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Text File | 1990-11-05 | 16.4 KB | 275 lines

THE HISTORY BEHIND RBBS-PC 26-1 26. THE HISTORY BEHIND RBBS-PC ------------------------------ Electronic bulletin board systems have been around ever since personal computers existed. The first ones were very primitive and usually consisted of some posted notices and maybe allowed for on-line messages. It must be remembered that the IBM PC was only announced in August of 1981 and first became available in October of 1981. Therefore it is not surprising that the early history of BBS' is associated with non-IBM personal computers. The "early history" of bulletin board systems began around 1978 in Chicago with the CBBS/Chicago (Computerized Bulletin Board System/Chicago). It was created by Ward Christensen and Randy Suess -- members of the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyist Exchange (CACHE). CBBS for the CP/M is written in 8080 Assembler language (11,000 lines of it) and, like the early versions of RBBS-PC (i.e. prior to 12.5A), detects the baud rate and the parity of the user when he first signs on from the three carriage returns that the user must enter. About the same time, Bill Abney wrote a BBS for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Models I and II called Forum-80. The earliest BBS was written for the Apple (who else had personal computers in those days?) called the "Apple Bulletin Board System" (ABBS). It was written by Craig Vaughn and Bill Blue. They later created another bulletin board system for the Apple II called the People's Message System (PMS). Another Apple bulletin board system that came into being was for the Apple II, II+, and IIE as well as the Franklin Ace and it was called the CommuniTree. It was written in the FORTH language by Dean Gengle and several others. When IBM announced its first personal computer, the IBM PC, in August of 1981, there was no BBS for it. In the summer of 1982, Brad Hanson found a prototype version written by Russ Lane in IBM's BASIC on David Crane's Dallas RCP/M\CBBS system. Brad added many fixes and modifications. In the first half of 1983, many members of the Capital PC Users Group's Communication Special Interest Group (SIG) such as Larry Jordan, Rich Schinnell, Gary Horwith, Jim Fry, Scot Loftesness, and Dorn Stickle further enhanced it and added XMODEM file transfer capability until it became known as RBBS-PC CPC09 in May of 1983. At that time each feature or modification was identified by a new version number; it still ran only under the BASIC interpreter; and was both relatively slow (because of the interpreter) and somewhat unstable (it would normally "crash" at least once each day). In June of 1983, Tom Mack received a copy of RBBS-PC CPC09 from Rich Schinnell. Tom's efforts were instrumental in making RBBS-PC what it is today - the industry-standard PC-based BBS software. Other contributors have come and gone, but Tom's contribution to RBBS-PC can never be matched. RBBS-PC's impact has been to open an entirely new medium of communications between people. Rather than as an end in and of itself, RBBS-PC has come to serve as a means to an end -- the free exchange of ideas. On a technical level it is certainly an example that shows "real programmers can/do program in BASIC." We would like to think that RBBS-PC had something to do with IBM and Microsoft coming out with new versions of the BASIC compiler that support communications, sub-routines, local and global variables, file-locking in a networking environment, etc. RBBS-PC 17.3A TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL 26-2 RBBS-PC represents a fundamental cornerstone, not just a phase, in what can be viewed as a "social renaissance." RBBS-PC eliminates those barriers that had previously inhibited the "exchange" of information within our society. RBBS-PC provides every personal computer owner with his own "soap-box" in a national Hyde Park. Previously the channels of communication had built-in barriers to "exchange"; with RBBS-PC those barriers begin to cease to exist. While only the most fanatical RBBS-PC trivia experts may be interested, here is the chronology: RBBS-PC Initial Major Enhancements Version Release Number Date 10.0 07/04/83 RBBS-PC first written to be compilable by IBM's BASIC compiler, version 1.0 11.0 08/10/83 RBBS-PC restructured so that all parameters were external (i.e. in the RBBS-PC.DEF) allowing SysOps who didn't want to spend the $300 for the BASIC compiler to tailor RBBS-PC to their taste. CONFIG.BAS was first written to generate RBBS-PC.DEF. 11.1 09/15/83 Jon Martin contributed UTSPACE.OBJ, a sub-routine that allowed the compiled version of RBBS-PC to determine the amount of free space available for uploading. 11.2 10/01/83 The error trapping within RBBS-PC was completely re- written to be more comprehensive. 12.0 10/28/83 Tree-structured file directories and the ability to detect that RBBS-PC was in a "MultiLink" environment were incorporated. "MultiLink" is a product of the Software Link, Inc. which allows DOS 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, 3.0 and 3.1 to be "multi-tasking." 12.1 12/18/83 The ability for a SysOp who signed on remotely to drop (Versions into DOS was added. Also the "New" command was added "A" to "F")that allowed users to determine what new files had been made available since the last time they were on. 12.2 04/08/84 The security system designed by Ken Goosens was incorporated. 12.3 11/11/84 Up to nine RBBS-PCs can share the same files in either a multi-tasking DOS environment (i.e. MultiLink from the Software Link, Inc.) or in a local area network environment (i.e. Corvus or Orchid). 12.4 03/10/85 (Version A, A1, B) RBBS-PC's stature in the industry became recognized when, RBBS-PC was granted a license by Microcom to incorporate their proprietary MNP protocol. "RBBS-PC compatibility" became a minimum criteria for the introduction of products by many companies. RBBS-PC introduces 300/1200/2400 BAUD support in 12.4A before most such modems were generally available. THE HISTORY BEHIND RBBS-PC 26-3 12.5 07/14/85 (Versions A and B). 