[WORK IN PROGRESS] Quick setup

[cashmere <bbs@bbs.copland.systems>]

# Registration

Register on <https://bbs.copland.systems/register>. Your username must be at least 6 characters long and may only contain `a-z`, `0-9`, `-`, `_` and `.`. Registration gives you the **local** rank automatically: you can read everything and submit forum posts for moderation.

# Clone

Clone the repository. Replace `USERNAME` with the exact name you registered with:

```sh
fossil clone https://USERNAME@bbs.copland.systems bbs.fossil
```

The `USERNAME@` part matters: it makes your local clone use your registered name for everything you create. Without it, your changes would be authored under your operating system username, and that wrong name stays in the history forever. You do not need to wait for approval before cloning.

Fossil will ask for your password during the clone. Say yes when it asks to remember it, so later syncs will not ask again.

# Start UI

Start the local UI:

```sh
fossil ui bbs.fossil
```

Note: the local UI always shows you with full powers, including user administration. That is normal and only affects your own clone. Ranks are enforced on the server, never locally.

Make your changes through the local UI: forum posts, wiki pages, your profile page under `users/USERNAME`. Everything works offline.

# Push changes

Push your changes upstream:

```sh
fossil sync -R bbs.fossil
```

If your account has not been approved yet, this answers with `Error: not authorized to write`. That is expected and harmless: nothing is lost, your work stays in your local clone. Ask the sysop to approve you to the **wired** rank, then run the same command again.

As **wired** you can publish forum posts immediately, create and edit wiki pages, use chat and push your changes upstream.

# Troubleshooting

If anything ever feels out of sync between your local name and your registered name: do not try to fix it on the server. Delete your clone and clone again as described in **Clone**.

-- 
https://bbs.copland.systems/forumpost/6dffe14adb