\jeff{krimmel}

More on the (E)Links Browser

What a coincidence. I was over in the server room today messing both with the (currently down) file server and the head node for another, older cluster. While I was waiting for the file system check to complete on the older cluster, I logged onto the head node of the newer cluster and ran apt-get to update the various out-of-date packages on the system. While I was doing this, I used Linux’s virtual terminal feature (Alt-F2, Alt-F3, etc.) to jump to another terminal and setup Pine to check my email really quick. I realized I forgot what the ITS-specific configuration options were for Pine, so I opened another virtual terminal and launched Links (I forgot to mention the head node boots into runlevel 3 by default, and I always use apt-get in runlevel 3 on the server). I told Links to take me to Google, and I then Googled for “pine” on “site:its.caltech.edu”. I found the appropriate link, made the required changes in Pine, and presto, I was checking my email.

If I had every wondered why text-based web browsers like Links are still being used and developed, tonight I found out why.