ponysay/manuals/ponysay.texinfo

\input texinfo   @c -*-texinfo-*-

@c %**start of header
@setfilename ponysay.info
@settitle Ponysay
@afourpaper
@documentencoding UTF-8
@documentlanguage en
@finalout
@c %**end of header
@set VERSION 2.0

@copying
This manual is for ponysay
(version @value{VERSION}),

Copyright @copyright{} 2012 Mattias Andrée

@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled
``GNU Free Documentation License''.
@end quotation
@end copying

@ifnottex
@node Top
@top Ponysay: ponies for your terminal
@insertcopying
@end ifnottex

@titlepage
@title Ponysay
@subtitle A cowsay wrapper for ponies.
@subtitle Covers ponysay version @value{VERSION}.
@c ** start of front page image **
@c If print make a pdf or hard copy with the front cover
@c you may or may not want to remove this.
@image{infoimage,423.5px}
@c ** end of front page image **
@author by Mattias Andrée (maandree)

@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
@insertcopying
@end titlepage

@contents


@menu
* Overview::                            Brief overview of @command{ponysay}.
* Invoking ponysay::                    How to run @command{ponysay}.
* Advanced usage::                      Advanced usage of @command{ponysay}.
* Environment variables::               Environment variables.
* Limitations::                         Limitations.
* Problems and requests::               Reports and requests.
* Dependencies::                        Dependencies.
* Installing::                          Installing.
* Extensions::                          Extensions.
* Inner workings::                      Inner workings.
* Contributing::                        Contributing.
* Change log::                          Differences between the version of @command{ponysay}.
* Ponysay contributors::                Ponysay contributors.
* Ponysay license::                     Ponysay license.
* GNU Free Documentation License::      Copying and sharing this manual.
* Concept index::                       Concept index.
@end menu




@node Overview
@chapter Overview
@cindex overview

@command{ponysay} displays an image of a My Little Pony pony saying some text provided
by the user in a terminal, or a quote from the series. It is a wrapper for
@command{cowsay}. If message is not provided, e.g. by piping, it accepts standard input.
The pony saying the given message is printed on standard output.

@command{ponythink} is to @command{ponysay} as @command{cowthink} is to @command{cowsay}.

@command{ponysay} is generally used to decorate your terminal with a random pony, when
you start the terminal.




@node Invoking ponysay
@chapter Invoking @command{ponysay}
@cindex invoking
@cindex options
@cindex arguments
@cindex ponythink

The format for running the @command{ponysay} program is:

@example
ponysay [@var{option}@dots{}] [--] [@var{message}]
ponythink [@var{option}@dots{}] [--] [@var{message}]
@end example

Running @command{ponysay} will print a speech balloon,
@command{ponythink} will print a thought balloon.
Otherwise @command{ponysay} and @command{ponythink} is the same thing.

@command{ponysay} supports the following options:

@table @option

@item --
@cindex @command{--}
Parse the following arguments as parts of @code{@var{message}}.

@item -h
@itemx --help
@cindex @command{-h}
@cindex @command{--help}
Show summary of options.

@item -v
@item --verion
@cindex @command{-v}
@cindex @command{--version}
Show version of program.

@item -f PONY
@itemx --pony PONY
@cindex @command{-f}
@cindex @command{--pony}
Specify the pony that should printed, this can either be a file name or
a pony name printed by @command{ponysay -l}. If it is a file name with
a relative path and does not include a `@code{/}', it must begin with
`@code{./}', this is a @command{cowsay} issue. This option can be used
multiple times to specify a set of ponies from which one will be selected
randomly. If no pony is specified one will be selected randomly.

If you have @command{util-say} installed, you can use .png-files as the
arguments for this options.

@item -q [PONY...]
@itemx --quote [PONY...]
@cindex @command{-q}
@cindex @command{--quote}
By using this option, a pony will be printed with quotes from her in My Little Pony:
Friendship is Magic. The pony will be selected randomly, unless at least one pony
is added as an argument after @command{-q}. If one or more ponies are added after
@command{-q}, the pony will be selected randomly from that set of ponies.
This option requires the extension @command{ponyquotes4ponysay}, which
is included by default since version 1.2.

@item -W COLUMN
@itemx --wrap COLUMN
@cindex @command{-W}
@cindex @command{--wrap}
Specify the screen column where the message should be wrapped,
this is by default 40, which is inherited from @command{cowsay}.

@item -l
@itemx --list
@cindex @command{-l}
@cindex @command{--list}
Lists all installed ponies. If the extension @command{ponyquotes4ponysay}
is installed the ponies which have quotes, i.e. can be used with the
@command{-q} option, will be mark by being printed in bold or bright
(depending on the terminal.)

@item -L
@itemx --linklist
@cindex @command{-L}
@cindex @command{--altlist}
Lists all installed ponies. If the extension @command{ponyquotes4ponysay}
is installed the ponies which have quotes, i.e. can be used with the
@command{-q} option, will be mark by being printed in bold or bright
(depending on the terminal.) This options differs from @command{-l} by
printing alternative names (symbolic links) inside brackets after their
target ponies.
@end table

If neither @command{-q} is used nor any @var{message} is specified, @command{ponysay}
will read the message from stdin (standard input); however, if no arguments
are used that nothing is piped to stdin, a help message will be printed.
If you want to use @command{ponysay} without arguments and enter the message
by hand, you can run @code{cat | ponysay}.



