From: root@valis.uucp (Kevin ROOT Fluet) Subject: Re: BBS Development for Linux Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1993 11:53:47 GMT
root@jacobs.jacobs.mn.org (Mike Horwath) writes:
>Actually, Any working BBS for linux would be good. I know, I know, waffle
>is a good thing, but I don't have $120 to spend at this time, and the rest
>all suck, or don't compile for shit and I am sick and tired of working on
>different ones.
I feel the same way. Waffle for DOS is a good deal ($40 for binaries, $120
for sources), but the unix deal kinda sucks. The DOS sources include code
for uucp, mail, news, etc. The unix sources are much smaller because the
unix Waffle uses Cnews, smail, etc. $120 worth? I think not.
I have been using xbbs for quite a while now, but it doesn't have very good
handling for downloading files (you have to manually enter file names into a
special index so people can download them). Up 'till now, I have given
users a shell account so that they can download files easily, but many users
find a unix shell prompt _very_ intimidating.
I have just begun my own BBS project, using Perl. Perl (for those who don't
know) is a language that is a little easier to program than C, and unlike
shell scripts, can be run setuid root without generating huge security
holes.
What kind of features are most bbs operators looking for in a bbs package?
I am most interested in having a basic menu-driven user interface that is
(1) secure (2) uses already installed software such as nn, tin, elm, etc.
for news and mail (3) very easy to customize (modular) and (4) allows easy
downloading of files.
-- Kevin
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Kevin Fluet Call V.A.L.I.S. Public Access Linux
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kevin%valis.uucp@scapa.CS.ualberta.ca kevin@valis.uucp
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