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| wiki:user:digital_man [2023/04/10 19:07] – Is Synchronet PD or l33t? A blog post digital man | wiki:user:digital_man [2023/04/11 18:23] (current) – [Is Synchronet PD or l33t?] digital man |
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| ===== Is Synchronet PD or l33t? ===== | ===== Is Synchronet PD or l33t? ===== |
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| I feel weird answering this rhetorical question because Synchronet has been (or wanted to be) both at different times during its history and perhaps now it's just a totally moot and silly question to be asking at all. What am I even talking about, you might ask? | I feel weird answering this rhetorical question because Synchronet has been (or wanted to be) **both** PD and l33t at different times during its history and perhaps now it's just a totally moot and silly question to be asking at all. What am I even talking about, you might ask? |
| * **PD** stands for "Public Domain", which "back in the day" meant a BBS was legit and only contained/encouraged legal content (e.g. public domain or shareware files) | * **PD** stands for "Public Domain", which, //back in the day//, meant a BBS was legitimate and contained/encouraged/allowed only legal content (e.g. public domain or shareware files) |
| * **l33t** is r0dent-speak for "Elite", which is how BBSes referred to themselves "back in the day" when they housed archives of illegally copied software (or "pirate warez") | * **l33t** is r0dent-speak for "elite", which is how BBSes referred to themselves //back in the day// when they housed archives of illegally copied software (aka "pirate warez") or other illicit information (e.g. phreaking docs, malware, LD codes, CC numbers) |
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| I started Synchronet when I was 20 years old, as a project to replace WWIV BBS Software, because I wanted a /stable/ multi-node support BBS for my file-transfer oriented pirate/elite BBS! New users had to know the current New User Password (NUP), had complete a lengthy technical proficiency exam, and submit a written request for access, including references. All the hallmarks of an Elite BBS. My co-sysop and I had fun actively harassing and hazing users of the BBS that we felt were less than deserving of our respect. We had a good time. | I started Synchronet when I was 20 years old, as a project to replace WWIV BBS Software with a //stable// multi-node BBS software for my file-transfer oriented //elite// BBS, [[bbs:Vertrauen]]! New users of my BBS had to know the current New User Password (NUP), were given a lengthy technical proficiency exam, and required to submit a written request for access (including references): all the hallmarks of an "Elite BBS". [[person:ille_homine_albe|My co-sysop]] and I had fun actively harassing and hazing users of the BBS that we felt were less than deserving of our respect. We had a good time at the expense of many r0dentia. |
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| After the reach of Synchronet extended beyond my local circle of (now ex-)WWIV Sysop friends, I started to add features inspired by successful multiuser BBS packages (e.g. MajorBBS) and listen to and add more "main stream" features that were being requested by more "legit" sysops (e.g. QWK packet support). | After the reach of Synchronet extended beyond my local circle of (now ex-)WWIV Sysop friends, I started to add features inspired by commercially-successful multiuser BBS packages (e.g. MajorBBS) and listen to needs of their users and sysops and add more "mainstream" features (e.g. FidoNet) that were being requested by the sysops of more "legit" systems. |
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| When I decided (at my brother's urging) to move Synchronet completely into the commercial realm, I started to look more closely at the competition in the PD/mainstream BBS software market (e.g. Wildcat!, PCBoard, etc.) and copy the features that were most in demand while moving my own BBS into the role of a mainstream support BBS and removing all questionable content and new user unfriendly features. I also continued to follow the development of WWIV and its derivatives (TAG, Telegard, Renegade) and while I always thought these "scene" software packages had a more appealing aesthetic than the main stream packages, I was really trying to appeal to the commercial BBS sysops, since they were more likely to be willing and able to pay for their software of choice. | When I decided (at my brother's urging) to move Synchronet completely into the commercial realm, I started to look more closely at the "competition" in the PD/mainstream BBS software market (e.g. Wildcat!, PCBoard, etc.) and implement the features that were most in demand (e.g. QWK support, enhanced door support) while moving my own BBS into the role of a mainstream "support BBS" and removing all questionable content and user unfriendly (hostile?) features. I continued to follow the development of WWIV and its derivatives (TAG, Telegard, Renegade) from a distance and while I always thought these "scene" BBS packages had a more appealing aesthetic than the mainstream packages, I was really trying to appeal to the commercial BBS sysops, since they were more likely to be willing and able to pay for their software of choice. |
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| After I started advertising Synchronet in BBS-related magazines, I used to prompt "Guest" users for their voice phone number and would call them some time after they logged-off to ask if they had any questions (in attempt to drum up sales, which was pretty effective actually). I recall one particular prospective Synchronet sysop "guest" that didn't spend much time online before hanging up. When I called him back, I could tell by his voice that he was much more "mature" than I and he did not hesitate to tell me how put off he was by the "look" of Synchronet (the colors, maybe the terminology or the command keys used) and he said: "I know what kind of BBS this is and I'll have no part of that!" before he rudely hung-up his phone. | When I started advertising Synchronet (and my BBS numbers) in BBS-related magazines, I would prompt "Guest" logins to Vertrauen for their voice phone number, so I could call them some time after they'd logged-off to ask if they had any questions (in attempt to drum up sales of Synchronet, which was pretty effective actually). I recall one particular guest sysop that didn't spend much time online before hanging up. When I called him back (I could tell by his voice that he was much more "mature" than I), he did not hesitate to tell me how put off he was by the "look" of Synchronet (the colors, maybe the terminology or the menu/command keys) and he said, verbatim: "I know what kind of BBS this is and I'll have no part of that!" before he abruptly hung-up his handset. Click! Duhhhhhh..... |
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| So while I always tried to make Synchronet more visually appealing than the purely-functional BBS programs (e.g. Maximus, Opus, Fido, MajorBBS), I never went to the extremes of many others (e.g. Searchlight, Forum hacks, Robo/FX) - my focus really was on file transfers, multi-node chat, door games, and messages. And while I did kind of abandon the "elite" scene pretty early in the commercialization of Synchronet, I don't think it ever fully belonged in the commercial/PD BBS software group either. | So while I always tried to make Synchronet more visually appealing than the purely-functional BBS programs of the era (think Maximus, Opus, Fido, MajorBBS), I never went to the extremes of some others (e.g. Searchlight, Forum hacks, Robo/FX) - my focus really was on file transfers, multi-node chat, door games, and messages. And while I did kind of abandon the "elite" scene pretty early on during the commercialization of Synchronet, I don't think Synchronet ever fully belonged in the commercial/PD BBS software group either. |
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| Someone recently described Synchronet as the "professional" option for BBS software in 2023, and not what the "cool kids" usually run (that choice being Mystic BBS software). I take that both as a compliment and a challenge! | Someone recently described Synchronet as the "professional" option for BBS software in 2023, but not what the "cool kids" usually run (that preference being Mystic BBS software). I take that both as a compliment and a challenge! |
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| ===== What's Wrong With FidoNet? ===== | ===== What's Wrong With FidoNet? ===== |