@node Advanced usage
@chapter Advanced usage of @command{ponysay}.
@cindex advanced usage

@menu
* Fortune cookies::     Displaying with fortune cookies.
* Ponification::        Ponify your fortune cookies.
* Running on TTY::      Running on TTY (Linux VT).
* Running on screen::   Running on @command{screen}.
@end menu


@node Fortune cookies
@section Fortune cookies
@cindex fortune
@cindex startup
@cindex on startup
@cindex .bashrc

If you have @command{fortune} installed -- this program may be named
@command{fortune-mod} in your GNU/Linux distributions package repository --
you can run @code{fortune | ponysay} to get a random pony reading a
random fortune cookie.

By adding @code{fortune | ponysay} to the end [easiest way] of your
@code{~/.bashrc} -- or equivalent for your shell if use do not use GNU Bash
(standard shell for most distributions now a days) -- you will get the
effect described in the previous paragraph every time you open a terminal.


@node Ponification
@section Ponification
@cindex ponification
@cindex text ponification
@cindex ponypipe

You can ponify text (i.e. replaces words search as `everyone' with `everypony')
by using @code{fortune | ponypipe} instead of using @command{fortune}.
@command{ponypipe} can be downloaded from @url{https://github.com/maandree/ponypipe}.
Alternatively you can use @command{pinkie} (or @command{pinkiepie}), which can
be downloaded from @url{https://github.com/maandree/pinkie-pie}, which is just
@code{fortune | ponypipe}. There is also a large @command{sed} script, similar
to @command{ponypipe}: @url{http://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlelinux/comments/srixi/using_ponysay_with_a_ponified_fortune_warning/}


@node Running on TTY
@section Running on TTY
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
@cindex .bashrc

If you use TTY and have a custom colour palette, you should also add to your
@code{~/.bashrc}, before @code{fortune | ponysay}:
@example
[ "$TERM" = "linux" ] &&
    function ponysay
    @{   exec ponysay "$@@"
        #RESET PALETTE HERE
    @}
@end example


@node Running on screen
@section Running on @command{screen}
@cindex screen
@cindex .bashrc

@command{screen} will adapt ANSI colour escape sequences to your terminal's
capabilities. This means that if your terminal reports itself as @code{xterm}
in @code{$TERM} ponies will lose their colours; they will only use the lower 16
colours instead of the top 240 colours. By default, almost all X terminals,
including @command{xterm} and @command{mate-terminal} reports themselves as
@code{xterm} in @code{$TERM}, and some reports their actual name in @code{$COLORTERM}.
So before opening @command{screen} you use set @code{$TERM} to @code{xterm-256color},
if you are using a terminal with support for @code{xterm}'s 256 colours; this
can be done by adding to your @code{~/.bashrc}:
@example
[ "$TERM" = "xterm" ] &&
    function screen
    @{   export TERM="xterm-256color"
        exec screen "$@@"
    @}
@end example



@node Environment variables
@chapter Environment variables
@cindex environment variables
@cindex truncation

@command{ponysay} supports the follow environment variables:

@table @option
@item PONYSAY_BOTTOM
@cindex PONYSAY_BOTTOM
@cindex tty
Under TTY (Linux VT), if the output is larger the the screen's height, only
the beginning is printed, leaving two blank lines. If you want the bottom
to be printed rather the the beginning you can export @code{PONYSAY_BOTTOM}
with the value @code{yes}, @code{y} or @code{1}.

@item PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES
@cindex PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES
@cindex tty
Under TTY (Linux VT), if the output is larger the the screen's height, two
lines are left blank. If you want more, or less, blank lines you can export
@code{PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES} with the value of how many blank lines you want.
Naturally this takes effect if the output is not actually larger than the
screen.
 
@item PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH
@cindex PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH
You can export @code{PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH} with the value @code{yes}, @code{y}
or @code{1}, if you do not want the output to be truncated on the width to
fit the terminal.

@item PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT
@cindex PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT
Export @code{PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT} with the value @code{yes}, @code{y}
or @code{1}, if you want to truncate the output on the height even if you
are not running @command{ponysay} under TTY.

@item PONYSAY_COWSAY
@itemx PONYSAY_COWTHINK
@cindex PONYSAY_COWSAY
@cindex PONYSAY_COWTHINK
@cindex custom cowsay
@cindex replace cowsay
If you want to use another program than @command{cowsay} (the first
@command{cowsay} found in @code{$PATH}), you can export @code{PONYSAY_COWSAY}
with the value of that program. In earlier versions than version 2.0: If, and
only if, @code{PONYSAY_COWSAY} does not have any value, @command{cowsay} is
patch with @code{use utf8;} to the beginning. The @code{use utf8;} patch is
introduced to make it easier to customise cowsay.

@code{PONYSAY_COWTHINK} will be used instead of @code{PONYSAY_COWSAY} if
you run @command{ponythink}.
@end table

See @ref{kmsponies4ponysay} for additional environment variables used by the
extension @command{kmsponies4ponysay}.




@node Limitations
@chapter Limitations
@cindex limitations

@menu
* Terminals::           Limitations on terminals.
* Cowsay::              Limitations on cowsay.
@end menu


@node Terminals
@section Terminals
@cindex terminals
@cindex fonts
@cindex broken ponies

@cindex xterm
@cindex putty
Ponysay works perfectly on @command{xterm}, @command{xterm} like terminals including
@command{putty}, settings may however need to be customised for Unicode Character Set
(UCS) support, but less well, depending on font, on VTE based terminals including
@command{mate-terminal}.

