Hello everyone.
I'm pretty new here, I have popped on occationally but now that I have
had some time to play with and configure my BBS I have a couple of
questions.

I run CocoNet BBS (Synchronet 3.21e on Ubuntu), aimed at Tandy Color
Computer users. The Coco 1 and 2 text screen is 32x16, and some of my
callers use terminal programs at that size.

Right now Synchronet won't go narrower than 40 columns. TERM_COLS_MIN is
set to 40 in sbbsdefs.h, and even console.screen_columns refuses
anything smaller. My workaround is a 40x16 option at sign-in plus
custom 40-column menus, but on a real 32-column screen every line still
wrapps.

Looking through the source, TERM_ROWS_MIN (8, for Amstrad NC100) arrived
with the PETSCII commit back in 2018, so I'm guessing the 40-column
minimum came from the Commodore 64's screen width.

So, a few question for Rob or anyone who has tried this:
1. Is there a reason 40 is the minimum? I see the message editor
checks against it in writemsg.cpp.
2. Has anyone rebult with TERM_COLS_MIN set to 32? What broke? if
anything, besides wider prompts wrapping?
3. Would a lower minimum, or a configurable one be possible in a
future release? I'd reather not carry a local source change through
every upgrade.

The second question I have is in regards to bugs. Should I report them
here or GitHub? I found a bug, just a small one regarding login.js email_passwords feature on narrower terminals.

Thanks
Michael Pittsley (JustMike)
CoCoNet BBS - coconet.ddns.net:6809

Michael Pittsley (JustMike) CocoNet BBS, coconet.bbs.net:6809
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* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Re: Questions
By: Justmike to ALL on Thu Oct 29 2026 02:14 pm

So, a few question for Rob or anyone who has tried this:
1. Is there a reason 40 is the minimum? I see the message editor
checks against it in writemsg.cpp.

It's the smallest that we tested with and actively try to suport support. Some features are still not great at 40 columns.

2. Has anyone rebult with TERM_COLS_MIN set to 32? What broke? if
anything, besides wider prompts wrapping?

I wouldn't expect anything to "break", but there will be plenty of cosmetic issues.

3. Would a lower minimum, or a configurable one be possible in a
future release? I'd reather not carry a local source change through
every upgrade.

Sure. I don't think that minimum is enforced in many places. Your own experimentations/results would help us decide if we can reduce that minimum.

The second question I have is in regards to bugs. Should I report them
here or GitHub?

GitLab (not GitHub):
https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/issues
--
digital man (rob)

Breaking Bad quote #52:
I need to get involved like I need a second hole in my ass - Hank Shrader Norco, CA WX: 72.8øF, 58.0% humidity, 2 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.38-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

Thank you much for the quick response. I will rebuild with 32 minimum
column and let everyone know how it worked out for me.

JustMike

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Re: Questions
By: Justmike to ALL on Thu Oct 29 2026 02:14 pm

So, a few question for Rob or anyone who has tried this:
1. Is there a reason 40 is the minimum? I see the message editor
checks against it in writemsg.cpp.

It's the smallest that we tested with and actively try to suport support. So DM>features are still not great at 40 columns.

2. Has anyone rebult with TERM_COLS_MIN set to 32? What broke? if
anything, besides wider prompts wrapping?

I wouldn't expect anything to "break", but there will be plenty of cosmetic DM>issues.

3. Would a lower minimum, or a configurable one be possible in a
future release? I'd reather not carry a local source change through
every upgrade.

Sure. I don't think that minimum is enforced in many places. Your own DM>experimentations/results would help us decide if we can reduce that minimum.

The second question I have is in regards to bugs. Should I report them here or GitHub?

GitLab (not GitHub):
https://gitlab.synchro.net/main/sbbs/-/issues
--
digital man (rob)

Breaking Bad quote #52:
I need to get involved like I need a second hole in my ass - Hank Shrader DM>Norco, CA WX: 72.8øF, 58.0% humidity, 2 mph WSW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs DM>---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs
].synchro.net

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