GBBS
Encyclopedia
GBBS is a popular 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 was used by boards like ProBOARD II in Paso Robles, California and Apple Elite II in Riverside California. (This official support board will probably be back online soon!) [July 2011]
GBBS (literaly: Greg's Bulletin Board System) was written by Greg Schaefer who later authored the popular Term (Terminal Emulation) program ProTERM. The GBBS-Pro System was based on the ACOS compiler and language. ACOS was a PASCAL like language wherein the MODEM handling routines had replaced some of the other basic functions. Arrays (for instance) were unheard of in ACOS and so it was necessary to find other ways to work around these limitations. (ie. Files replaced arrays) GBBS Systems could be highly customized and MODified. Mods were shared between SysOPs (system operators) and even ProTERM support was given via a GBBS System. It was a small miracle of the age to be sitting in a small town in Central California writing code for and supporting SysOPs worldwide. (as early as 1988, people from around the world and across the country were calling into ProBOARD //e)
The Apple //e ran the first GBBS Systems and later the Apple //gs became the game platform and multiline answer GBBS Sysops had long searched for. John (by now good friends with Greg) even had a small GBBS setup for a short time on an Apple //c with only a 140k (5.25") floppy disk! (but the //c had a whopping 128k of RAM compared to 64k for the //e) The Processor was 8 bit and 1Mhz on an Apple //e! ProDOS, the operating system, took 32k of storage space. (compare to todays processors, operating systems and memory, etc)
There was a fairly extensive amount of (source) code written for the ACOS compiler and much of it is still available today! There are several GBBS systems still running today! ( Lost Gonzo BBS: http://www.qxiu.com/MN/491300-lost_gonzo_bbs.htm ) The GBBS Software is still available for the Apple // and other systems that EMULATE the Apple //.
GBBS was also ported to run on the IBM PC XT using BASICA or GWBASIC. MACOS was a popular takeoff of GBBS and later became METAL which was very ACOS like and even more powerful.
Custom Modified GBBS Systems featured EMAIL (with receipts) and Message Boards as well as Online Games and Dating Software, they were run by hobbyists and professionals for various reasons. John once setup and modified a GBBS for an air force (F15) pilot stationed in Duran Saudi Arabia (during the first gulf war). Logging in thru an 800 number and at 300Bps (from his home on the central california coast), to custom modify the Duran GBBS to his standards (from Paso Robles Calif!). (fairly unheard of in that day) This system in Duran Saudi Arabia became the (unofficial) means of communications between Troops and loved ones back home. Asking only that his name be mentioned John donated the work and the software! The Duran GBBS became the model upon which other such [troop] support boards were built. Sysops from Johanesberg South Africa and other places around the world called into the ProBOARD // for mods and support. (in 1986 that was really something!) The good deed had not gone unrewarded as word*spread!
[a telecommunications revolution was officially under way!] (That put us on the map, John says of the experience.)
Contact the Official GBBS Support and Development person for more info: http://www.facebook.com/John.P.Edwards/
The ProBOARD // GBBS (World Wide Support site circa 1986-1995) was sold to and is on display at The Boston Computer Museum in Boston MASS. This and other GBBS Systems were by 1990 so super-modified as to barely be recognizable as GBBS Systems.
(via PSE or ANSI emulation and graphics)
John Edwards was also Co-Designer and Developer for ProTERM Mac with Greg Schaefer and was heavily involved in ProTERM for the Apple // in the early days of the telephone modem. (300-1200bps) Trying to figure out what would follow Email; It was John who first created something he called F-Mail where a file could be ATTACHED to a short note explaining what it was. (ie. Attachments) F-mail was modified to work with OggNET. -JpE-
Thus file attachments were born!
See ALSO: ProTERM, ACOS, LLUCE, Apple //, ProDOS, A2 Central
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
program for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
. Its first series, named GBBS ][, was written in Applesoft
Applesoft
AppleSoft is a name used by Apple Inc. for:* Applesoft BASIC, a floating-point BASIC interpreter* the division responsible for developing Mac OS from 1993 until about 1997...
and used by boards such as Demon Roach Underground
Demon Roach Underground
Demon Roach Underground was a Lubbock, Texas based BBS that was popular in the "hacker" scene.Grandmaster Ratte' was the SysOp of DRU, and the BBS was the "base system" for his group Cult of the Dead Cow, a computer hacker organization....
