aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/manuals/ponysay.texinfo
blob: 38d0ee66ff63809f735e4d32adc2dba5a4579931 (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
\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 2.5

@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
@c@subtitle Cowsay reimplementation for ponies.
@c@subtitle Ponies for your terminal.
@subtitle Infesting your terminal with ponies.
@c@subtitle Surviving the zombiepony takeover.
@c@subtitle Making your terminal about 20 % cooler.
@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
@page
@*@*
@center{`For me! For my friends! @b{For EQUESTRIA!}'}
@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::               Getting more from @command{ponysay} with environment variables.
* Limitations::                         Known limitations that may not be that easy to overcome.
* Problems and requests::               Report issues and making requests.
* Dependencies::                        Ponysay's dependencies.
* Installing::                          How to install @command{ponysay}.
* Extensions::                          Extensions.
* Inner workings::                      Useful information for those whom want to help hack @command{ponysay}.
* Contributing::                        Useful information for those whom want to help improve the world.
* Distributing::                        Useful information for OS package repository package maintainers.
* 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 a message provided
by the user in a terminal, or a quote from the show My Litte Pony: Friendship is Magic
(MLP:FiM). Historically @command{ponysay} was a wrapper fo cowsay, but has since
version 2.1 become an independent reimplementation of @command{cowsay}.

If a message is not provided, e.g. by piping, it accepts standard input. The pony
quoting 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. But if you know anypony how does like ponies [fat chance] you
can always make screen-shots of @command{ponysay -q} executions and communication that
way over e-mail.




@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}...] [--] [@var{message}]
ponythink [@var{option}...] [--] [@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 @option{--}
Parse the following arguments as parts of @code{@var{message}}.

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

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

@item -f PONY
@itemx --file PONY
@itemx --pony PONY
@cindex @option{-f}
@cindex @option{--file}
@cindex @option{--pony}
Specify the pony that should printed, this can either be a file name or a pony
name printed by @command{ponysay -l}. 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.

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

In versions earlier than version 2.0, the if the pony were a file name it had to
include a `@code{/}'. This is not longer required and any existing pony name
supersedes file names.

@item -F
@itemx ++file PONY
@itemx ++pony PONY
@cindex @option{-F}
@cindex @option{++file}
@cindex @option{++pony}
Just as @option{-F}, but it uses extra (non-MLP:FiM) ponies instead of standard
(MLP:FiM) ponies

@item -b STYLE
@itemx --bubble STYLE
@itemx --balloon STYLE
@cindex @option{-b}
@cindex @option{--bubble}
@cindex @option{--balloon}
Specify the balloon style that should used, this can either be a file name or a
balloon name printed by @option{ponysay -B}. This option can be used multiple
times to specify a set of styles from which one will be selected randomly. If no
balloon style is specified a fallback style will be used.

@item -q [PONY...]
@itemx --quote [PONY...]
@cindex @option{-q}
@cindex @option{--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 @option{-q}. If one or more ponies are added after
@option{-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.

The argument can be a file name, but only if it ends with @file{.pony}.

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

@item -c
@itemx --compress
@cindex @option{-c}
@cindex @option{--compress}
@cindex @command{figlet}
@cindex @command{TOIlet}
Compress the message in the same way @command{cowsay} does, that is basically
without multiple spaces, and only paragraphs seperations. Using this options
will mean that you cannot display @command{figlet} and @command{TOIlet} style
messages.

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

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

@item +l
@itemx ++list
@cindex @option{+l}
@cindex @option{++list}
Just as @option{-l}, except it lists extra (non-MLP:FiM) ponies instead of standard
(MLP:FiM) ponies.

@item +L
@itemx ++altlist
@cindex @option{+L}
@cindex @option{++altlist}
Just as @option{-L}, except it lists extra (non-MLP:FiM) ponies instead of standard
(MLP:FiM) ponies.

@item -B
@itemx --balloonlist
@cindex @option{-B}
@cindex @option{--balloonlist}
Prints a list of all balloon styles.
@end table

@cindex @var{message}
If neither @option{-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
and 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}.

@cindex @file{best.pony}
If no pony is selected, @command{ponysay} will look for a @file{best.pony} file,
this file should be a symbolic link to the pony you want as a default. If it is not
a symbolic link, @option{-q} cannot determine which quotes to use.


