Clarification - Yes, all future versions of The Major BBS will be free reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-16 23:46 Quite a lot of people have asked/commented on if The Major BBS v10 and beyond will be free. The answer is yes. More info here: https://www.themajorbbs.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=138 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- chairmanmow · 2020-12-17 00:15 good deal! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mad_Money_Drop · 2020-12-17 03:35 Great move! Do you have any plans to open source the project? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-17 03:55 Yes! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mad_Money_Drop · 2020-12-17 17:18 Let me be the first to commend you on taking this historic step to preserve MajorBBS! As I'm sure you are aware the previous "restoration" project was just a thinly veiled attempt to extract money from the dwindling base of nostalgic individuals who enjoyed tinkering with the platform. While one could make an argument that milking your ever shrinking base of users was an accurate preservation of the way Galacticom operated it turned a lot of people off. After over two and a half decades I can't wait to see the source to the GSBL! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-17 17:43 Thanks for your support. Regarding the work done by The Restoration Project, I think you are being a little harsh. Rick has spent 15 years acquiring both mbbs/wg and a ton of modules that would likely have otherwise been lost forever. Without that there would be nothing left to preserve. As the person paying the bills to support the project, I understand the desire to help cover some of the costs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mad_Money_Drop · 2020-12-17 18:54 Yeah, I'm just gonna have to let history be the judge on that one. Personally I'm excited to see things go in a different direction. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-17 20:31 There is a lot of work to be done but it will be fun along the way! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wndrbr3d · 2020-12-18 14:57 This is exciting news on both the price front as well as your comment in this thread for Open Sourcing the platform. I have a couple clarifying questions regarding this announcement and information you posted in your forums: >Quite a lot of people have asked/commented on if The Major BBS v10 and beyond will be free. The answer is yes. Will this be the full, unrestricted 256 node version or will this be the same 32 node license you're currently offering for WG3NT free of charge? ​ >I am sure people will say, well just put it on GitHub and people will contribute however there are a few things to work out first, such as retaining the BBS registration number system and protecting existing thirdparty add-on module activation processes. The BBS Registration Number (derived from the BBS Activation Code) used by some Modules to key their Module Activation codes to is really just a unique identifier and an attempt to bind a given module to a specific installation. If there are still active ISV's developing new Modules exclusive to MajorBBS/Worldgroup, if I were you as the platform owner I would encourage them to use their own keying system based off of identifiers for the individuals making the purchase (Name, e-Mail address, etc.). Modules such as Lunatix and T-LORD already use systems like this. This would be a win/win as it would allow the ISV's to implement their own registration/activation process being as secure as they want to make it (perhaps even calling home to activate, similar to Windows?) and also free the core platform up to be truly open. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- paladine01 · 2020-12-18 18:45 Agreed. Modules on WGNT can use the entire Win32 API to fingerprint a machine/user and should use that for registration verification. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-18 20:46 Yes, any and all future free versions will be 256 node. Regarding the ISV module activation process, I agree that modules should base their activation on something outside of the core bbs system, however I need to account for the existing modules as well. It is important to note that the BBS number (BTURNO) is relied on heavily in other parts of the system where a unique identifier is required. Modules such as worldlink use this to identify and route information to a specific system. Therefor the numbering system will need to remain for the foreseeable future. This means there will likely still be an activation process of some sort however there will not be any cost associated with it (for the sysop). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-18 20:49 There are obviously many ways to do it but back in the day when these modules were written the bbs reg no as part of the activation process was the common method. As you know, a lot of the source code to these modules has been lost so we need to cater for the existing modules as well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mmunson · 2020-12-19 07:21 Could the Major BBS be used with OpenDOS/Dr-DOS so we do not violate licencing rules with Microsoft? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-19 11:21 MBBS v10 will be Windows based. Ultimately we would like to have a linux version but this will take some time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wndrbr3d · 2020-12-19 15:43 Microsoft Open Sourced DOS 1.2 & 2.0 a couple years ago under the MIT License ([link](https://github.com/microsoft/MS-DOS)). Additionally Microsoft's own forums recommend you find a copy from a third party, which could be $0.99 on eBay or $0.00 from The Pirate Bay -- your choice since there are no ways to acquire a copy from Microsoft any longer ([link](https://answers.microsoft.com/en- us/windows/forum/windows_other-windows_programs/where-can-i-get-a- copy-of-dos/426eaa1a-476c-4518-ad79-ae6252e03825)). All this to say that I think both based on Microsoft's actions, both open sourcing it and no longer selling it, we're well beyond the point of being concerned about licensing. My usual source for software that falls into this realm is WinWorld: [Link](https://winworldpc.com/product/ms-dos/622) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HerpieMcDerpie · 2020-12-20 02:42 Could it support AX.25 so I can host this over the radio? :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-20 05:20 Sure.. why not? We will work on a morse code version too :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HerpieMcDerpie · 2020-12-20 05:33 It was a semi-serious question! Heh. BBSs exist for amateur radio and have for decades, just like dialup BBSs. Synchronet began some implementation but development for that aspect of the package stopped long ago. Either way, I have fond memories of MBBS and look forward to using it in the future. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Duckula_MBBS · 2020-12-20 06:19 How about this, I will put it on the feature request list for you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HerpieMcDerpie · 2020-12-20 06:21 Sounds good! Thank you.