This is a list of notable bulletin board system (BBS) software packages.BBS Software Listing Jason Scott, 2005.
Multi-platform
*
Citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
– originally written for the CP/M operating system, had many
fork
In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from la, furca 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods ei ...
s for different systems under different names.
*
CONFER
The abbreviation ''cf.'' (short for the la, confer/conferatur, both meaning "compare") is used in writing to refer the reader to other material to make a comparison with the topic being discussed. Style guides recommend that ''cf.'' be used onl ...
Unix
Unix (; trademarked as UNIX) is a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems that derive from the original AT&T Unix, whose development started in 1969 at the Bell Labs research center by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and ot ...
and CONFER V on
VAX/VMS
OpenVMS, often referred to as just VMS, is a multi-user, multiprocessing and virtual memory-based operating system. It is designed to support time-sharing, batch processing, transaction processing and workstation applications. Customers using Ope ...
, written by Robert Parnes starting in 1975.
*
Mystic BBS {{Infobox software
, name = Mystic BBS
, author = James Coyle
, developer =
, released =
, latest preview version =
, latest preview date =
, latest release version = 1.12 A47
...
– written by James Coyle with versions for Windows/Linux/ARM Linux/OSX. Past versions: MS-DOS and OS/2.
*
Synchronet
Synchronet is a multiplatform BBS software package, with current ports for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and BSD variants. Past versions also ran on MS-DOS and OS/2, but support for those platforms were dropped in version 3.0 (circa 2000).
History
S ...
– Windows/Linux/BSD, past versions: MS-DOS and OS/2.
*
WWIV
WWIV was a popular brand of bulletin board system software from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. The modifiable source code allowed a sysop to customize the main BBS program for their particular needs and aesthetics. WWIV also allowed tens ...
– WWIV v5.x is supported on both Windows 7+ 32bit as well as Linux 32bit and 64bit. Written by Wayne Bell, included
WWIVNet
WWIVnet was a Bulletin board system (BBS) network for WWIV-based BBSes. It was created by Wayne Bell (computer specialist), Wayne Bell on December 1, 1987.Altos 68000
*
PicoSpan
Picospan was a popular computer conferencing tool written by Marcus D. Watts for the Altos 68000. It was written in 1983 for M-Net, which was owned and operated by Mike Myers. Sometime in 1984, Marcus's employer, an Ann Arbor company called Netwo ...
Amiga
Amiga is a family of personal computers introduced by Commodore in 1985. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16- or 32-bit processors, 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphi ...
based
* Ami-Express – aka " /X", very popular in the crackers/warez software scene.
* C-Net – aka "Cnet"
Apple II series
The Apple II series (trademarked with square brackets as "Apple ] ''" and rendered on later models as "Apple //") is a family of home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primaril ...
*
Diversi-Dial
Diversi-Dial, or DDial was an online chat server that was popular during the mid-1980s. It was a specialized type of bulletin board system that allowed all callers to send lines of text to each other in real-time, often operating at 300 baud. ...
(DDial) – Chat-room atmosphere supporting up to 7 incoming lines allowing links to other DDial boards.
*
GBBS
GBBS is a bulletin board system (BBS) program for the Apple II. Its first series, named GBBS, was written in Applesoft and used by boards such as Demon Roach Underground in Lubbock, Texas Its successor, GBBS Pro, was ACOS-based. GBBS-Pro ...
– Applesoft and assembler-based BBS program by Greg Schaeffer.
*
GBBS Pro
GBBS is a bulletin board system (BBS) program for the Apple II. Its first series, named GBBS, was written in Applesoft and used by boards such as Demon Roach Underground in Lubbock, Texas Its successor, GBBS Pro, was ACOS-based. GBBS-Pro ...
– based on the ACOS or MACOS (modified ACOS) language.
*
Networks II
Networks II is an Apple II-based single-tasking BBS package, written by Nick Naimo. It is one of the earlier BBS software programs to be written for the Apple II, which was at the time dominated by mini and mainframe-based BBS', including CBBS ...
– by Nick Naimo.