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
Its successor, GBBS Pro, was ACOS-based. GBBS-Pro was used by boards like ProBOARD II in Paso Robles, California and Apple Elite II in Riverside California. (This official support board will probably be back online soon!) [July 2011]
GBBS (literaly: Greg's Bulletin Board System) was written by Greg Schaefer who later authored the popular Term (Terminal Emulation) program ProTERM. The GBBS-Pro System was based on the ACOS compiler and language. ACOS was a PASCAL like language wherein the MODEM handling routines had replaced some of the other basic functions. Arrays (for instance) were unheard of in ACOS and so it was necessary to find other ways to work around these limitations. (ie. Files replaced arrays) GBBS Systems could be highly customized and MODified. Mods were shared between SysOPs (system operators) and even ProTERM support was given via a GBBS System. It was a small miracle of the age to be sitting in a small town in Central California writing code for and supporting SysOPs worldwide. (as early as 1988, people from around the world and across the country were calling into ProBOARD //e)
The Apple //e ran the first GBBS Systems and later the Apple //gs became the game platform and multiline answer GBBS Sysops had long searched for. John (by now good friends with Greg) even had a small GBBS setup for a short time on an Apple //c with only a 140k (5.25") floppy disk! (but the //c had a whopping 128k of RAM compared to 64k for the //e) The Processor was 8 bit and 1Mhz on an Apple //e! ProDOS, the operating system, took 32k of storage space. (compare to todays processors, operating systems and memory, etc)
There was a fairly extensive amount of (source) code written for the ACOS compiler and much of it is still available today! There are several GBBS systems still running today! ( Lost Gonzo BBS: http://www.qxiu.com/MN/491300-lost_gonzo_bbs.htm ) The GBBS Software is still available for the Apple // and other systems that EMULATE the Apple //.
GBBS was also ported to run on the IBM PC XT using BASICA or GWBASIC. MACOS was a popular takeoff of GBBS and later became METAL which was very ACOS like and even more powerful.
Custom Modified GBBS Systems featured EMAIL (with receipts) and Message Boards as well as Online Games and Dating Software, they were run by hobbyists and professionals for various reasons. John once setup and modified a GBBS for an air force (F15) pilot stationed in Duran Saudi Arabia (during the first gulf war). Logging in thru an 800 number and at 300Bps (from his home on the central california coast), to custom modify the Duran GBBS to his standards (from Paso Robles Calif!). (fairly unheard of in that day) This system in Duran Saudi Arabia became the (unofficial) means of communications between Troops and loved ones back home. Asking only that his name be mentioned John donated the work and the software! The Duran GBBS became the model upon which other such [troop] support boards were built. Sysops from Johanesberg South Africa and other places around the world called into the ProBOARD // for mods and support. (in 1986 that was really something!) The good deed had not gone unrewarded as word*spread!
[a telecommunications revolution was officially under way!] (That put us on the map, John says of the experience.)
- Up to date (state of the art) GBBS Systems had by 1989-89 adopted OggNET (by Paul Oggman) which effectively NETWORKED GBBS Systems via a HUB and spoke type Network. GBBS users on one GBBS System could email users on another GBBS as early as 1989! Messages Posted to the Bulletin Boards on one GBBS would be sent to the other GBBS Systems on OGGNET and users from various systems could post to the same threads and share info across the United States and several other countries. Gateways were programmed to interface with FIDO NET and other NETWORKED BBS Systems.
Contact the Official GBBS Support and Development person for more info: http://www.facebook.com/John.P.Edwards/
The ProBOARD // GBBS (World Wide Support site circa 1986-1995) was sold to and is on display at The Boston Computer Museum in Boston MASS. This and other GBBS Systems were by 1990 so super-modified as to barely be recognizable as GBBS Systems.
(via PSE or ANSI emulation and graphics)
John Edwards was also Co-Designer and Developer for ProTERM Mac with Greg Schaefer and was heavily involved in ProTERM for the Apple // in the early days of the telephone modem. (300-1200bps) Trying to figure out what would follow Email; It was John who first created something he called F-Mail where a file could be ATTACHED to a short note explaining what it was. (ie. Attachments) F-mail was modified to work with OggNET. -JpE-
Thus file attachments were born!
See ALSO: ProTERM, ACOS, LLUCE, Apple //, ProDOS, A2 Central