Editing RBBS-PC

{{Infobox software
| name                   = RBBS-PC
| logo                   = <!-- Image name is enough -->
| logo alt               = 
| screenshot             = <!-- Image name is enough -->
| caption                = 
| screenshot alt         = 
| collapsible            = 
| author                 = 
| developer              = Russell Lane, Tom Mack, Ken Goosens, others
| released               = {{Start date and age|1981|06|21}}
| discontinued           = 
| latest release version = 
| latest release date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| programming language   = [[BASIC]]
| operating system       = [[MS-DOS]]
| platform               = 
| size                   = 
| language               = 
| language count         = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote      = 
| genre                  = [[Bulletin board system]]
| license                = [[freeware]], [[open source license|open source]]
| alexa                  = 
| website                = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
| standard               = 
| AsOf                   = 
}}
'''RBBS-PC''' ([[acronym]] for '''Remote Bulletin Board System''' for the '''Personal Computer''') was a [[freeware]], [[open-source software|open-source]] [[Bulletin Board System|BBS]] software program. It was written entirely in [[BASIC]] by a large team of people, starting with Russell Lane and then later enhanced by Tom Mack, Ken Goosens and others.

It supported messaging conferences, [[questionnaires]], [[BBS door|doors]] (through the {{mono|DORINFO1.DEF}} [[dropfile]]), [[file sharing]] and much more. <ref name="rbbs17.4" />

==History==
In 1982, Larry Jordan of the Capital PC Users Group started modifying some existing BBS software that had been [[porting|ported]] from [[CP/M]] by Russell Lane.<ref>[http://jordannctoal.homestead.com/RBBS-PChistory.html RBBS-PC History]</ref>  The first major release of this effort, RBBS-PC CPC09, in May 1983 was written in [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreted]] [[BASIC]] and included the [[XMODEM|Xmodem]] file transfer protocol added by Jordan.  In June 1983, Jordan turned over maintenance and enhancements to Tom Mack and Ken Goosens.  The first release under Mack, version 10.0, was released July 4, 1983.  New versions and features were released steadily throughout the rest of the 1980s.  The final complete version, 17.4, was released June 21, 1992.<ref name="rbbs17.4" />

Since version 17.4 at least four other code paths have developed.  Some work has been done to unify the code paths and to develop version 18.0. Dan Drinnons CDOR Mods and Mapleleaf versions were further enhanced by beta testers Mike Moore and Bob Manapeli using Ken Goosens LineBled program to manipulate the [[source code]] to endless variations of the program.

==License==
RBBS-PC was not in [[public domain]], but copyrighted and released under a limited license. The license allowed free distribution of both [[source code]] and binary in non-modified form. The documentation from an early 1984 CPC12.1 release lists the following conditions:<ref>[http://software.bbsdocumentary.com/IBM/DOS/RBBS/rbbs121.txt RBBS-PC Version CPC12.1 Documentation]</ref>
* RBBS-PC CPC12 is not distributed in modified form,
* No fee or other consideration is charged, and
* Reference to the authors is retained.

In the final 17.4 release from 1992 the license conditions were almost identical:<ref name="rbbs17.4">[http://software.bbsdocumentary.com/IBM/DOS/RBBS/rbbs-doc.zip RBBS-PC, r17.4 package. This file contains the RBBS-PC documentation, required to understand the operation of RBBS-PC.]</ref>
* You may NOT distribute RBBS-PC in modified form.
* You may NOT charge a fee for RBBS-PC itself, and
* You MUST retain all references to the copyright and authors.

While the modified form distribution was not allowed, the documentation encouraged to publish and share modifications (bug fixes, new features) as [[Patch (computing)|patch files]] against the original source code. RBBS-PC had its own .MRG file format and tool for patching.

==Philosophy==
From the beginning of RBBS-PC's development, the authors of the software had two goals as stated in the RBBS-PC documentation:
* To show what could be done with the BASIC language and that "real programmers can/do program  in BASIC."
* To open a new medium of communication where anyone with a personal computer has the ability to communicate freely.  This idea was summarized as "Users helping users for free to help the free exchange of information."

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://vetusware.com/download/RBBS-PC%20-%20REMOTE%20BULLETIN%20BOARD%20SYSTEM%2017.4/?id=8598 RBBS-PC files]
* [http://software.bbsdocumentary.com/IBM/DOS/RBBS/ The BBS Software Directory - RBBS]

[[Category:Bulletin board system software]]
[[Category:DOS software]]
[[Category:Pre–World Wide Web online services]]
[[Category:1983 software]]
[[Category:Public-domain software with source code]]