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Archive-name: ForthFaq/ProgBBSInfo
Last-modified: 05.Jun.93
Version: 1.3
[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]
Message-Id: <m0o1sNf-0002bCC@wet.uucp>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 93 00:09 PDT
From: pitt!netcom.com!wet!jpeters (John A. Peters)
Subject: Prog BBS update as requested
Mod date is: May 23, 1993
PROGRAMMABLE BBS: PURPOSE
1) To create, modify, and support an electronic media based Forth
resource where "iterative improvements" to both the program and
the data are the primary purpose. This Forth resource will be
modifiable and reprogrammable by FIG members and other callers,
in response to each callers personally perceived needs for easy,
efficient, active, pleasant, entertaining, educational, business
and recreational access to information, especially information
concerning the Programming Language Forth.
2) To empower and challenge programmers by offering to down load
the actual source files for the program that is in use when the
BBS is called.
3) To collect a database of forth words. Each record entry shall
contain data supplied either by the author or those who use the
forth word. The interface shall be modified, improved and
simplified in such a way that anyone reading the data will be
seduced in to adding, improving and correcting the readability of
the data. (Hint: off line reader/responder/auto-up loader)
The data in each record (file or BBS message) shall concentrate
on all aspects of a single forth word. Common fields are those
items of information normally found on a 3 x 5 file card in a
card catalogue. Additional information will be requested via a
template. I want to collect stories of historical interest as
well as reviews, user testimonials and comments as to usefulness
and clarity of the word along with examples of practical use.
The vision:
A BBS answers via a front door and presents a menu of several
programs. By picking one of the Forth based BBSes the caller
will execute a program uploaded by one of the volunteer
supporters. If there is a problem with the volunteer supported
program the caller will be asked to leave comments and
suggestions or bug reports.
An activity log will be maintained for all to access that will
enable one to see who else is interested in each particular
version of experimental BBS. This enables the volunteer author
to call his users and ask for more information.
PAYBACK:
In the future we can offer support for developers. We might
provide accounting services and offer royalties to authors and
programmers who want to follow the share ware model. Income
might accrue if we were to track the use of words in an
application in the same way song writers are rewarded by tracking
each play over the air. At the least, those who created the
early versions of Forth, might like to know their words are still
in use, whether or not they have need for monetary support.
----------------------------------------
Here are examples of programs I want to promote. I hope each one
will either be coded in Forth or have Forth information as it's
principal data content.
EXAMPLE CATEGORIES:
Interactive Forth Language databases.
Live Forth Language application programs.
A "Card Catalogue" of Forth Words and sources.
See also pointers to Educational programs.
Quick start articles. (Usenet, Genie use etc)
Reports on the state of the art.
Committee reports.
Chapter Meeting announcements.
Historical documents
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.
Frequently asked Question files.
Best of Genie reprints.
Unpublished articles for proof reader comments.
Questionnaires.
As the system will provide callers and users with the ability to
modify and improve the online system that they are interacting
with, after a few years of iteration, the ultimate result may be
an Electronic Mail System that is more useful, friendly,
intuitive and generally more popular and highly rated than any
other E-Mail system. Won't that be nice for recognition of
Forth!
REPORT:
We are using our single line system to test the concept. Later a
multi line system will eliminate 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 remote system
administrators. It can then be setup on a new menu entry.
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.
Currently I know of no Electronic Mail system that provides
source to the caller for modification. Normally if you wish to
modify a system, you are stuck with making a suggestion for
addition to the list that the system operator keeps.
The start of the above system is now on line at Programmable BBS
(415) 892-1543 24 hours and 7 days. This article is by John
Peters 415-239-5393 voice. Don't just sit there, call it, or
phone me and shoot the bull and make some suggestions.
P.S. Presently 5-23-93 the bbs is on line as a free ware version
of WildCat without the .QWK abilities (off line mail reading).
There are about 50 messages now, but it is a start. Levi Allen is
our system administrator as well as our sponsor for the hardware.
The Berkeley Forth Interest Group paid for the installation of the
phone line. So far Levi has not asked the group to pay the
monthly phone or electricity bill am told.
There is room for your input, files and messages and it is
currently bullet proof. If you want to you can call Levi on his
voice line to arrange for a password that will give approved
volunteers the ability to drop to DOS remotely. This option is
offered so you can help with improvements by moving files and
making better directories, improve the bulletins etc.
LAST MINUTE REPORT 1:15 on Sunday 5-23-93
FIG member Martin Shaaf has reported he mailed disks to me
yesterday that include FRONT DOOR and EASY.COM. I have confirmed
that this set of programs will provide us with a Net mail echo, a
BBS with doors to our Forth BBSes and QWK off line mail reading.
I confirmed the QWK mail part with a SysOp named Tim who says he
doesn't spend much if any time maintaining the BBS but he does
spend lots of tine playing with it. The system is shareware and
registers for $50.00 but QWK mail is built in and ready to go even
before registration.
JP
Jpeters@wet.com
C:\PROJECTS\PROG-BBS.IDA
---
If you have any questions about ForthNet/comp.lang.forth or any information
to add/delete or correct in this message or any suggestions on formatting or
presentation, please contact Doug Philips at one of the following addresses:
Internet: dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us
Usenet: ...!uunet!willett.pgh.pa.us!dwp
GEnie: D.PHILIPS3