* SBBS – Sonic BBS by Patrick Sonnek.
Apple Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and software en ...
*
Citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
– including Macadel, MacCitadel.
*
FirstClass
FirstClass is a client–server groupware, email, online conferencing, voice and fax services, and bulletin-board system for Windows, macOS, and Linux. FirstClass's primary markets are the higher-education and K-12 education sectors, including ...
(SoftArc)
*
Hermes
Hermes (; grc-gre, Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orato ...
*
Second Sight
Extrasensory perception or ESP, also called sixth sense, is a claimed paranormal ability pertaining to reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses, but sensed with the mind. The term was adopted by Duke Universit ...
*
TeleFinder
TeleFinder is a Macintosh-based bulletin-board system written by Spider Island Software, based on a client–server model whose client end provides a Mac-like GUI. It appears to be the first such system on any platform, predating Apple's own AppleL ...
Atari 8-bit computer
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE ...
*
Atari Message Information System
The Atari Message Information System (AMIS) was one of the first BBS (Bulletin Board System) software packages available for the Atari 8-bit family of computers. It was known to crash pretty often and could not be left unattended for more than a ...
– and derivatives
Commodore computer
Commodore International (other names include Commodore International Limited) was an American home computer and electronics manufacturer founded by Jack Tramiel. Commodore International (CI), along with its subsidiary Commodore Business Mach ...
Superboard
Ohio Scientific Inc. (also known as Ohio Scientific Instruments) was an Ohio-based computer company that built and marketed microcomputers from 1975 to 1981. Their best-known products were the Challenger series of microcomputers and Superboard si ...
– by Greg Francis and Randy Schnedler.
* C*Base – by Gunther Birznieks, Jerome P. Yoner, and David Weinehall.
*
C-Net DS2
C-Net DS2 (Developers System, Second Generation) was a full featured, single-line, bulletin board system (BBS) software system released in 1986 for the Commodore 64 microcomputer. The DS2 system was notable in that its authors proved that it wa ...
– by Jim Selleck.
*
Color64
Color64 is a computer BBS system that was very popular for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. It was written by Greg Pfountz. Color64 was advanced for its time. The I/O was all written in machine language. It was also composed in modules, each wr ...
– by Greg Pfountz.
* McBBS – by Derek E. McDonald.
*
Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus (; , , possibly meaning "forethought")Smith"Prometheus". is a Titan god of fire. Prometheus is best known for defying the gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, know ...
– by Martin Brückner.
CP/M
CP/M, originally standing for Control Program/Monitor and later Control Program for Microcomputers, is a mass-market operating system created in 1974 for Intel 8080/ 85-based microcomputers by Gary Kildall of Digital Research, Inc. Initial ...
Ward Christensen
Ward Christensen (born 1945 in West Bend, Wisconsin, United States) is the co-founder of the CBBS bulletin board, the first bulletin board system (BBS) ever brought online. Christensen, along with partner Randy Suess, members of the Chicago Area ...
.
*
Citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
*
Excalibur BBS
Excalibur BBS was a Windows-based GUI BBS software developed by Excalibur Communications. Released in 1993, it has not been supported since 1999, when Excalibur Communications ceased operations.
Client Software
Users connected to the BBS by ...
*
Maximus
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...
*
Mystic BBS {{Infobox software
, name = Mystic BBS
, author = James Coyle
, developer =
, released =
, latest preview version =
, latest preview date =
, latest release version = 1.12 A47
...
MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. Collectively, MS-DOS, its rebranding as IBM PC DOS, and a few ope ...
and compatible
*
Celerity BBS
Celerity BBS was a descendant of the freely distributed source of TCS BBS 1.43, and ultimately nearly completely rewritten.
Origin
It originally began as a project of Brendon Woirhaye (The Byter) and David Hicks (Moebius) in 1990 to quickly modif ...
*
Citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
– including DragCit, Cit86, TurboCit, Citadel+
* Ezycom – written by Peter Davies.