@cindex kms
@cindex kernel mode settings
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
On Linux's native terminal Linux VT (TTY) it works less well, and not good at all with
Kernel Mode Settings (KMS) support. See @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay/issues/1}
for more information. @command{ponysay} clears the screen before printing to TTY, this
is because if your graphics driver supports KMS, the colours will be messed by when the
ponies position moves on the screen, this is also reason why the output is truncated on
the height in TTY by default.

Most terminals have support for 256 colours, we do however only use the top 240 colours;
this is because the lower 16 colours are usually, in contrast to the top 240, customised.
We assume that the top 240 colours have their standard values. In TTY with KMS support
we dot have any actual (except for @math{2^{24}} + full transparency.)

@cindex xterm
@cindex urxvt
@cindex putty
@cindex rxvt
@cindex mrxvt
@cindex Eterm
@cindex aterm
@command{ponysay} works perfectly on @command{xterm}, @command{urxvt} and @command{putty},
but @command{rxvt}, @command{mrxvt} and @command{Eterm} do not have UTF-8 support and are
currently not supported. Additionally @command{aterm} have neither UTF-8 support nor 256
colour support, and is therefore not yet support.

@cindex 9term
Due to extreme limitations in @command{9term} @command{ponysay} will never be able to
run on it.


@node Cowsay
@section Cowsay

When @command{cowsay} determines the length of a word it measures in number of bytes
(in UTF-8), therefore non-ASCII words will malformat the balloon with the message.

Further, @command{cowsay} does not recognise ANSI escape sequences, therefore, using
colours and text styling in messages will also malformat the balloon with the message.

@command{cowsay} does not support balloon, including the link between the message and
the pony, customisation, other than using @command{cowthink}. However you can modify
@command{cowsay} (written Perl, so you can edit the installed files) to make the balloon
look different, maybe using box drawing characters.

@command{cowsay} does support setting the minimum size of the balloon, both directions
on the balloon–pony links. or any other placement of the balloon than at the top to
the left.

@cindex figlet
@cindex toilet
@command{cowsay}'s word wrapping handles single line breaks as normal blank spaces,
this messes up messages created with programs such as @command{figlet} and @command{TOIlet}.



@node Problems and requests
@chapter Problems and requests

@menu
* Problems::           Reporting bugs.
* Requests::           Requesting ponies.
@end menu


@node Problems
@section Reporting bugs
@cindex bugs

If you find a bug in @command{ponysay}, install the last version
from @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay}, and if it is still
present, please report it at @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay/issues}.
Please be as descriptive as possible, as it will help us verify it
solve it faster.


@node Requests
@section Requesting ponies
@cindex pony requests

If you want I specific pony added, ask us at @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay/issues}
and we will add it. To speed the up the process, if possible, supply good
pictures. Full visibly, transparent background, and pixelated are the
properties that makes a picture good.



@node Dependencies
@chapter Dependencies
@cindex dependencies
@cindex optional dependencies

@menu
* Required runtime dependencies::       Required runtime dependencies.
* Optional runtime dependencies::       Optional runtime dependencies.
* Package building dependencies::       Package building dependencies.
* Dependencies for pony providers::     Dependencies for pony providers.
@end menu


@node Required runtime dependencies
@section Required runtime dependencies

@table @option
@item bash
Required for the glue script.
@item cowsay
This is a wrapper for @command{cowsay}.
@item coreutils
@command{stty} is used to determine the size of the terminal,
other parts of Coreutils will not be needed for long
@item python
Python version 3 is the primary language of the program
@end table

@node Optional runtime dependencies
@section Optional runtime dependencies
@cindex extensions
@cindex optional dependencies

@table @option
@item util-say
@cindex @command{util-say}
@cindex kms
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
For improved TTY support for user with custom colour palette and KMS support.
It can be downloaded at @url{https://github.com/maandree/util-say}.

@cindex png images
@cindex images, png
@cindex portable network graphics
For ther purpose of simplying for pony contributors, @command{ponysay}
supports using .png-images (note that the file must not miss the
@code{.png} in the file) in addition of .pony-files or pony names.

@end table


@node Package building dependencies
@section Package building dependencies

@table @option
@item gcc
Used for compiling @command{ponysaytruncater.c}.
@item gzip
Used for compressing manpages.
@item make
Required to run the make script.
@item coreutils
The make script uses @command{install}, @command{unlink}, @command{rm}, @command{ln},
@command{mkdir} and @command{cp}.
@item sed
Used on the make system.
@item texinfo
@itemx info
@command{texinfo} and @command{info} are required if you want this @command{info} manual.
@end table


@node Dependencies for pony providers
@section Dependencies for pony providers
@cindex contributing

@table @option
@item make
Required to run @command{make -B ttyponies`}.
@item coreutils
@command{ln} and @command{readlink} are used in the @command{ttyponies} subscript.
@item bash
Used in the ttyponies subscript.
@item util-say
Used by @command{make ttyponies} to build ttyponies from xterm ponies.
It can be downloaded at @url{https://github.com/maandree/util-say}.
@end table



@node Installing
@chapter Installing
@cindex installing
@cindex make

@menu
* From upstream::               Installing manually from upstream (GitHub repository).
* Arch Linux::                  Packages for Arch Linux.
* Gentoo Linux::                Packages for Gentoo Linux.
* Debian GNU/Linux::            Packages for Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu.
* Uninstallation::              Uninstalling when installed manually.
@end menu


@node From upstream
@section From upstream
@cindex upstream installation

@menu
* Installations basics::        The basics of installations.
* Custom installations::        Installation customisation.
@end menu

@node Installations basics
@subsection Installations basics
@cindex make
@cindex basic installation


Before installing @command{ponysay}, make sure your system have the packages listed under
@ref{Required runtime dependencies} and @ref{Package building dependencies} installed.

