| CBBS Server v1.0 - Overview | History | Features | Screenshots | Technology | FAQ | |||
|
Overview
CBBS Server is a multi-threaded TCP network application that simulates and incorporates features from popular computer Bulletin Board System (BBS) software for the Commodore 64 that was available back in the early 80s when 300/1200/2400 baud dial-up modems and terminal programs were used to call and connect to these early online systems. However, since CBBS is a modern network application, it supports multiple nodes (callers) via telnet connections, and there are no restrictions on the number of calls made per day, minutes remaining per call, or idle time remaining until auto-logoff. In theory, CBBS can support an almost unlimited amount of incoming client connections simultaneously! The server emulates and supports the CBM PETSCII terminal emulation standard used for 8-bit Commodore 64 and 128 telecommunications, which is commonly referred to as CG, C/G, or simply Color/Graphics mode, as well as limited support for ASCII and ANSI-BBS terminal emulations native to IBM PCs (still under development). CBBS Server was originally written entirely in Java (J2SE) as a Java SWING MDI GUI application, utilizing multiple internal window frames. The image shown below shows the application running with several clients connected, while I tested PETSCII, ASCII, and ANSI emulation modes using CGTerm and telnet.exe in DOS sessions.
However, an open source class library for implementing the Xmodem file transfer was not available and the application was converted to a C#.NET console application, using the Microsoft's Java Conversion Language Assistant (JCLA). Plans are in the works for converting CBBS to a Windows application which utilizes an intuitive graphical user interface similar to the one shown above. However, functionality is the main goal before cosmetic appeal. |
|||