@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 @file{.bashrc}
@cindex @file{~/.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
@file{~/.bashrc} -- or equivalent for your shell if you 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 messages (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/}
However I think @command{ponypipe} as better at replacing words than the @command{sed}
script, but I haven't used the script so I wouldn't know for sure.


@node Running on TTY
@section Running on TTY
@cindex tty
@cindex linux vt
@cindex @file{.bashrc}
@cindex @file{~/.bashrc}

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


@node Running on screen
@section Running on @command{screen}
@cindex screen
@cindex @file{.bashrc}
@cindex @file{~/.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 @env{$TERM} ponies will lose their colours; they will only use the lower 16
colours instead of the top 240 colours. By default, almost all X terminals,
including @command{xterm} and @command{mate-terminal} reports themselves as
@code{xterm} in @env{$TERM}, and some reports their actual name in @env{$COLORTERM}.
So before opening @command{screen} you use set @env{$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 @file{~/.bashrc}:
@cartouche
@example
[ "$TERM" = "xterm" ] &&
    function screen
    @{   export TERM="xterm-256color"
        exec screen "$@@"
    @}
@end example
@end cartouche



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

@command{ponysay} supports the follow environment variables:

@table @env
@item PONYSAY_BOTTOM
@cindex @env{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 @env{PONYSAY_BOTTOM}
with the value @code{yes}, @code{y} or @code{1}.

@item PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES}
@cindex tty
Under TTY (Linux VT), if the output is larger than the screen's height, two
lines are left blank. If you want more, or less, blank lines you can export
@env{PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES} with the value of how many blank lines you want.
Naturally this takes effect eve n if the output is not actually larger than
the screen.
 
@item PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH}
You can export @env{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 @env{PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT}
Export @env{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_UCS_ME
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_UCS_ME}
@cindex ucs
@cindex universal character set
@cindex unicode
@cindex ascii
Export @env{PONYSAY_UCS_ME} with the value @code{yes}, @code{y} or @code{1},
if you want [simulated] symlink to pony files using Universal Character Set
in their names. Otherwise pony files uses only ASCII. If you want to remove
the ASCII:ised names export @env{PONYSAY_UCS_ME} with the value @code{harder},
@code{h} or @code{2} instead.

If you have not enabled this, UCS names are not usable, suggested or listed.
If you use @code{yes} UCS names will be usable, suggested and listed. If you
use @code{harder} ASCII:ised names will not be suggested or listed, but they
will still be usable.

@item PONYSAY_COWSAY
@itemx PONYSAY_COWTHINK
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_COWSAY}
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_COWTHINK}
@cindex custom cowsay
@cindex replace cowsay
Since version 2.1 this is no longer used as @command{cowsay} has been
reimplemented inside @command{ponysay}, but it is possible we will add
a way to replace that back-end.

If you want to use another program than @command{cowsay} (the first
@command{cowsay} found in @env{$PATH}), you can export @env{PONYSAY_COWSAY}
with the value of that program. In earlier versions than version 2.0: If, and
only if, @env{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.

@env{PONYSAY_COWTHINK} will be used instead of @env{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
without 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 limit (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 supported.

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


@node Cowsay
@section Cowsay
@cindex cowsay

This section describes the limitation of @command{cowsay}, but since version 2.1
@command{cowsay} is no longer used because of it. So none of the following limitations
are present anymore.

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 not 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.



@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

We have provided a script that should run one most, if not all shells, named
@file{./dependency-test.sh} that will help you track down any missing package.

@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 @command
@item coreutils
@command{stty} is used to determine the size of the terminal.
@item python>=3
@command{ponysay} is written in pure Python 3.
@end table

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

@table @command
@item util-say>=2
@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
@cindex png images
@cindex images, png
@cindex portable network graphics
For the purpose of simplifying for pony contributors, @command{ponysay} supports
using .png-images (note that the file must not miss the @file{.png} at the end of
the file name) in addition to .pony-files or pony names.
@end table


@node Package building dependencies
@section Package building dependencies

@table @command
@item gzip
Used for compressing manuals.
@item texinfo
@itemx info
@command{texinfo} and @command{info} are required if you want this @command{info}
manual.
@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} and @command{cut}.
@item sed
Used by the make script for @option{PREFIX} customisation.
@end table


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

@table @command
@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>=2
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 @command{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 can @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
@file{/usr}, normally meaning you 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}. To install the Spanish manual add the
option @option{--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 @option{--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 @option{--everything} when running @command{./configure}.