Tarballs can be downloaded at @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay/tarball/master}
for bleeding edge, or from @url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay/tags} for releases.

If you have @command{git} you @command{clone} the project URL
@url{https://github.com/erkin/ponysay.git}.

In the terminal, @command{cd} into the ponysay directory and execute
@command{./configure && make install}. This will install @command{ponysay} into the
@code{/usr}, meaning you may need to run @command{make install} as root,
e.g. by running @command{sudo make install}.

Now you will be to use ponysay, run: @command{ponysay "I am just the cutest pony!"},
or if have a specific pony in your mind: @command{ponysay -f pinkie "Partay!~"}.

@cindex manpage translations
@command{ponysay} comes with this @command{info} manual and a manpage in section 6,
@command{man 6 ponysay} (or just @command{man ponysay}). The manpage is also available
in Spanish: @command{man -L es 6 ponysay}. The install the Spanish manual add the
option @command{--with-man-es} when running @command{./configure}.


@node Custom installations
@subsection Custom installations
@cindex customised installations
@cindex installation customisation
@cindex make
@cindex @command{./configure}
@cindex configure

@cindex @command{--everything}
A basic installation will install everything @command{ponysay} has to offer, except
the prebuilt PDF manual and translated manpages. If you want to install exactly
everything add the option @command{--everything} when running @command{./configure}.

@cindex @command{--with-pdf}
@cindex PDF manual, with
@cindex @command{--without-man}
@cindex manpage, without
@cindex @command{--without-info}
@cindex @command{info} manual, without
@cindex @command{--with-man-LANG}
@cindex manpage translations
After @command{--everything} it is possible to remove unwanted parts, this can
of cause be done without @command{--everything}. If you want to install the
PDF manual to @code{/usr/doc/ponysay.pdf} add the option @command{--with-pdf} when
running @command{./configure}. To install a manpage translation add
@command{--with-man-LANG} and substitute the the language code for @code{LANG}.
Currently the only translation is Spanish with the language code @code{es}.
If you do not want the English manpage add the option @command{--without-man}.
If you do not want the @command{info} manual add the option @command{--without-info}.


The following argumentless options are also recognised:
@itemize @bullet
@item @command{--without-bash}
@cindex @command{--without-bash}
@cindex @command{bash}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and the
GNU Bourne-again shell, @command{bash}.
@item @command{--without-fish}
@cindex @command{--without-fish}
@cindex @command{fish}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and the
Friendly interactive shell, @command{fish}.
@item @command{--without-zsh}
@cindex @command{--without-zsh}
@cindex @command{zsh}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and the
shell @command{zsh}.
@end itemize

@cindex @command{--prefix=TARGET}
@cindex @code{/usr/games}
The program is by default installed in @code{/usr}, if you want another target
directory, you can add @command{--prefix=TARGET} when running @command{./configure}.
For example to install @command{ponysay} in @code{/usr/games} you build the
program by running @command{./configure --prefix=/usr/games}, and alike for
installation and uninstallation. Notice the @command{=} cannot be substituted
with white space.

@cindex @command{--info-desc=DESCRIPTION}
If you are not using @command{--without-info} you can add
@command{--info-desc=DESCRIPTION} to specify the description @command{info}
which provide when listing commands.


@node Arch Linux
@section Arch Linux
@cindex arch linux

The official Arch Linux package repositories contains @command{ponysay} as
@code{community/ponysay}. The Arch Linux User Repository (AUR) contains a bleeding
edge git version of @command{ponysay} as @code{ponysay-git}.


@node Gentoo Linux
@section Gentoo Linux
@cindex gentoo linux

Gentoo users can use the overlay @url{https://github.com/etu/aidstu-overlay}, which
contains @command{ponysay} as @w{@code{games-misc/ponysay}}.


@node Debian GNU/Linux
@section Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu
@cindex debian gnu/linux
@cindex ubuntu

A .deb file is available at @url{http://roryholland.co.uk/misc.html#ponysay},
and a PPA can be found at @url{https://launchpad.net/~blazemore/+archive/ponysay}.


@node Uninstallation
@section Uninstallation
@cindex uninstallation

If you did not install @command{ponysay} with a package manager, but rather
manually from the upstream, you can uninstall it by running @command{make uninstall}.

Well written package manages will uninstall files that the package is no longer
using, i.e. if deleted, moved or renamed. To uninstall files that are not longer
used, by the currently installed version you will need that versions @code{Makefile}.
To perform the uninstallion of old filed run @command{make uninstall-old}.



@node Extensions
@chapter Extensions
@cindex extensions
@cindex optional dependencies

Ponysay does not support extensions, per se, but rather have optional features that
are enabled when other packages are installed.

