Re: Those that call the Apple 2 BBS

[Chris Morse <chris@sorry.no.spam.com>]

On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 18:39:55 -0500, Lockar <lockar@nospam.com> wrote:

>
>   For those that are still calling the Apple II BBSes that are still
>up, what are you calling them.  What are these BBSes doing?  Internet,
>Online Text Games, Message boards, Apple II/Apple //gs files?

Right now there's not really any Apple II specific BBS's up and
running.  WaZaBoo was up again recently, but he's run into a hardware
problem, as I understand.  Not sure when/if it will be back up.

>   My other half wants me to put up my BBS again, but I just not sure
>what people would execpt from it.  I mean I can do the message boards,
>some online text games, and files.  But I can not offer an access
>to/though the internet.

I assume this would be a dialup BBS.. Right?  That's about all that
would be expected from a dialup.

>  Also what are you guys using.  GBBS Pro, Anet (that's what I used
>when I had a BBS), Spitfire, Alpha BBS, Metal (Is metal hard to setup.
>ANET was really easy) or Lets Talk BBS.

Well, first, it's good to see someone else interested in setting up a
BBS.  I am myself getting ready to set up a BBS.  What I am using,
though, is a completely new internet-only telnet BBS system that I
have been writing from the ground up.  Once it's ready for public use,
I will probably let others use the software.  It's got features that I
think would be appreciated in this time/age..

  - Classic "Retro" BBS type system
  - Message Boards (but not 1,000 of them!)
  - File Upload/Download Area
  - MULTI-USER (including multi-user online chat system)

+ other "entertainment" type stuff.. like a quote under the menu that
any logged in user can modify, a voting booth, system news area, user
list, and anything else I can think of..

Here's my current "Main Menu" for the BBS.. It's still being worked
on..  Not very fancy... just something to start with..

[+]-----------------------------------------------------------------[+]
 |                                                                   |
 |                        Apple II Forever BBS                       |
 |                                                                   |
[+]-----------------------------------------------------------------[+]
 |                                                                   |
 |             (M)essage Bases                (A)ccount Info         |
 |             (F)ile Area                    (U)ser List            |
 |             (G)ame Area                    (W)ho's Online         |
 |             (V)oting Area                  (N)ews                 |
 |             (C)hat System                                         |
 |                                                                   |
 |             (Q)uit/Disconnect              (?) Main Menu          |
 |                                                                   |
[+]-----------------------------------------------------------------[+]


I think that since today's BBS's (esp Apple II related) are so few, it
makes sense to have one that lets the users communicate as easily as
possible.  I hope to run the BBS for a couple months and gather users,
and then start hosting monthly "user-group meetings" in the online
chat system.

You can see what the server app looks like here:
  http://www.cosmicwolf.com/AppleII/AppleII.htm

When you connect, this is what it displays:

--- BEGIN TELNET SESSION ----
[TELNET] CONNECT (cms-home/192.168.1.100)
*
* AppleNET: The Apple ][ BBS
*
* ... Where Apple ][ Users Hang Out!
*
* Enter 'NEW' to create a new account.
* Enter 'LOST' if you forgot your password.
* If you see double, lay off the booze and/or disable Local Echo.
*

Username:chris
Password:******

User 'chris' Logged in at Friday, January 09, 2004 @ 11:56:13 AM

       Last Login: 1/8/2004 8:06:29 PM (0 Minutes)
      Login Count: 4
    Total Minutes: 0
            Posts: 0


There are currently 1 users online.

Press [ENTER] To Continue:              
--- END TELNET SESSION ----

If you've lost your password, you can enter "LOST", and get this:

----
Username:lost

[LOST PASSWORD RECOVERY]

In order to recover your password, you must know either your account
name or the email address you supplied when you registered.  Once
found, we can send you an email with your current password.

  Enter 'E' to enter your registered e-mail address
        'N' to enter your account name
        'Q' to Quit/Abort

Enter Method (E/N/Q):
----

New users currently get this:

----
Username:new

[NEW USER REGISTRATION]

  Welcome!

  In order to login you must have a valid user account.  Accounts and
  Access is FREE but you must be validated first.  The validation
  process is automated using e-mail, so you will need a valid e-mail
  account.

Continue With New User Registration? (Y/N):   
----

Also, if you know Visual Basic .NET or C# (or any .NET language for
that matter), you can easily build extensions to the system (new
games, for example.. even multi-user).


>    Is GBBS and Let's Talk BBS still comerical?

No Idea!

>    Thanks!
>
>   -Lockar

Cheers!

// CHRIS