@cindex @option{--with-pdf}
@cindex PDF manual, with
@cindex @option{--without-man}
@cindex manpage, without
@cindex @option{--without-info}
@cindex @option{--without-info-install}
@cindex @option{info} manual, without
@cindex @option{--with-man-LANG}
@cindex manpage translations
After @option{--everything} it is possible to remove unwanted parts, this can of
cause be done without @option{--everything}. If you want to install the PDF manual
to @file{/usr/doc/ponysay.pdf} add the option @option{--with-pdf} when running
@command{./configure}. To install a manpage translation add @option{--with-man-LANG}
and substitute 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 @option{--without-man}. If you do not want the @command{info} manual
add the option @option{--without-info}. If you are installing the @command{info}
manual but are not privileged to execute @command{install-info} add the option
@option{--without-info-install}.


The following argumentless options are also recognised:
@itemize @bullet
@item @option{--without-bash}
@cindex @option{--without-bash}
@cindex @command{bash}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and
@command{ponythink} under the GNU Bourne-again shell, @command{bash}.
@item @option{--without-fish}
@cindex @option{--without-fish}
@cindex @command{fish}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and
@command{ponythink} under the Friendly interactive shell, @command{fish}.
@item @option{--without-zsh}
@cindex @option{--without-zsh}
@cindex @command{zsh}, without
will skip installation of auto-completion for @command{ponysay} and
@command{ponythink} under the shell @command{zsh}.
@item @option{--without-shared-cache}
@cindex @option{--without-shared-cache}
@cindex cache
@cindex kms
will skip installing a shared cache for KMS support, when there is no
shared cache, private one will be used at @file{~/.cache/ponysay}.
@end itemize

@cindex @option{--prefix=TARGET}
@cindex @file{/usr/games}
The program is by default installed in @file{/usr}, if you want another target
directory, you can add @option{--prefix=TARGET} when running @command{./configure}.
For example to install @command{ponysay} in @file{/usr/local} you build the
program by running @command{./configure --prefix=/usr/local}, 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.

@cindex @command{--shell=SHELL}
By default @command{bash} is in the make file, if you want to use another shell
add the option @command{--shell=SHELL}.



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

The official Arch Linux package repositories contains @command{ponysay} as
@w{@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 @file{Makefile}.
To perform an uninstallation of old files 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 @env{PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE}
@cindex @env{PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE_CMD}
@cindex @file{.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 @file{~/.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 @env{$PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE} or you
should export a command to can get the palette string to
@env{$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 @file{~/.bashrc}, to reset the colour palette
to what you set it to last time in the terminal, named @command{reset-palette},
your @file{~/.bashrc} should, for example, contain:
@cartouche
@example
[ "$TERM" = "linux" ] &&
    function ponysay
    @{   export PONYSAY_KMS_PALETTE="$(reset-palette)"
        exec ponysay "$@@"
    @}
@end example
@end cartouche

@command{kmsponies4ponysay} uses @file{/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.
* Pony quote infrastructure::    Pony quote infrastructure.
* Balloon style files::          Balloon style files.
* Printing in TTY with KMS::     Printing in TTY with KMS support.
* Truncation::                   Output truncation.
* Languages::                    Selection of programming languages.
* Shell auto-completion::        Things that make auto-completion simpler.
* Universal Character Set::      Something about Univeral Character Set support.
@end menu


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

The pony files are simple raw output data that can be printed to the terminal,
except it contains scalar variables. 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).

Variables are recalled by putting the variable's name between two dollar signs
(@code{$var$}), and are stored by putting the variable's name followed by the value
between two dollar signs  and with a equality sign between the name and the value
(@code{$var=value$}). Variable names cannot include equality signs, but the value
can; dollar signs can be used by placing an ESC character before the dollar sign.

There are three predefinied variables: @code{$$} (empty variable name), @code{$\$}
and @code{$/$}. @code{$$} has a dollar sign (@code{$}) as its value, while @code{$\$}
and @code{$/$} contains the characters for the link to the balloon directed in the
same direction as the variable name's slash.

Variables whose name begin with @code{balloon} are parsed as balloon inserts, it
can be either @code{balloon}, @code{balloonX}, @code{balloon,Y} or @code{balloonX,Y},
whether @code{X} is the minimum width of the balloon and @code{Y} is the minimum
height of the balloon.