@menu
* ponyquotes4ponysay::            ponyquotes4ponysay: Quotes from My Little Ponies.
* kmsponies4ponysay::             kmsponies4ponysay: Improved TTY support under KMS support.
@end menu


@node ponyquotes4ponysay
@section ponyquotes4ponysay
@cindex ponyquotes4ponysay
@cindex quotes

@command{ponyquotes4ponysay} is a package that adds support for MLP:FiM quotes that are
displayed with the associated ponies. See @ref{Invoking ponysay} for more information.

As of version 1.2 @command{ponyquotes4ponysay} is included in @command{ponysay},
but is still available at @url{https://github.com/maandree/ponyquotes4ponysay}.


@node kmsponies4ponysay
@section kmsponies4ponysay
@cindex kmsponies4ponysay
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
@cindex kms
@cindex kernel mode settings
@cindex environment variables
@cindex PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE
@cindex PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE_CMD
@cindex .bashrc

@command{kmsponies4ponysay} is an extension for TTY users that have a custom TTY colour
palette and KMS support. KMS is supported on most computers, but due to lack of published
specifications Nvidea drivers does not support KMS. @command{kmsponies4ponysay} can be
downloaded at @url{https://github.com/maandree/kmsponies4ponysay}.

To use this extension your @code{~/.bashrc} (or equivalent for your shell) must keep track
of your colour palette, it is not possible for a program to ask to terminal. Either the
shell should export a palette string to @code{$PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE} or you should export
a command to can get the palette string to @code{$PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE_CMD}. The palette
string should be the stream which sets the colour palette to the terminal when
@command{echo}:ed; preferably, to increase speed and reduce cache usage, it should be
consistent every time it is exported for every colours palette. So you may want to keep it
sorted, always be in either upper case or lower case, and not contain an character that
is not used to set the colour palette.

Assuming you have a function in your @code{~/.bashrc}, to reset the colour palette to what
you set it to last time in the terminal, named @command{reset-palette}, your @code{~/.bashrc}
should, for example, contain:
@example
[ "$TERM" = "linux" ] &&
    function ponysay
    @{   export PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE="`reset-palette`"
        exec ponysay "$@@"
    @}
@end example

@command{kmsponies4ponysay} uses @code{/var/cache/kmsponies4ponysay/} for cache space.

As of version 2.0 @command{kmsponies4ponysay} is included in @command{ponysay},
but is still available at @url{https://github.com/maandree/kmsponies4ponysay}.



@node Inner workings
@chapter Inner workings
@cindex inner workings
@cindex hacking

@menu
* Pony anatomy::                 Anatomy of pony files.
* Printing in TTY with KMS::     Printing in TTY with KMS.
* Truncation::                   Output truncation.
* Languages::                    Selection of languages.
* Shell auto-completion::        Things make auto-completion simplier.
@end menu


@node Pony anatomy
@section Pony anatomy
@cindex pony anatomy
@cindex anatomy of pony files

The pony files are cow files used by @command{cowsay}, they are partial Perl-scripts
that assign a value to a scalar variable named @code{$the_cow}. The files use a
predefined scalar named variable named @code{$thoughts}, these are used to create
a link between the message and the pony. The message (and the balloon) it self is
printed by @command{cowsay} and is not defined in the pony files.

The pony images consists of white space, lower half blocks [U+2584], upper half
blocks [U+2580] and ANSI colour sequences (CSI m), and, in TTY, colour value change
sequences (OSI P).


@node Printing in TTY with KMS
@section Printing in TTY with KMS
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
@cindex clearing tty
@cindex kms
@cindex kernel mode settings

Since Linux VT (TTY) does not have capabilities for returning the position of the cursor,
the screen must always be cleared before printing the ponies to make sure the pony's
colours is not lost, i.e. reduced to mare 16 colours, during print. The colours are reduced
if the pony's position on the screen is changed. This is only relevant with KMS support.
The clear the screen we print ``@code{\e[H\e[2J}'' (@code{\e} is ESC) in at beginning.
``@code{\e[H}'' places the cursor at the beginning of the screen, and ``@code{\e[2J}'' clears
everything on the screen after, and including at, the cursor. If we would use ``@code{\ec}''
(that is a reset), we would also turn off num. lock and caps. lock.


@node Truncation
@section Truncation
@cindex truncation
@cindex output truncation
@cindex kms
@cindex kernel mode settings

Ponysay supports three type of output truncations, cutting away overflow on the right
and truncation the height by either keeping the bottom or keeping the top. By default
the latest is enabled under TTY, cutting away overflow on the right is always enabled
by default.

Truncating the height in TTY is required under Kernel Mode Settings (KMS) support to
keep the colours from being messed up ad the ponies is moved in the screen during
print; this done either by piping to @command{head} (keeps the top) or by piping to
@command{tail} (keeps the bottom.) @command{head} and @command{tail} takes as argument
the number of lines to keep at most.

The size of the terminal, measured in characters, is fetched from @command{stty size},
which returns @code{HEIGHT WIDTH}, and @command{cut} it the used to get either the
height or the width. This required on GNU Coreutils; earlier @command{tput rows} and
@command{tput cols} were used, this however required, the only de facto standard,
package @command{ncurses}, some shells have environment variables for this.

For truncation the width, we have a custom program, named @command{ponysaytruncater},
that is installed to @code{/usr/lib/ponysay/truncater}. It recognised UTF-8 ANSI escape
sequences, including OSI P and CSI m, which is essential for the truncation to be correct.
It also expands tabs to every eighth column and resets the background colour when needed,
and writes ANSI escape sequences that are on the left side of the truncation. The truncater
stops CSI sequences on the first ASCII letter (@code{[a-zA-Z]}), but also stops escape
sequences after the first character after the initial escape if it is not either @code{[}
(CSI) or @code{]} (OSI). For support UTF-8, to handles all bytes that do not match
@code{10xxxxxx} as beginning of a character.


