, DOS and SCO versions that could certainly run fine on a 486.
With new Linux PC's selling for $200 at Walmart, it's hard to believe someone would take poverty so seriously as to try to make do on a 486 *and* try to run the latest linux.
Of course, maybe I'm missing the original poster's intention. Maybe he's homebrewing an uber-Tandy-Model-100 using recycled 486 parts and a FLASH drive... And he intends to have a 40x12 LCD as his console... But I somehow doubt that...
I fondly recall geeking out all night playing with the Appleworks database (cataloging my paper route customers, videotapes, and comic books), then writing wierd fiction in the word processor after filling my head with Tales from the Darkside and Friday the 13th: The Series.
A straight port of Appleworks to *nix console would be great. I was a much more productive writer when I was staring at a green monochrome screen waiting to receive my words -- without the distraction of a web browser, instant messenger, xterms with MUD/MOO windows open...
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