Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!megatest!palowoda
From: palowoda@megatest.UUCP (Bob Palowoda)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Unix BBS Software
Message-ID: <4645@megatest.UUCP>
Date: 4 May 89 10:45:46 GMT
References: <619@lilink.UUCP>
Organization: Megatest Corporation, San Jose, Ca
Lines: 65

From article <619@lilink.UUCP>, by tbetz@lilink.UUCP (Tom Betz):
> Quoth palowoda@megatest.UUCP (Bob Palowoda) in <4590@megatest.UUCP>:
> |From article <561@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU>, by flash@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU (Stephen Corbesero):
> |> 
> |> I need to put up a bulletin board system on Unix.  Although I have an
> |> older version of XBBS, I tried to get a newer version, but alphacm
> |> seems to have disappeared.
> |> 
> |> My questions are
> |>   1) Are there any better BBS programs for unix than XBBS?
> |>      a) If so, what and where are they?
> |>      b) If not, how can I relocate alphacm?
> |> 
> |> Thanks in advance.
> 
> |   Out of all the UNIX bbs I have seen they all do the same thing.
> |   Upload/download programs, have a message section and have access
> |   to Usenet. Some have a command line parser but you get the same
> |   results. So what do you mean by better?
> 
> By better >I< mean a coherent conversation-style message base
> that permits one to follow a thread in the manner one would
> follow a conversation, which permits archiving message structure
> for as long as the sysop requires so it can later be followed in
> a coherent manner, which provides a multiple-operator message
> base search (including a fulltext by keyword - you gotta see it
> to believe it!) and an on-line tutorial.
> 
> Call Magpie-HQ at 212-879-9031 to see what I mean.
> 
> I don't own Magpie, I just love to use it.

  While this is what I have observed to be the differnce in people
  useing a bbs and usenet. 

  People writeing messages in BBS tend to write short simple messages.
  Something like a question/answer session. A keyword search really
  dosn't buy you much. A simple scan of the title should work.
  Even the bbs that offer threads isn't a big deal. I end up just
  scanning the titles for the correct *key word* in this case.

  If we are talking about UNIX BBS that allow access to a news
  reader, than that is where more coherent structure is needed.
  Usenet articles seem to be much longer and contain important
  information in the message body. Rumor has it the Cnews3.11 
  has the keyword seraches archiveal and message gateways built
  into it. Even bbs message gateways. 

  The big thing about being a "SYSOP" of a bbs is allowing you 
  to customize the user interface to taylor it to reflect
  your personality. Just asking for more options isn't enough.
  That's why I brought up the database built into the bbs idea.
  Than you could write your own style of message system. I've
  seen Magpie and it does have a better message system than
  XBBS. Still not worth getting excited about. What's needed
  is a good graphics interface (X-windows?) for a bbs. Yah!

  ---Bob


-- 
 Bob Palowoda                               
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