Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Forth FAQ Answers: Part 90 (Programmable BBS).  (V1.0:01.Jan.93)
From: FAQ@willett.pgh.pa.us (comp.lang.forth FAQ source)
Date: 2 Jan 93 00:39:44 GMT
Organization: EIEI-U


  [This is a message that I thought deserved to be preserved.  I invite
   Mr. Peters or other principles to provide updates to replace this message.
   -dwp]

    From: jpeters@wet.COM (John A. Peters)
    Subject: Forth BBS in California
    Message-ID: <4803@wet.UUCP>
    Date: 26 Nov 92 23:36:35 GMT

    PROGRAMMABLE BBS

    The purpose of this BBS is

    1) To create, modify, develop improve and iteratively improve an
    interactive on line Forth resource that answers F.I.G. members
    needs for information.  

    2) To challenge Forth programmers to improve the system by
    offering the caller the ability to modify the program it's self. 


    The vision:

    A BBS with a menu type of front door.  Callers will run one of several
    programs by picking from a menu.  We will promote Forth programs or any
    program that promotes Forth ar that has Forth information as it's principal
    data content.


    SOME EXAMPLES OF CATEGORIES:

    Interactive Forth Language databases. 
    Live Forth Language application programs.  
    A "Card Catalogue" of Forth Words and sources.
    Pointers to Educational programs
    How to articles. (How to work Usenet, GEnie etc.)
    Reports on the state of the art.
    Committee reports.
    Chapter Meeting announcements.
    Historical documents, stories of historical interest.
    Interviews with successful Forth Programmers.
    Hyper text Indexes of Forth articles.
    Reviews and test results of commercial and PD Forths.
    Tutorial course materials.
    Minutes of chapter meetings.
    Help wanted programmer.
    Work wanted programmer.
    F.A.Q.  (Frequently asked Questions)
    Best of (...) reprints.
    Unpublished articles for proofreader comments.
    Questionnaires.


    Where source is available it will be offered to the caller.


    The system will provide F.I.G. members with the ability to interact with,
    modify and improve the on line system that they are using.  After a few
    years of iteration the ultimate result may be an Electronic Mail System
    that is more useful, interactive, friendly, intuitive and generally more
    popular and highly rated than any other E-Mail system.

    Our plan is to use our single user system to test the concept.  Later a
    multi line system will prevent busy signals in exchange for a slightly
    slower response time in peak periods.

    The caller will be able to down load the forth source and make
    modifications at his leisure.  When improved source is uploaded it will be
    available for audit by the local or remote system administrators.  It can
    then be added to the menu.  Callers can try it out and leave comments for
    the authors.  In the same way the source to the newer version can be down
    loaded for further study and improvement.  By using the LRU (least recently
    used) formula, the most used and more popular programs will remain highest
    on the menu the longest.  We also hope to track the down loads to the
    author's can see who is using their program.

    Currently there is no known Electronic Mail system that provides source to
    the caller.  Normally if you wish to modify the system, you are stuck with
    making a suggestion to the system operator.  Usually the suggestions are
    logged to a list.

    GUIDELINES
    Questions and answers not files.
    Message base mostly.
    Bullet proof.
    Forth only.
    Quality control, i.e. put Forth in a good light.
    Money is available to pay costs.
    Older message bases will be trimmed i.e. cut and pasted and spell
    checked in to "The best of" to keep out background noise.


    STATUS NOW  November 11, 1992

    The start of a system with the above goals is now on line in Novato
    California.  The Programmable BBS (415) 892-1543 on the weekends and
    holidays.  Other times you can call Levi on the voice line at (415)
    897-2202 and he will switch it on.


    My name is John Peters 415-239-5393 Voice FAX is 585-1245 or JPeters@WetCom

    Don't just sit there, write up your thoughts, call it, or phone me and
    shoot the bull.  JP

    P.S. The current system is a PD version of WildCat without the .QWK
    abilities (yet) It costs $129 to register it and get these abilities.
    There is not much (there) at this time, but it is a start.  We have the
    phone line and the hard ware and Levi the system administrator and there is
    room for your input.  It bullet proof unless you the privilege to be able
    to drop to DOS remotely so you can move files and make directories etc.
    (Ask)

    C:\WP\DOC\PROG-BBS.IDA