Xref: utzoo comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:412 comp.misc:2597 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!tbetz From: tbetz@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Betz) Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d,comp.misc Subject: Re: BBS Systems Software. What's YOUR opinion? Summary: I tried to mail this, but could not, so... Magpie BBS summary Message-ID: <4960@dasys1.UUCP> Date: 14 Jun 88 01:30:48 GMT References: <712@cernvax.UUCP> Organization: The Big Electric Cat Lines: 73 I am not yet a BBS sysop, but I am a frequent user... and I must recommend to you wholeheartedly the Magpie BBS software. It is available in both DOS and SCO Xenix versions presently, and a Microport Unix port is in the works. It really embodies most of the qualities I seek in BBS software, and what qualities it currently lacks should be implemented by the end of the year. The Xenix version is, of course, multi-user. I could describe it to you, but the best way to learn about it is to call Magpie HQ and experience it for yourself. The numbers are 212-677-9487 (Trailblazer 9600/2400/1200) and 212-420-0527. If you have ever used BIX, you will recognize the tree-node structure of the file system, where every message (except for the root message) is a reply to another message, with nodes specifying the origins of specific discussions. The command set is essentially Verb Noun-Object [Modifier]. Because this uses a two-letter command structure, all commands are much more intuitive than an (often arbitrary) one-letter assignment could be... the [Modifier] is sometimes used, but mostly two letters suffice. The thing that this system lacks now is networking among systems. The Xenix version supports shell scripts, which makes it possible to shell to rn or readnews and support Usenet access right now, but MagNet is in development now, and as specified will permit Magpies to message each other on-demand (no National Mail Hour, which means the Magpie can remain up 24 hours a day, unlike the various Fido and SeaDog systems extant) and retain the tree thread structure intact, so each reply is appended as the child of the same parent message as it was appended to on the origin system. I suggest you log on to Magpie HQ and message Steve Manes (principal author of Magpie) and John Cowan (principal author of MagNet) there. Magpie can also be reached via uucp ( as 'magpie' ) but I'm sorry, I do not have a backbone path you can use. If you log on to HQ once, you will find the address there, and can carry on further correspondence via uucp. I have never been enthusiastic about any BBS software before I ran imnto Magpie; now I am constantly annoyed by the limitations of other BBS software I use, especially when it comes to trying to read extended threads of message/reply sequences and establishing and maintaining context. This is what Magpie is best at... its very sophisticated file system capabilities are just icing on the cake. Let me know (or post a summary publicly) of your findings... I'll find them very interesting. Tom Betz ps: You can, if you like, download the distribution packages for Magpie (DOS .ARC, and Xenix .tar files) from HQ by typing EM (Execute Magpie_Distrib) from any command prompt. (Command prompts look like this: DISCUSSION NAME> Enjoy! tb -- Tom Betz {allegra,philabs,cmcl2}!phri\ ZCNY {bellcore,cmcl2}!cucard!dasys1!tbetz Yonkers, NY, USA 10701-2509 {sun}!hoptoad/ "Opinions? What opinions? These are >factsfacts