@node Languages
@section Languages
@cindex languages
@cindex script languages
@cindex programming languages

Before version 2.0 @command{ponysay} was written primarily in GNU Bash script
(POSIX compliant); the truncater was however written in C, because it is simple,
fast, does not pose addition dependencies, and is easy to do byte hacking in.

Sometimes shell is too slow, in these cases Perl was used; Perl was already
required by cowsay, is similar to shell, but also supports hash tables.

However since version 2.0 we are trying to move from all there languages
and only use Python 3.


@node Shell auto-completion
@section Shell auto-completion
@cindex auto-completion, inner workings
@cindex shell, auto-completion
@cindex @command{--onelist}
@cindex @command{--quoters}

To make it easier to write auto-completion for shells, @command{ponysay} supports
the two options @command{--onelist} and @command{--quoters}, which has not short
versions.

Executing @command{ponysay --onelist} will list every available pony,
independent of where it is located, the output is a sorted and consists only
of one pony per line.

@command{ponysay --quoters} work just as @command{ponysay --onelist}, excepts
it limites the ponies to those that have quotes. Ponies that have qoutes,
but does not exist, i.e. does not have a .pony-file, are not listed.

Auto-completion scripts should not suggest these options.



@node Contributing
@chapter Contributing
@cindex contributing

@menu
* Providing ponies::            Providing ponies.
@end menu

@node Providing ponies
@section Providing ponies
@cindex create pony file

Most pony images are browser ponies or desktop ponies, browser ponies is a port of
desktop ponies, implementing it in JavaScript. Browser ponies are available at
@url{https://github.com/panzi/Browser-Ponies}. Desktop ponies are available at
@url{http://desktop-pony-team.deviantart.com/}.

There is also a collection of ponies that are not yet pixelated in a Java reimplementation:
@url{https://github.com/maandree/unisay/tree/develop/dev/newponies}

There is a checklist named @code{"pony-checklist"} at the top level of the project
directory. You can use the check which ponies are added and which are not.
@*

New ponies can be created from regular images by using util-say, which is available
at @url{https://github.com/maandree/util-say}.
@command{img2xterm} (@url{https://github.com/rossy2401/img2xterm}) was used earlier,
but util-say tries to optimise the images in some aspects: as good as possible for
low capability terminals, tries to place the pony–balloon link, displayed as good as
possible when marked in the terminal (somewhat compromised by the first aspect,) and
same width on all rows.

Using util-say:
@cindex util-say
@cindex img2ponysay
@example
img2ponysay -2 -- SOURCE_IMAGE > PONY_FILE

PONY_FILE should end with .pony and be localed in ponies/

Omit -2 if the source image does not use double pixel size.

For more information see:
@url{https://github.com/maandree/util-say/wiki/img2ponysay}
@end example

@*
@cindex ttypony
When a pony is added please also add a ttypony version, i.e. the pony files used in TTY,
but if you don't please state so in the pull request so we do not miss the create it;
the simplest way to do this is to run @command{make -B ttyponies} after adding the ponies
to @code{ponies/}, running @command{make -B ttyponies} will build (or rebuild) all
ttyponies with a pony present in @code{ponies/}, and creates all needed symlinks.

To be able to run @command{make -B ttyponies} you must have the packages listed under
@ref{Dependencies for pony providers}.



@node Change log
@appendix Change log
@cindex change log
@cindex versions
@cindex previous releases

@heading Version 2.1

@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{applebumkin} is renamed to @code{applebumpkin}.
@end itemize

@heading Version 2.0

@itemize @bullet
@item
Makefile is generated by running @command{./configure}.
@item
All Perl scripts and almost all Bash are reimplemented in one Python 3 script.
@item
kmsponies4ponysay is included.
@end itemize

@heading Version 1.4.1

@itemize @bullet
@item
Code is repaired and more portable.
@end itemize

@heading Version 1.4

@itemize @bullet
@item
Make file is improved.
@end itemize

@b{Note}: Identifies itself as version 1.3

@heading Version 1.3

@itemize @bullet
@item
New ponies: @code{forestspirit}, @code{hollydash}, @code{raggedy}, @code{rhyme}
@item
@code{sindy} is renamed to @code{powderrouge}.
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{sindy} → @code{powderrouge}
@end itemize
@item
@code{PREFIX=/some-dir} can be used when invoking @command{make}, the default value is @code{/usr}
@end itemize

@heading Version 1.2

@itemize @bullet
@item
ponyquotes4ponysay is included.
@item
Support for extension: kmsponies4ponysay.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{mrsparkle} → @code{nightlight}
@item @code{elsie} → @code{prettyvision}
@end itemize
@item
New ponies: @code{ace}, @code{blueblood}, @code{filthyrich}, @code{gingergold},
@code{hayfever}, @code{highscore}, @code{junebug}, @code{mrsparkle},
@code{persnickety}, @code{ponet}, @code{screwloose}, @code{tornadobolt}.
@item
@code{elsie} is renamed to @code{prettyvision}.
@item
@cindex @command{-f}
Arbitrary spaces in @command{-f} argument is not longer accepted (it causes problems with
file names including spaces.)
@end itemize

