Hello everybody!  
    
    
  PyGate - Python FidoNet-NNTP Gateway, has been released to the public.  
    
  PyGate is a Python-based gateway system that bridges FidoNet echomail and  
  NNTP  
  newsgroups, allowing seamless message exchange between the two networks.  
    
  Version: 1.5.2  
  Author: Stephen Walsh  
  Contact: vk3heg@gmail.com | FidoNet 3:633/280 | FSXNet 21:1/195 | Amiganet  
  39:901/280  
  Based on: SoupGate by Tom Torfs  
    
  Features  
  Core Functionality  
    
      Bidirectional Gateway: Messages flow seamlessly between FidoNet and NNTP  
      Flexible Deployment Modes: Full gateway mode or client-only mode  
      Area Mapping: Flexible mapping between FidoNet areas and NNTP newsgroups  
      Message Hold System: Manual review and approval of messages  
      Spam Filtering: Advanced regex-based filtering with built-in patterns  
      Netmail Notifications: Automatic notifications for held messages  
      Areafix Support: Dynamic area management via netmail with wildcard  
  protection  
      Character Set Handling: Proper encoding conversion per FTS standards  
    
  Advanced Features  
    
      Message Deduplication: Prevents duplicate messages  
      Cross-posting Control: Configurable limits on cross-posted messages  
      Timezone Support: Proper timezone handling (TZUTC)  
      Message Threading: Preserves reply chains and references  
      Administrative Panel: Admin panel interface for message review of held  
  messages, filter management, newsrc management, newsgroups list viewing.  
    
  Requirements  
    
      Python 3.7 or higher  
      NNTP server access  
      FidoNet mailer (binkd recommended)  
      Required Python packages:  
          configparser  
          pathlib  
          logging  
          datetime  
          uuid  
          json  
          paramiko (for SSH/remote ctlinnd on Windows deployments)  
          psutil (for automation script process management)  
    
    
  Deployment Modes  
    
  PyGate supports two deployment modes:  
  Full Gateway Mode (Default)  
    
  In this mode, PyGate manages both the NNTP connection and the server  
  configuration:  
    
      Updates local newsrc file when areas are added/removed  
      Executes ctlinnd commands to create/remove newsgroups on NNTP server  
      Requires server administrative privileges or SSH access  
      Best for deployments where PyGate runs on or manages the news server  
    
  [Gateway]  
  client_mode = false  # or omit this line (false is default)  
    
  Client-Only Mode  
    
  In this mode, PyGate operates as a standard NNTP client without server  
  management:  
    
      Updates local newsrc file when areas are added/removed  
      Does NOT execute ctlinnd commands  
      Assumes newsgroups already exist on the remote NNTP server  
      Does not require server administrative privileges  
      Best for connecting to external/remote news servers you don't control  
    
  [Gateway]  
  client_mode = true  
    
  When to use client-only mode:  
    
      Connecting to a remote news server you don't administer  
      Using a commercial or third-party news provider  
      Testing PyGate without affecting server configuration  
      Security-restricted environments where ctlinnd access is unavailable  
    
  Note: In client-only mode, areafix operations will still update your local  
  newsrc file, but you must ensure the corresponding newsgroups exist on the  
  NNTP  
  server before subscribing to them.  
    
    
  Message Hold System  
    
  The hold system allows manual review of messages before they are gated,  
  providing control over message flow. When areas are remapped to fidonet  
  echomail  
  areas. This is mainly to protect fidonet from usenet spam.  
    
  Configuration  
    
  Enable holding in pygate.cfg:  
    
  [Arearemap]  
  Hold = yes  
  notify_sysop = yes  
    
  How It Works  
    
      Message Evaluation: Each message is checked against area mappings  
      Hold Decision: Messages in mapped areas are held for review  
      Notification: Netmail sent to sysop (once per hour maximum)  
      Review Process: Admin reviews messages via admin panel  
      Action: Messages are approved, rejected, or archived  
    
  Notification System  
    
  When messages are held:  
    
      Netmail sent to sysop at linked_address  
      Rate Limited: Maximum one notification per hour  
      Comprehensive: Lists all areas with pending messages  
      Tracking: State saved in hold/notifications.json  
    
    
    
    
    
  https://github.com/vk3heg/pygate  
    
    
    
    
  Vorlon  
    
    
  --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20250409  
   * Origin: Dragon's Lair ---:- dragon.vk3heg.net -:--- Prt: 6800 (3:633/280)