*
FBB (F6FBB)
FBB is a free and open source bulletin board system for packet transmissions of radio amateurs. Written in C programming language, it allows transmission of messages over the AX.25 packet radio network by VHF, PACTOR on HF and Internet. Origina ...
–
packet radio
In digital radio, packet radio is the application of packet switching techniques to digital radio communications. Packet radio uses a packet switching protocol as opposed to circuit switching or message switching protocols to transmit digital dat ...
GBBS
GBBS is a bulletin board system (BBS) program for the Apple II. Its first series, named GBBS, was written in Applesoft and used by boards such as Demon Roach Underground in Lubbock, Texas Its successor, GBBS Pro, was ACOS-based. GBBS-Pro ...
(Graphics BBS) – used in the
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
area.
* GT-Power
* L.S.D. BBS – written by The Slavelord of The Humble Guys (THG).
*
The Major BBS
The Major BBS (sometimes MajorBBS or MBBS) was bulletin board software (a bulletin board system server) developed between 1986 and 1999 by Galacticomm. In 1995 it was renamed Worldgroup Server and bundled with a user client interface program n ...
*
Maximus
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...
Opus-CBCS
This is a list of notable bulletin board system (BBS) software packages.BBS Software Listing Jaso ...
– first written by Wynn Wagner III.
*
PCBoard
PCBoard (PCB) was a bulletin board system (BBS) application first introduced for DOS in 1983 by Clark Development Company. Clark Development was founded by Fred Clark. PCBoard was one of the first commercial BBS packages for DOS systems, and was ...
QuickBBS
QuickBBS (QBBS) was a bulletin board system (BBS) application first introduced for MS-DOS
MS-DOS ( ; acronym for Microsoft Disk Operating System, also known as Microsoft DOS) is an operating system for x86-based personal computers mostly dev ...
– written by Adam Hudson, with assistance by Phil Becker.
*
RBBS-PC
RBBS-PC (acronym for Remote Bulletin Board System for the Personal Computer) was a public domain, open-source BBS software program. It was written entirely in BASIC by a large team of people, starting with Russell Lane and then later enhanced by ...
*
RemoteAccess
RemoteAccess is a DOS Bulletin Board System (BBS) software package written by Andrew Milner and published by his company Wantree Development in Australia. RemoteAccess was written in Turbo Pascal with some Assembly Language routines. RemoteAccess ...
– written by Andrew Milner.
*
Renegade
Renegade or The Renegade may refer to:
Aircraft
*Lake Renegade, an American amphibious aircraft design
*Murphy Renegade, a Canadian ultralight biplane design
*Southern Aeronautical Renegade, an American racing aircraft design
Games
*'' Comman ...
– written by Cott Lang until 1997. Currently maintained by T.J. McMillen since 2003.
* RoboBOARD/FX – written by Seth Hamilton.
* Searchlight BBS (SLBBS)
*
Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griff ...
*
SuperBBS
SuperBBS is a DOS Bulletin Board System (BBS) software package written by Aki Antman and Risto Virkkala. It was born as a functional clone of RemoteAccess BBS (which in turn was a clone of QuickBBS), but extended the functionality with several ...
TCL
TCL or Tcl or TCLs may refer to:
Business
* TCL Technology, a Chinese consumer electronics and appliance company
**TCL Electronics, a subsidiary of TCL Technology
* Texas Collegiate League, a collegiate baseball league
* Trade Centre Limited ...
*
Telegard
Telegard is an early bulletin board system (BBS) software program written for IBM PC-compatible computers running MS-DOS and OS/2. Telegard was written in Pascal with routines written in C++ and assembly language, based on a copy of the WWIV sour ...
*
TriBBS TriBBS is a computer bulletin board system (BBS) designed for MS-DOS-based computers.
History
TriBBS was written by Mark Goodwin (programmer), Mark Goodwin and marketed through his company, TriSoft. TriBBS was written in C++ and assembly langua ...
Virtual Advanced
VBBS is an acronym for Virtual Bulletin Board System. It was a shareware bulletin board system (BBS) for DOS (and later OS/2) that was conceived by Roland De Graaf in 1990. Written from scratch in QuickBASIC, it developed a loyal following. Origin ...
