response 17 of 24:

May 10 23:59 UTC 2018

resp:16 Re. FT, I think you're right. Re. compile options, I will continue
experimenting. I should figure out how to run Apache on my Slackware box so
I can try out options that require root authorization.

To summarize what I have found for others who are experiencing crashes on the
BT web interface and/or FT from the shell (`bbs`) not remembering which items
you've read: BT and FT are having file permission-related problems when
trying to save or read user status data. It's not yet clear whether this is
a code problem or a configuration problem, but there is a work-around:

1. Rename or delete the subdirectory .cfdir in your home directory. If 
renaming, the new name can be anything other than ".cfdir". If deleting 
you will have to first delete all the files in the subdirectory or use 
`rm -rf`. If your .cfdir subdirectory contains the files .cflist and/or 
.cfonce, you might want to save copies of them in order to restore your 
conference hotlist and configuration.

2. Choose one interface, shell or web, and stick with it. If you want to 
access the conferences from your shell account (with the command `bbs`), 
do not log in to the web interface (though you can still read 
conferences on the web in anonymous mode). If you want to participate in 
conferences via the web, do not use the shell interface.

3. If you choose the shell interface, run `bbs` and read at least one 
item in the Agora conference then quit. FT will automatically (re)create 
subdirectory .cfdir in your home directory. If you saved copies of 
.cflist and/or .cfonce in step 1., copy/move them into your new .cfdir 
subdirectory to restore your hotlist and FT configuration.

4. If you choose the web interface, open the web page, log in, and use 
the system as normal. If you had a hotlist, you will have to recreate 
it.

Other than having to give up one of the conference interfaces, the 
biggest draw-back to the workaround is that your reading history will be 
lost and you will have to catch-up on all the old conferences.