@b{Note}: Identifies itself as version 1.1

@heading Version 1.1

@itemize @bullet
@item
Manpages are compressed before installation.
@item
@command{info} manual added.
@item
Shell completion for @command{ponythink} added, in addition to @command{ponysay}.
@item
@command{fish} completion added.
@item
@code{/usr/lib/ponysay} is used instead of @code{/usr/bin} for code used by the main script.
@item
@code{~/.local/share/ponysay} is used for private pony directories.
@item
@command{ncurses} is no longer needed for determining the screen's size,
@command{coreutils} is used instead.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{amethyststar} → @code{sparkler}
@item @code{berrypinch} → @code{ruby}
@item @code{craftycrate} → @code{boxxy}
@item @code{magnum} → @code{raritysdad}
@item @code{pearl} → @code{raritysmom}
@item @code{powderrouge} → @code{sindy}
@item @code{royalribbo} → @code{violet}
@end itemize
@item
@w{New ponies:} @code{blossomforth}, @code{bonvoyage}, @code{cadance}, @code{celestiasmall},
@code{changelingqueen}, @code{cherryberry}, @code{discordamused}, @code{discordpuppetmaster},
@code{fleurdelishair}, @code{fleurdelislay}, @code{owl}, @code{perrypierce}, @code{petunia},
@code{pinacolada}, @code{skyra}, @code{truffleshuffle}.
@item
Pony spelling removed: @code{fillycadence}.
@item
Pony symlink change: @code{perry} → @{@code{pokey} → @code{perrypierce}@}.
@item
@cindex @command{-L}
Option @command{-L} added, lists ponies with symlink mapping.
@item
Support for extension: ponyquotes4ponysay.
@item
@cindex @command{-f}
Accepts arbitrary spaces in @command{-f} argument.
@end itemize

@heading Version 1.0

@itemize @bullet
@item
Spanish translation of the manpage is added.
@item
@w{New ponies:} @code{applecore}, @code{applejackscarecrow}, @code{bonbonstand},
@code{changeling}, @code{chrysalis}, @code{cottoncloudy}, @code{diamondmint},
@code{discord}, @code{fillycadence}, @code{flam}, @code{fleurdelis}, @code{flim},
@code{fluttershyshy}, @code{fluttershystare}, @code{lyrasit}, @w{@code{oinkoinkoink}
(is pinkie)}, @code{philomenaphoenix}, @code{pinkiecannon}, @code{pinkiecannonfront},
@code{pinkiecannonhappy}, @code{pinkiegummy}, @code{pinkiehugfluttershy},
@code{pinkiehugsfluttershy}, @code{pinkiepartycannon}, @code{pinkieprincess},
@code{pinkiesilly}, @code{pinkietongue}, @code{pinkiewhoops}, @code{pinkiewhoopseat},
@code{pinkiewhoopsout}, @code{rainbowdrag}, @code{rainbowsalute}, @code{rainbowshine},
@code{raritydrama}, @code{shiningarmor}, @code{shiningarmorguard}, @code{snowflake},
@code{spikemustache}, @code{stevenmagnet}, @code{stevenmagnettrue},
@code{twilightcrazyfromball}, @code{twilightrage}, @code{twilightzero}, @code{wildfire}.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{djpon-3} → @code{vinyl}
@item @code{fillycadance} → @code{fillycadence}
@item @code{horsepower} → @code{snowflake}
@end itemize
@item
Improved TTY support: ponies have low colours resolution, instead of monochrome,
when the high colour resolution is not available.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.10

@itemize @bullet
@item
Manpage manual added.
@item
The directories for pony directories are changed from @code{/usr/share} to
@code{/usr/share/ponysay} and @code{~} to @code{~/.ponysay}.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{carrottop} → @code{carrot}
@item @code{goldenharvest} → @code{carrot}
@item @code{harpass} → @code{lyra}
@item @code{heartstrings} → @code{lyra}
@item @code{lulamoon} → @code{trixie}
@item @code{minuette} → @code{colgate}
@item @code{noteworthy} → @code{blues}
@item @code{perry} → @code{pokey}
@item @code{pokeypierce} → @code{pokey}
@item @code{timeturner} → @code{doctornohat}
@item @code{trixielulamoon} → @code{trixie}
@item @code{twilightvelvet} → @code{mrssparkle}
@end itemize
@item
Support for truncating output on height, enabled by default under TTY.
@item
Environment variables added: @code{PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH}, @code{PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES},
@code{PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT}, @code{PONYSAY_BOTTOM}.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.9

@itemize @bullet
@item
Output truncated on width to fit screen.
@item
Support for TTY (Linux VT).
@item
@command{bash} completion added.
@item
@command{zsh} completion added.
@item
@w{New ponies}: @code{allie}, @code{archer}, @code{boxxy}, @code{carecake}, @code{cupcake},
@code{daringdo}, @code{davenport}, @code{fancypants}, @code{ironwillwalk}, @code{lily},
@code{lunafly}, @code{maredowellfly}, @code{maredowellgallop}, @code{master}, @code{mjolna},
@code{orange}, @code{raritysdad}, @code{raritysmom}, @code{royalnightguard}, @code{ruby},
@code{sparkler}, @code{violet}.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.8