Prior to version 2.1 the pony files were cow files used by @command{cowsay}, they
are partial Perl-scripts that assign a value to a scalar variable named
@var{$the_cow}. Cow files use a predefined scalar variable named @code{$thoughts},
these are used to create a link between the message and the pony. The message (and
the balloon) itself was printed by @command{cowsay} and is not defined in the cow
files.


@node Pony quote infrastructure
@section Pony quote infrastructure
@cindex pony quote infrastructure
@cindex quote infrastructure

When compiling, pony quotes are built to @file{quotes/}, the file names are lists
of ponies joined with plus signs (@code{+}) -- the pony names are the same as the
pony files, except they do not end with @file{.pony} -- with a index at the end,
and a full stop (@code{.}) before the index.

The source files are located in @file{ponyquotes/}, where their is a file named
@file{ponies}. This file is called the pony map, and is the basis for how the
compiled files are named. In the ponymap ponies with the same quotes are on the
same line join togather with plus signs (@code{+}), if the lines because too long
for file names the line is split into multiple lines with the first pony in common.

In @file{ponyquotes/} there are also quote files, each contain just one quote, just
as when compiled to @file{quotes/}. The source quote files are indentical to the
compiled quote files, except that their name contains just the first pony.


@node Balloon style files
@section Balloon style files
@cindex balloon style files
@cindex bubble style files
@cindex ponythink

Balloon style files are located in the directory @file{balloons/}, the ones ending
with @file{.say} applies to @command{ponysay} and the ones ending with @file{.think}
applies to @command{ponythink}.

Balloon style consists of 20 strings. Each string is definied on separate lines, by
their name and their value seperated with a colon (@code{name:value}), if the name is
empty it continues the last one on a new line in the value. Only 10 of the strings
may be multi-lined: @var{nw}, @var{nnw}, @var{n}, @var{nne}, @var{ne}, @var{sw},
@var{ssw}, @var{s}, @var{sse} and @var{se}.

The following strings are used, and must be definied in the files:
@table @var
@item \
The character for the link to the balloon directed as @code{\}.
@item /
The character for the link to the balloon directed as @code{/}.
@item ww
The beginning of the balloon's line where the message is located if and only if the
message contains only one line.
@item ee
The end of the balloon's line where the message is located if and only if the message
contains only one line.
@item nw
The top left corner of the balloon.
@item nnw
If both this string and the @var{nne} string fits between the top corners, this is
printed directly to the right of the top left corner.
@item n
The top edge of the balloon.
@item nne
If both this string and the @var{nnw} string fits between the top corners, this is
printed directly to the right of the top left corner.
@item ne
The top right corner of the balloon.
@item nee
The end of the balloon's line where the message's first line is located if and only
if the message contains more than one line.
@item e
The right edge of the balloon.
@item see
The end of the balloon's line where the message's last line is located if and only
if the message contains more than one line.
@item se
The bottom right corner of the balloon.
@item sse
If both this string and the @var{ssw} string fits between the bottom corners, this
is printed directly to the left of the bottom right corner.
@item s
The bottom edge of the balloon.
@item ssw
If both this string and the @var{sse} string fits between the bottom corners, this
is printed directly to the right of the bottom left corner.
@item sw
The bottom left corner of the balloon.
@item sww
The beginning of the balloon's line where the message's last line is located if and
only if the message contains more than one line.
@item w
The left edge of the balloon.
@item nww
The beginning of the balloon's line where the message's first line is located if and
only if the message contains more than one line.
@end table


@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 when the ponies is moved in the screen during
print. Prior to version 2.0 this was 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 requires only 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.

Since version 2.1 trunction is done internally in the Python script, before that it
was done in a custom C porgram @command{truncater}, that was installed to
@file{/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). In the previous, C, program it supported
UTF-8 by assumming that bytes do not match @code{10xxxxxx} and only those bytes were
visible. This now fixed internally in Python, but has also been improved to exclude
combining characters from the set of visible characters. Another difference is that
the background colours are not reset, instead ASNI colours after the truncation point
are still printed.


@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; 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 @command{cowsay}, it is also similar to shell, but also supports hash tables.

However since version 2.0 we were trying to move from all there languages and only
use Python 3, which as been accomplished in version 2.1.


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

To make it easier to write auto-completion for shells, @command{ponysay} supports
the two options @option{--onelist}, @option{++onelist} and @option{--quoters},
which has no short versions.

