yDecode
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| yDecode | |
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 yDecode screenshot |
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| Developed by | yDecode |
| Latest release | 1.62 / December 26, 2007 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows |
| Genre | Network Utility |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | http://www.ydecode.com |
yDecode is a NNTP proxy server for the Windows operating system. yDecode works in the background and converts yEnc[1] encoded attachments to UU encoded attachments on the fly. It also automatically joins multipart posts into a single part post. This way popular news readers like Outlook Express or Windows Mail get additional functionality.
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[edit] Overview
yDecode is an application that works as an intermediate between a news reader client (e.g. Outlook Express) and news server, therefore similar in technical functionality to proxy server software. However, this is not its main purpose - it recognizes and decodes yEnc messages and converts them into UU format which is then sent to a newsreader. The proxy mechanism is chosen purely for compatibility reasons so that it could be applied to any news reader. Even though yDecode can be installed on any computer and accessed from another computer usually it is installed on a computer where a newsreader resides and accessed via localhost address.
While some newsreaders have native yEnc support, some of the most popular ones don't and yDecode has been designed to enable a user to continue using his preferred news client rather than switching to a new one. It supports automatic configuration of Outlook Express and Windows Mail, but works with any other newsreader.
[edit] Features
yDecode has the following features:
- Decodes yEnc encoded attachments and sends them to client as UU encoded
- Allows news client to download all parts of a multipart post as if it was a single article
- Saves attachments automatically to a user chosen folder
- Monitoring of connections
- Supports SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) connections
- Automatic progress indicator for single or multipart posts
- Built-in automatic configuration and testing of Outlook Express or Windows Mail accounts
- Support for Windows Vista
It has been successfully tested with the following popular newsreaders:
- Outlook Express
- Windows Mail
- Mozilla Thunderbird
- Agent (older versions that doesn't support yEnc)
- Netscape News
[edit] History
First version of yDecode was released in 2004 and had a basic functionality as a yEnc decoder. Since then it has been gradually improved and simplified.
In version 1.3 an automatic multipart joiner has been added. In the following releases this feature has been made more compatible with the majority of newsgroup posts.
Today, yDecode is one of the most popular yEnc decoders and is being recommended by some of the largest Usenet providers like Giganews[2], Uncensored Newsfeeds[3] and others.
[edit] How yDecode works
yDecode stands in-between newsgroups server and a newsreader. It is installed usually on a computer that also runs a newsreader and must be running when newsgroups are accessed.
Once a newsreader connects, it redirects all the NNTP commands to the server and awaits for a response. When the response comes, yDecode analyzes and modifies the traffic. The main issues it works with are yEnc attachments and multipart split posts.
yEnc attachments are converted to standardized UU format which most newsreaders can easily decode and display. Multipart download support simplifies downloading big posts that are split into many parts on news servers. yDecode allows any news client to download all parts as if it was a single article.
