MBBS
Encyclopedia
MBBS was a popular BBS
system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo
-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS
platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers
such as DESQview
or Microsoft Windows
were necessary in order to run multi-node BBSes. MBBS had to use the only viable means of interprocess communication under DOS, namely to read and write to a set of files in a common subdirectory. Since these files were accessed very often, many SysOp
s moved them to a RAM disk
.
MBBS' user interface
was a command line interface where commands could be "stacked". This means that instead of typing a command, being asked to supply some parameters, and then typing another command, one could type them on one command line separated by a space or semicolon. An example is
was copied in Kim Heino's later BBBS system, to the degree that most valid MBBS command strings do the same in BBBS.
MBBS was released as uncrippled shareware
by Gallagher & Robertson. It is now discontinued, and its final version, 10.4, was released in 1996.
Mike's BBS was also the name of the MBBS-run BBS, operated by Mike Robertson, which in many ways served as a social hub of the Norwegian BBS community of the 1990s.
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers
Computer multitasking
In computing, multitasking is a method where multiple tasks, also known as processes, share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for...
such as DESQview
DESQview
DESQview was a text mode multitasking program developed by Quarterdeck Office Systems which enjoyed modest popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
or Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
were necessary in order to run multi-node BBSes. MBBS had to use the only viable means of interprocess communication under DOS, namely to read and write to a set of files in a common subdirectory. Since these files were accessed very often, many SysOp
SysOp
A sysop is an administrator of a multi-user computer system, such as a bulletin board system or an online service virtual community. It may also be used to refer to administrators of other Internet-based network services....
s moved them to a RAM disk
RAM disk
A RAM disk or RAM drive is a block of RAM that a computer's software is treating as if the memory were a disk drive...
.
MBBS' user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
was a command line interface where commands could be "stacked". This means that instead of typing a command, being asked to supply some parameters, and then typing another command, one could type them on one command line separated by a space or semicolon. An example is
m sa g y, which expands to "marks, save message pointers, goodbye, yes". This user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
was copied in Kim Heino's later BBBS system, to the degree that most valid MBBS command strings do the same in BBBS.
MBBS was released as uncrippled shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
by Gallagher & Robertson. It is now discontinued, and its final version, 10.4, was released in 1996.
Mike's BBS was also the name of the MBBS-run BBS, operated by Mike Robertson, which in many ways served as a social hub of the Norwegian BBS community of the 1990s.