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

Executing @command{ponysay ++onelist} will list every available extra (non-MLP:FiM)
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 limits the ponies to those that have quotes. Ponies that have quotes,
but does not exist, i.e. does not have a .pony-file, are not listed.

Auto-completion scripts should not suggest these options.


@node Universal Character Set
@section Universal Character Set
@cindex universal character set
@cindex ucs
@cindex unicode
@cindex pony names

In earlier versions of @command{ponysay} only the output truncationed supported
Universal Character Set, though handcoded UTF-8 character counting. Now
@command{ponysay} lets Python decode the data, Python store all 31 bits of a
character in as one character, not in UTF-16 as some other languages does, this
means that the code is agnostic to the chararacter encoding. However in Unicode
6.1 their are four ranges of combining characters, these do not take up any
width in proper terminal, we therefore have a class in the code named @code{UCS}
that help us take them into consideration when determine the length of a string.

Some ponies have names that contain non-ASCII characters, read about it in
@ref{Environment variables}. The UCS names are stored in the file @file{share/ucsmap},
in it lines that are not empty and does not start with a hash (@code{#}) are
parsed, and contains a UCS name and a ASCII:ised name. The UCS name comes first,
followed by the ASCII:ised name that the UCS name should replace or link towards.
The two names are separated by and simple left to right arrow character [U+2192],
optionally with surrounding white space.



@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 of the early Ponysay:
@url{https://github.com/maandree/unisay/tree/develop/dev/newponies}

There is a checklist named @file{pony-checklist} at the @file{dev/} directory. You
can use the check which ponies are added and which are not. Please update it when fit.
@*

New ponies can be created from regular images by using util-say, which is available
at @url{https://github.com/maandree/util-say}.
Prior to version 2.1 of @command{ponysay}, @command{img2xterm} could be used, by since
version 2.1 @command{ponysay} is using a new format that only util-say supports.
@command{img2xterm} (@url{https://github.com/rossy2401/img2xterm}) was used in the
early stage, 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 @command{img2ponysay}
@cartouche
@example
@code{img2ponysay -2 -- SOURCE_IMAGE > PONY_FILE}

@code{PONY}_FILE should end with @file{.pony} and be localed in @file{ponies/},
or @file{extraponies/} if the pony is not a MLP:FiM pony.

Omit @option{-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
@end cartouche

@*
@cindex util-say
@cindex .png
@cindex png images
@cindex images, png
@cindex portable network graphics
If you have util-say installed, which is required to build ponies, you can use PNG
files as argument the for @command{ponysay -f}, this requires that the file is named
@file{.png} at the end.

@cindex palette
@cindex xterm palette
@cindex pony palette
@cindex colour palette
The following @command{bash} code will print the palette the ponies (the terminals)
use:
@cartouche
@example
c=16
while ((c < 256)); do
    echo -en "\e[48;5;$@{c@}m  \e[49m"
    c=$(( $c + 1 ))
    if (( $(( c % 36 )) == 16 )); then
        echo
    fi
done; echo
@end example
@end cartouche

@*
For the palette to be correct, which is especially important when you draw ponies, you
must not redefine the colours in the range 16 to 255 (inclusive).

@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 @file{ponies/}, running @command{make -B ttyponies} will build
(or rebuild) all ttyponies with a pony present in @file{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}.

@cindex ponyquotes
@cindex quotes
Also when adding new ponies, please map them up in the file @file{ponyquotes/ponies}.
If the pony is a new pony without any other alternative image just add it to a new
line, without @file{.pony}, preferably in its alphabetical position. If the file is
a symlink add it to the same line as the target pony, and if the pony has and
alternative image add it the the same line as that pony. Ponies on the same line are
separated with a plus sign (@code{+}) without any white space. When a line is too
long for a file name (this has happened to Pinkie Pie [@file{pinkie}],) it must be
split into multiple lines, these lines should have their first pony file in common.



@node Distributing
@chapter Distributing
@cindex distributing ponysay
@cindex package maintaining
@cindex OS package maintaining
@cindex maintaining OS package
@cindex fhs
@cindex filesystem hierarchy standard

If you are planning on maintaining @command{ponysay} in your favourite operating
system you should first read @ref{Required runtime dependencies} and
@ref{Optional runtime dependencies}. If your OS does not follow Filesystem Hierarchy
Standard (FHS), e.g. installing amusement binaries in @file{/usr/games} instread of
@file{/usr/bin} or only supporting @file{/opt} equivalent directories you should
read about configurations in @ref{Custom installations}.

