Hal's BBS

By

Richard Buchanan

Introduction:

Hal's BBS was written by Richard Buchanan. The program was named after the Hal 9000 computer character from 2001:Space Odyssey.

Hal's BBS reminds me a lot of Sattelite. It is a system with just enough features to be called a BBS, while falling just short of a more standard, full-featured program.

Hal's intro screen

Much like CMBBS, Hals bothers the user with a myriad of boot-time questions that would have otherwise been saved on more typical BBS programs. Despite this, the program has a considerable offline configurator and setup program. The program is complete with instructions, file and user editors, and other utilities the SysOp will require.

Hal's waiting for call screen

As seen in the menu area, Hal gets by with a single message base. It also gets by with an open transfer area. At least numerous Bulletins are allowed.

Overall, this ASCII-only BBS is easily passed over for more complete and up-to-date programs.

Hal's main menu

The Facts:

Hal did not leave any version information. I presume this is the one and only 1.0.

Hardware Information

Computer    :   Commodore 64 or 128 in 64 mode
Video       :   40 columns.
Drives      :   (4 drives) CBM, limited CMD (1 or 2 parts, no subdirs)
Modems      :   1650 & compatibles, HES II, 1670 & Hayes (300-1200 baud)
Input       :   Keyboard
Output      :   Screen, or Printer
RAM use     :   N/A
Special     :

General

Pgm Struct  :   Single, large, self-sufficient program
Menu Struct :   Semi-Modular menu system with single key entry commands
Translation :   ASCII only
Access      :   10 levels of access, hard coded
Handle/ID   :   Handles not allowed, users listed by id
User info   :   Name, city, phone, password, access, linefeed
User Logs   :   No user log?!
Calls/Time  :   No call limit, Time limit for all levels
Network     :   N/A
Customizing :   Not terribly customizable
  Programs  :   Program is compiled BASIC, not changable
  Displays  :   Some SEQ files changable, menus hard coded or files
  Commands  :   Not changable
Areas       :   Almost all selections from main menu
  E-mail    :   From main menu
  Messages  :   From main menu
  Transfers :   Separate menu
  Network   :   N/A
  Programs  :   N/A
  Text      :   Separate menu
  User Cmds :   From main menu
  SysOp     :   From main menu
  Voting    :   N/A
  News      :   N/A
  Help      :   Xfer instructions only
Other       :

SysOp Utilities and Support

Offline     :   Configurator, dos channel, file/user editors
Online      :   Chat, disconnect
Remote      :   Chat/Xfer/Printer availability
On-L Display:   Name and access before prompt
W.F.C. Utils:   Ability to boot offline utilities
Chatting    :   After being prompted by user
User        :   Offline unit only
Msg Bases   :   Offline and some integrated functions
Transfers   :   Offline and integrated functions
Programs    :   N/A
Network     :   N/A
Drives      :   CBM-Commands from xfers area
Terminal    :   N/A

News

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

Messages

Structure   :   Linear style, nonthreaded
Bases       :   Single public message base
Limits      :   Total number of messages definable
            :    Enforced by system
Reading     :   Forward, Reverse, new
Headers     :   To, from, subject, date
Format      :   Text only
Writing     :   New posts only
Anonymous   :   Not allowed
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Message Editor

Structure   :   Line editor
Commands    :   Hitting return on blank line gives menu
Editing     :   Reenter line
Formatting  :   None whatsoever, lines are numbered
Graphics    :   Not supported

Transfers

Bases       :   Single transfer area
Storage     :   Open directory
Limits      :   SysOp-only uploads option available
Credits     :   One-for-one file system only
Protocols   :   Punter
Headers     :   Filename, type, size, xfer time
Selection   :   By name
Listing     :   Catalog only
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Text Libraries

Structure   :   Numbered list of bulletins
Storage     :   Seq files
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

E-Mail

Structure   :   From main menu only
Sending     :   By id
Receiving   :   On demand
Network     :   N/A
Other       :

Program Libraries

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


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