– also known as VBBS.
*
Waffle
A waffle is a dish made from leavened batter or dough that is cooked between two plates that are patterned to give a characteristic size, shape, and surface impression. There are many variations based on the type of waffle iron and recipe used ...
– written by Tom Dell, and supported
UUCP
UUCP is an acronym of Unix-to-Unix Copy. The term generally refers to a suite of computer programs and protocols allowing remote execution of commands and transfer of files, email and netnews between computers.
A command named is one of the prog ...
(and Fidonet through extensions).
* Wildcat! – originally by Mustang Software.
* Worldgroup – The latest version of MajorBBS, the last released by Galacticomm.
OS/2
OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a series of computer operating systems, initially created by Microsoft and IBM under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci. As a result of a feud between the two companies over how to position OS/2 ...
Maximus
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...
*
PCBoard
PCBoard (PCB) was a bulletin board system (BBS) application first introduced for DOS in 1983 by Clark Development Company. Clark Development was founded by Fred Clark. PCBoard was one of the first commercial BBS packages for DOS systems, and was ...
*
Virtual Advanced
VBBS is an acronym for Virtual Bulletin Board System. It was a shareware bulletin board system (BBS) for DOS (and later OS/2) that was conceived by Roland De Graaf in 1990. Written from scratch in QuickBASIC, it developed a loyal following. Origin ...
– also known as VBBS.
Tandy
TRS-80
The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, later renamed the Model I to distinguish it from successors) is a desktop microcomputer launched in 1977 and sold by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack stores. The name is an abbreviation of '' ...
* Forum 80
* TBBS - by Phil Becker, for the Model III/4
Unix
Unix (; trademarked as UNIX) is a family of multitasking, multiuser computer operating systems that derive from the original AT&T Unix, whose development started in 1969 at the Bell Labs research center by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and ot ...
and compatible
*
Citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
– including Citadel/UX, Dave's Own Citadel.
* Falken – Linux versions by Chris Whitacre, past MS-DOS versions written by Herb Rose.
*
Firebird BBS
Formosa BBS (or NSYSU Formosa BBS) was one of the earliest, if not the first, telnet-based Bulletin board systems (BBS) to have Chinese language capability. Work used from creating Formosa was combined with the open source Pirate BBS to create ...
– Linux-based.
*
LysKOM LysKOM is a KOM (BBS), KOM-based conferencing system developed by the Lysator, Lysator Academic Computer Society at Linköping University and Linköping Institute of Technology. It can be seen as a cross between Network News Transfer Protocol, news ...
Maximus
Maximus (Hellenised as Maximos) is the Latin term for "greatest" or "largest". In this connection it may refer to:
* Circus Maximus (disambiguation)
* Pontifex maximus, the highest priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome
People Roman h ...
*
OpenTG
{{Infobox software
, name = OpenTG
, logo =
, screenshot = 20101106 opentelegard login screenshot.png
, caption = Screenshot of Login & Main Menu
, collapsible =
, author = Chris Tusa
, developer = Chris Tusa
, repo = {{URL, github.com/sh ...
– OpenTelegard BBS
*
PCBoard
PCBoard (PCB) was a bulletin board system (BBS) application first introduced for DOS in 1983 by Clark Development Company. Clark Development was founded by Fred Clark. PCBoard was one of the first commercial BBS packages for DOS systems, and was ...
br>v16 – formerly by CDC, now by MP Solutions, LLC.
*
PicoSpan
Picospan was a popular computer conferencing tool written by Marcus D. Watts for the Altos 68000. It was written in 1983 for M-Net, which was owned and operated by Mike Myers. Sometime in 1984, Marcus's employer, an Ann Arbor company called Netwo ...
*
Waffle (BBS software)
Waffle is a bulletin-board system created by Tom Dell for the Dark Side of the Moon BBS which ran under DOS and later UNIX. The software was unique among DOS BBS software in many ways, including the fact that all of the configuration files were in ...
BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...