Apart from this, you should configure @command{ponysay} before building it with the
option @option{--everything}. Otherwise only the @command{info} manual and the
English manpage will be installed for documentation.

Please inform us about your distribution so we can list it so everypony can see it.



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


@heading Version 2.4

Nothing worth mentioning.


@heading Version 2.3

@itemize @bullet
@item
Support for @file{best.pony} file.
@item
@option{-q} accepts file names.
@item
Improved Unicode support: treats combining characters as invisible.
@item
Optional support for UCS pony names.
@item
Pony files and balloon style files can be pipes (as well as sockets, doors
and as always regular files.)
@item
Support cowsay style message compression.
@item
New ponies: @file{blaze}
@item
New extraponies: @file{fyrefly} (Tumblr), @file{surprise} (Tumblr), @file{woona}
(moonstuck), @file{woonanohat} (moonstuck)
@item
Pony symlink added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @file{pinkieoink} → @file{oinkoinkoink}
@end itemize
@item
Support for non-MLP:FiM ponies (known as extraponies).
@c BEGIN the following is too descriptive for the plain/text change log
This is implemented with the options @option{-F}, @option{+l}, and @option{+L}
corresponding to @option{-f}, @option{-l}, and @option{-L}.
@c END
@end itemize


@heading Version 2.2

@itemize @bullet
@item
Full support for arbitrary positioning of balloon in pony files.
@item
ANSI colour sequences in pony files are applied only to the pony image,
not the balloon link or the balloon itself.
@item
Support for colours in the message.
@item
Support custom balloon styles using the option @option{-b}, @option{-B} will list
all available. This list depends on whether you are invoking @command{ponysay}
or @command{ponythink}
@end itemize


@heading Version 2.1.1

Nothing worth mentioning.


@heading Version 2.1

@itemize @bullet
@item
@file{applebumkin} is renamed to @file{applebumpkin}.
@item
New ponies: @file{owlowiscious}, @file{purplehaze}
@item
Cowsay has be reimplemented, and have full Unicode support and support
for @command{figlet} style messages.
@item
Deleted environment variables: @env{PONYSAY_COWSAY}, @env{PONYSAY_COWTHINK}
@item
You will need Python 3, but not GNU Bash, Perl or Cowsay.
@item
New .pony file format is used:
@c BEGIN the following is too descriptive for the plain/text change log
@command{unisay}'s format instead of @command{cowsay}'s Perl based format.
This includes arbitrary position of balloon, mirrored balloon links, and
minimum size of balloon.
@c END
@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: @file{forestspirit}, @file{hollydash}, @file{raggedy}, @file{rhyme}
@item
@file{sindy} is renamed to @file{powderrouge}.
Pony symlink added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @file{sindy} → @file{powderrouge}
@end itemize
@item
@option{PREFIX=/some-dir} can be used when invoking @command{make},
the default value is @file{/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 @file{mrsparkle} → @file{nightlight}
@item @file{elsie} → @file{prettyvision}
@end itemize
@item
New ponies: @file{ace}, @file{blueblood}, @file{filthyrich}, @file{gingergold},
@file{hayfever}, @file{highscore}, @file{junebug}, @file{mrsparkle},
@file{persnickety}, @file{ponet}, @file{screwloose}, @file{tornadobolt}.
@item
@file{elsie} is renamed to @file{prettyvision}.
@item
@cindex @option{-f}
Arbitrary spaces in @option{-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
@file{/usr/lib/ponysay} is used instead of @file{/usr/bin} for code used by the
main script.
@item
@file{~/.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 @file{amethyststar} → @file{sparkler}
@item @file{berrypinch} → @file{ruby}
@item @file{craftycrate} → @file{boxxy}
@item @file{magnum} → @file{raritysdad}
@item @file{pearl} → @file{raritysmom}
@item @file{powderrouge} → @file{sindy}
@item @file{royalribbo} → @file{violet}
@end itemize
@item
@w{New ponies:} @file{blossomforth}, @file{bonvoyage}, @file{cadance},
@file{celestiasmall}, @file{changelingqueen}, @file{cherryberry},
@file{discordamused}, @file{discordpuppetmaster}, @file{fleurdelishair},
@file{fleurdelislay}, @file{owl}, @file{perrypierce}, @file{petunia},
@file{pinacolada}, @file{skyra}, @file{truffleshuffle}.
@item
Pony spelling removed: @file{fillycadence}.
@item
Pony symlink change: @file{perry} → @{@file{pokey} → @file{perrypierce}@}.
@item
@cindex @option{-L}
Option @option{-L} added, lists ponies with symlink mapping.
@item
Support for extension: ponyquotes4ponysay.
@item
@cindex @option{-f}
Accepts arbitrary spaces in @option{-f} argument.
@end itemize


