RIBIT BBS

By

J.W. Fulmer

Introduction:

Ribit BBS is a colorful BBS program that is now available as shareware. It is very mainstream, having a standard linear style message base system along with an open directory style transfer section. A voting booth (called the "polling area") and a bulletin area are also provided.

Ribit BBS waiting for call screen.

Aside from full color graphics support, the only distinguising mark of this program appears to be the strange organization of her menus. Except for the main menu, all message base and e-mail commands are available from just about every other menu. The only true modularity appears to be the addition of extra commands to the message base menu when you enter the e-mail, voting booth areas, etc.

The SysOp menu.

You may also want to check out the RIBIT BBS documentation file.

The Facts:

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 columns
Drives      :   CBM, limited CMD (some partitions, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1650, 1660, 1670, other Hayes (300-1200)
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen and printer optionally
RAM use     :   N/A
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single program
Menu Struct :   Key word entry, pseudo-modular organization
Translation :   ASCII, PETSCII
Access      :   Odd arrangement of 3 separate access codes (0-9) per user
Handle/ID   :   Handles not allowed, users listed by name
User info   :   Name, phone, location, access, computer, last call
User Logs   :   No log implemented
Calls/Time  :   Call and time limits identical per access, idle timer
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not terribly
  Programs  :   Compiled BASIC, source available with payment
  Displays  :   Menus are changable SEQ files
  Commands  :   Hard coded and unchangable
Areas       :   A very odd arrangement of menu commands on submenus
  E-mail    :   From most submenus, and separate menu
  Messages  :   From most submenus, and separate menu
  Transfers :   Separate menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   N/A
  Text      :   From most submenus
  User Cmds :   Separate menu
  SysOp     :   Separate menu
  Voting    :   Separate menu
  News      :   N/A
  Help      :   N/A
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Configurator and SEQ file editor
Online      :   Chat, access change
Remote      :   User/file editor, drive access
On-L Display:   User display shown when menu pulled
W.F.C. Utils:   Terminal program, user/file editors, drive access
Chatting    :   From any prompt
User        :   Full editor available
Msg Bases   :   From offline configurator, some integrated functions
Transfers   :   Drive access only
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   CBM-DOS prompt available
Terminal    :   Simple terminal program

News

Structure   :   N/A
Header      :   N/A
Weeding     :   N/A
Display     :   N/A

Messages

Structure   :   Linear style, unlinked
Bases       :   Named bases, listed by number
Limits      :   Enforced by SysOp
            :
Reading     :   Individual messages only
Headers     :   From, to, subject, date
Format      :   Text and color/graphics
Writing     :   As new posts only
Anonymous   :   Not allowed
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Hitting return on blank line gives menu
Editing     :   Rewriting lines, insert, delete
Formatting  :   No formatting supported
Graphics    :   Full color/graphics supported

Transfers

Bases       :   Open directory system
Storage     :   As unmarked files
Limits      :   Enforced by SysOp
Credits     :   No credit system implemented
Protocols   :   Punter and Xmodem
Headers     :   Filename, type, blocks
Selection   :   By filename
Listing     :   Directories only
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   List of SEQ files
Storage     :   As standard SEQ files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   As private messages from most any menu
Sending     :   By name only
Receiving   :   At logon, or on demand
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

Structure   :   N/A
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Other       :


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