Re: Text based synchronous communication tool for Linux?

On 08.12.2024 17:25, Muttley@DastardlyHQ.org wrote:

On Sun, 8 Dec 2024 14:15:48 -0000 (UTC)
John McCue <jmccue@whitedwf.jmcunx.com> wibbled:

Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> wrote:
<snip>

>
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?)
>

Slackware comes with a utility called "talk", it is
disabled by default.  It sounds like what you are
looking for.  It allows 2 people to 'text' each other.
>
https://www.slackbook.org/html/basic-network-commands-talk.html

 
talk is an age old unix util that allows people on the same machine to chat.
Even MacOS has it installed.

As said, I think the historic DEC/VAX tool worked (also) only
locally; you had to log into the same VMS-system to communicate.

I'm actually looking for a tool that works across distributed
[Unix-]systems.

I'll look into the tools suggested so far what they provide.

Janis