@heading Version 1.0

@itemize @bullet
@item
Spanish translation of the manpage is added.
@item
@w{New ponies:} @file{applecore}, @file{applejackscarecrow}, @file{bonbonstand},
@file{changeling}, @file{chrysalis}, @file{cottoncloudy}, @file{diamondmint},
@file{discord}, @file{fillycadence}, @file{flam}, @file{fleurdelis}, @file{flim},
@file{fluttershyshy}, @file{fluttershystare}, @file{lyrasit}, @file{oinkoinkoink}
(is pinkie), @file{philomenaphoenix}, @file{pinkiecannon}, @file{pinkiecannonfront},
@file{pinkiecannonhappy}, @file{pinkiegummy}, @file{pinkiehugfluttershy},
@file{pinkiehugsfluttershy}, @file{pinkiepartycannon}, @file{pinkieprincess},
@file{pinkiesilly}, @file{pinkietongue}, @file{pinkiewhoops}, @file{pinkiewhoopseat},
@file{pinkiewhoopsout}, @file{rainbowdrag}, @file{rainbowsalute}, @file{rainbowshine},
@file{raritydrama}, @file{shiningarmor}, @file{shiningarmorguard}, @file{snowflake},
@file{spikemustache}, @file{stevenmagnet}, @file{stevenmagnettrue},
@file{twilightcrazyfromball}, @file{twilightrage}, @file{twilightzero},
@file{wildfire}.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @file{djpon-3} → @file{vinyl}
@item @file{fillycadance} → @file{fillycadence}
@item @file{horsepower} → @file{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 @file{/usr/share} to
@file{/usr/share/ponysay} and @file{~} to @file{~/.ponysay}.
@item
Pony symlinks added:
@itemize @bullet
@item @file{carrottop} → @file{carrot}
@item @file{goldenharvest} → @file{carrot}
@item @file{harpass} → @file{lyra}
@item @file{heartstrings} → @file{lyra}
@item @file{lulamoon} → @file{trixie}
@item @file{minuette} → @file{colgate}
@item @file{noteworthy} → @file{blues}
@item @file{perry} → @file{pokey}
@item @file{pokeypierce} → @file{pokey}
@item @file{timeturner} → @file{doctornohat}
@item @file{trixielulamoon} → @file{trixie}
@item @file{twilightvelvet} → @file{mrssparkle}
@end itemize
@item
Support for truncating output on height, enabled by default under TTY.
@item
Environment variables added: @env{PONYSAY_FULL_WIDTH}, @env{PONYSAY_SHELL_LINES},
@env{PONYSAY_TRUNCATE_HEIGHT}, @env{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}: @file{allie}, @file{archer}, @file{boxxy}, @file{carecake},
@file{cupcake}, @file{daringdo}, @file{davenport}, @file{fancypants},
@file{ironwillwalk}, @file{lily}, @file{lunafly}, @file{maredowellfly},
@file{maredowellgallop}, @file{master}, @file{mjolna}, @file{orange},
@file{raritysdad}, @file{raritysmom}, @file{royalnightguard}, @file{ruby},
@file{sparkler}, @file{violet}.
@end itemize


@heading Version 0.8

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

@b{Note}: Identifies itself as version 0.7


@heading Version 0.7

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


@heading Version 0.6

@itemize @bullet
@item
@w{New ponies:} @file{bonbon}, @file{celestia}, @file{doctor}, @file{fillistia},
@file{spitfire}, @file{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
@file{.cow} files are removed.
@item
@cindex @option{-W}
Support for @option{-W} option.
@item
Select random pony if not specified.
@item
@cindex @option{-f}
@option{-f} supports file names, and not only pony names.
@end itemize


@heading Version 0.3

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


@heading Version 0.2

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


@heading Version 0.1

First release.

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