36 copies of RBBS-PC could share the same files in a network environment. RBBS-PC automatically answers the phone and no longer requires each caller to enter up to 3 carriage returns in order for RBBS-PC to detect the users baud rate and parity. Logon to RBBS-PC has been made much more efficient with the USERS file no longer being searched sequentially and the MESSAGES file no longer being read three times. Version 12.5B, released August 25, 1985, WAS THE LAST VERSION COMPILABLE BY VERSION 1.0 OF THE IBM BASIC COMPILER! 13.1 12/01/85 IBM BASIC compiler and Microsoft's QuickBASIC Version 1.0 supported. XMODEM with CRC was added as a file-transfer protocol as well as the ability to display on the color monitor of the PC running RBBS-PC the color/graphics that the remote user sees exactly as he sees them. 14.1 03/16/86 (Versions A, B, C, and D) RBBS-PC's internal structure was split into two parts - RBBS-BAS for the main-line source code and logic, and a RBBS-SUB.BAS for commonly called subroutines. Support for on-line questionnaires, auto-downloading, and the KERMIT protocol were also included as well as the option to utilize assembly language subroutines to increase for better performance over their BASIC counterparts. 15.1 03/15/87 File Management System for directories added. User subscription management added. The ability to run as a local application on a network, configurable command letters, the ability to use any field or to define a new field to identify callers, the ability to individuate callers having the same ID, multiple uploads on a single command line, new A)nswer and V)erbose ARC list commands, context sensitive help, and a new subsystem for software "libraries". 16.1 03/27/88 (Version A) Major enhancements included the addition of "sub-boards" (i.e. conferences with their own bulletins, file areas, menus etc.), a programmable user interface, the capability to have SysOp-written "sub-menus" for any command, the ability to hang off of a public data network such as Compuserve's as a "node", the incorporation of "personal downloads" (i.e. files only specific individuals could list/download), the ability to vary the amount of time a user has on the system by the time of day the user logs on, the capability of preventing any message (public or private) from being read until the SysOp has reviewed it, an enhanced CONFIG utility with many more options, XMODEM/1K protocol built-in to RBBS-PC's main-line source code, the ability to automatically add users to conferences, and support for The Software Link's MultiLink Version 4.0. Despite all these enhancements, the BASIC RBBS-PC code was significantly enhanced such that it only requires 268K to run -- allowing two copies to run in multi-tasking DOS environments that have 640K available. RBBS-PC 17.3A TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL 26-4 17.1 10/02/88 (Versions A, B, C, and D). Major enhancements were made in the System Support area, and the support for up to eight communications ports; built-in interfaces to external communications drivers such as a FOSSIL driver; automatic notification of the SysOp when specific users log on; improved automatic invocation of other applications based on time of day; and SysOp-selectable time delays that users must wait before being able to download or exit to a door. RBBS-PC's unique programmable user interface (PUI) was enhanced to support "macros" (i.e. use a single command to invoke any number of RBBS-PC commands); SysOp-selectable colors for all prompts and messages (i.e. "colorization"); caller-selectable "colorization" for text (i.e. color, bold or normal, highlighting of text, etc.); and personalized text files (i.e. text files that can dynamically adapt to include information unique to each caller). The messaging within RBBS-PC was enhanced to notify each caller that logs on of the number of new messages and how many are addressed to the caller for the conferences to which the caller belongs. The text editor function for messages was enhanced to allow any character to be edited. RBBS- PC's standard "threaded" message search now also scans the text of the messages for matches. The RBBS-PC file subsystem was also significantly enhanced to include an unlimited number of installable protocols; batch downloading for such protocols that support this (i.e. Zmodem, Megalink, and Sealink); and control of callers ability to download based on either the number of characters or the ratio of the callers downloads to uploads. 17.2 05/28/89 (Versions A-B). Major enhancements consisted of increased flexibility in invoking external applications (i.e. "DOORS"), on-line questionnaires, RBBS-PC command "macros", the integration (using the enhanced questionnaires and "macros") of on-line data base facilities into RBBS-PC, as well as extended support in RBBS-PC's file system to support ANY file compaction technique (i.e. .ARC, .ZOO, .ZIP, etc.) -- including allowing on-line users to list text files that have been included within a compacted file. RBBS-PC's "NETMAIL" interface to store and forward messaging systems (i.e. FIDO MAIL, etc.) was enhanced. Within the messaging subsystem numerous enhancements were added including the ability to quote all or part of a message that the caller was replying to. RBBS- PC's file subsystem was improved to allow the system to be configured such that all uploads were automatically checked/verified (by whatever utility the SysOp wanted to use). RBBS-PC commitment to the concept of "users helping users" was demonstrated once again with the incorporation of support for the Computalker and HEARSAY 1000 speech boards so that seeing-impaired SysOps could hear (in a meaningful way) the activity occurring on their RBBS-PC bulletin boards. THE HISTORY BEHIND RBBS-PC 26-5 17.3 02/11/90 (versions 17.3 & 17.3A) Fast File Search: sub-second file name looks for over 32,000 downloadable files; up to 10,098 downloadable areas. Variable names were changed to MicroSoft standard format using upper and lower case letters only, and no internal dots. Some 50 bugs were fixed. News facility added. Universal command stacking. Default extension on file requests. Enhanced macros and SmartText. Defaults added for multiple modems. Support for 38,400 baud through Fossil driver.