Hey Alan!

Jun 24 14:35 06, Alan Ianson wrote to Maurice Kinal:

 AI> OS/2 is/was a good platform for running a BBS.

From what I saw from a user's perspective running a linux terminal I'd have
to agree with the above ... unfortunetly.  One of these days that is going
to have to change though.

 AI> There were/are a lot 
 AI> of
 AI> native OS/2 BBS software & apps.

Maximus comes to mind.  I still think that whole ideology doesn't require
porting to Linux in order to just get menuing and the such working.  As far
as squish, jam, whatever, I think all those should be left to the OS/2 guys
to worry about.  

Too much DOS-think for Linux.

 AI> One summer we took off for 15 days 
 AI> and
 AI> when we got back I turned on the monitor and there was BinkleyTerm
 AI> transfering mail as always. DOS wouldn't do that, well it might but
 AI> not likely.

DOS wasn't that bad as long as one steered clear of MS software.  However
due to bios restrictions and the lack of multi-anything in DOS it never
could seriously compete.  It could be fun though and I can understand why
embedded developers seem to prefer that methodology even though it is
totally boring and uncreative.

 AI> A lot of OS/2 BBSs are still up and running.

So far I prefer them from a user's perspective.

 AI> DOS doors run without 
 AI> much
 AI> trouble so maybe that is why.

Actually that isn't true.  They've been known to crash a BBS even though
the machine itself (OS/2) is still running just fine.  That would make it
difficult for a sysop to catch unless they try to login to their own BBS
from a remote and see it firsthand.

 AI> I'm going to put some effort into making that happen in a linux way. 

Amen.  Worry about the terminal, menuing and the such first.  The rest can wait.

 AI> I
 AI> think that will take a long time to accomplish but I'll give it a 
 AI> shot.

I think it is easier then you think it is.  Try a special account on your
lan from a linux terminal and take it from there.  You shouldn't even
require ansi although it wouldn't hurt to have just in case you expect any
DOS users.  As for OS/2 users I think they are now using ncurses so there
shouldn't be a problem with their terminals, except maybe xterm.  As far as
I am aware even an xterm is now working much better these days for this
sort of thing.

 AI> Yep, there are times I'd like to stick around with Win or OS/2 but I
 AI> think in the long run that would bite my ass harder than getting with
 AI> the times.

If you say so.  From what I've seen lately they are all porting from unixie
source so we're way ahead of the game.

 AI> Onward and upwards!

Agreed.

Life is good,
Maurice

--- Msged/LNX 6.2.0