@itemize @bullet
@item
@w{New ponies}: @code{aloe}, @code{angle}, @code{applebloom}, @code{applebumkin},
@code{applefritter}, @code{berrypunch}, @code{bigmac}, @code{blinkie}, @code{blues},
@code{braeburn}, @code{caesar}, @code{candymane}, @code{caramel}, @code{cheerilee},
@code{cheerilee80}, @code{clyde}, @code{colgate}, @code{colton}, @code{daisy},
@code{derpystand}, @code{derpystandwing}, @code{diamondtiara}, @code{dinky},
@code{doctornohat}, @code{elsie}, @code{fido}, @code{fillycelestia}, @code{fillydash},
@code{fillydashfly}, @code{fillyjack}, @code{fillyjacktravel}, @code{fillypinkie},
@code{fillypinkiecurly}, @code{fillyrarity}, @code{fillyshy}, @code{fluttershygala},
@code{gilda}, @code{gildastand}, @code{granny}, @code{grannychair}, @code{grannysleep},
@code{gummy}, @code{hoity}, @code{horte}, @code{inky}, @code{laflour}, @code{lightning},
@code{lintsalot}, @code{lotus}, @code{mayor}, @code{mrssparkle}, @code{nightmare},
@code{opal}, @code{parasprite}, @code{philomena}, @code{photofinish}, @code{pinkamina},
@code{pinkiebounce}, @code{pinkiechicken}, @code{pinkiegala}, @code{pipsqueak},
@code{pokey}, @code{rainbowfly}, @code{rainbowgala}, @code{rainbowsleep}, @code{raindrops},
@code{rarityfly}, @code{raritygala}, @code{rarityponder}, @code{redheart}, @code{rocky},
@code{rose}, @code{rover}, @code{royalguard}, @code{sapphire}, @code{scootaloo},
@code{screwball}, @code{shadowbolts}, @code{silverspoon}, @code{silverstar}, @code{sindy},
@code{snails}, @code{snips}, @code{soarin}, @code{soigne}, @code{spike}, @code{spikefloat},
@code{spikelove}, @code{spot}, @code{stella}, @code{strongheart}, @code{sue},
@code{suedance}, @code{tank}, @code{trixiestage}, @code{trixiestand}, @code{turnip},
@code{twist}, @code{winona}.
@end itemize

@b{Note}: Identifies itself as version 0.7

@heading Version 0.7

@itemize @bullet
@item
@w{New ponies}: @code{carrot}, @code{octavia}, @code{trixie}, @code{vinyl}, @code{zecora}.
@item
@cindex @command{-l}
Support for listing ponies with @command{-l} option.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.6

@itemize @bullet
@item
@w{New ponies}: @code{bonbon}, @code{celestia}, @code{doctor}, @code{fillistia},
@code{spitfire}, @w{@code{woona} (not moonstuck)}.
@item
Dropping usage of utility @command{which}, using @command{hash} instead.
@end itemize

@b{Note}: Identifies itself as version 0.5

@heading Version 0.5

@itemize @bullet
@item
Using utility @command{which} to determine existence of @command{cowsay}.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.4

@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{.cow} files are removed.
@item
@cindex @command{-W}
Support for @command{-W} option.
@item
Select random pony if not specified.
@item
@cindex @command{-f}
@command{-f} supports file names, and not only pony names.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.3

@itemize @bullet
@item
Fixed use of @code{.pony} files.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.2

@itemize @bullet
@item
Pony files end with @code{.pony} instead of @code{.cow}.
@item
@code{lyrasleep} is renamed to @code{lyra}.
@item
@code{.cow} files are kept but not used.
@item
@cindex @command{-h}
@command{-h} prints proper help.
@end itemize

@heading Version 0.1

First release.

@itemize @bullet
@item
@w{Includes the ponies}: @code{applejack}, @code{derpy}, @code{derpysit},
@code{fluttershy}, @code{luna}, @code{lyrasleep}, @code{pinkie}, @code{rainbow},
@code{rarity}, @code{sweetie}, @code{twilight}.
@end itemize



@node Ponysay contributors
@appendix Ponysay contributors

Active developers and major contributors of ponysay:
@itemize @bullet
@item Erkin ``erkin'' Batu Altunbaş
@item Mattias ``maandree'' Andrée
@item Elis ``etu'' Axelsson
@item Sven-Hendrik ``svenstaro'' Haase
@item Pablo ``jristz'' Lezaeta
@item Jan Alexander ``heftig'' Steffens
@end itemize
@*
Patchers and other contributors of ponysay:
@itemize @bullet
@item Duane ``Marneus68'' Bekaert
@item Kyah ``L-four'' Rindlisbacher
@item James ``rossy2401'' Ross-Gowan
@item Louis ``kragniz'' Taylor
@item Jannis ``sycoso''
@item ``spider-mario''
@end itemize



@node Ponysay license
@appendix Ponysay license

Ponysay is Free Software (yet not Open Source) and in licensed under the terms
of Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License (WTFPL) version 2.

You have the four essential freedoms:
@itemize @bullet
@item
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
@item
The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your
computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition
for this.
@item
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour (freedom 2). 
@item
The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3).
By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your
changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
@end itemize

@*

@center DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
@center Version 2, December 2004

Copyright @copyright{} 2012 Erkin Batu Altunbaş

@quotation
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim or modified
copies of this license document, and changing it is allowed as long
as the name is changed.

         DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION

0. You just DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.
@end quotation



@node GNU Free Documentation License
@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
@include fdl.texinfo

@node Concept index
@appendix Concept index
@printindex cp


@bye