The BBS list

A directory of ProBoard boards, in three parts that work together:

  1. BBSLIST.P3X, the plug-in. Callers browse, search and download the list from a menu item. It reads only local files, so it never slows a caller down.
  2. PBDispatch, the sync. Tools > BBS List downloads the published list, verifies it, writes the SyncTERM and PBTerm exports, and (optionally) checks your own board in with the list server.
  3. BBSListServer, the web side (PHP and MySQL). Sysops register once, boards check in automatically, a moderator approves, and the server publishes static files that every board downloads.

The published files are plain static files at https://www.proboardbbs.com/bbslist/: bbslist.json (the list), bbslist.json.sig (an optional signature), syncterm.lst (a SyncTERM address book), pbterm.json (a PBTerm phonebook) and index.html. Only the check-in side needs PHP.

Running a list by hand

You can run a list with no server code at all:

PBRelease bbslist template --out mylist.json
PBRelease bbslist keygen
PBRelease bbslist build --source mylist.json --out upload
PBRelease bbslist verify --dir upload

The keygen step prints the listkey line for BBSLIST.CFG. Upload the upload folder to /bbslist/.

Your board's entry

Make Configs\BBSLIST.CFG (copy BBSLIST.CFG.SAMPLE) with your board's name, sysop, location, country, description and an address. If you belong to PBLink as well, see PBLink for the synchours setting.

The BBS list server setup is covered in more detail in the source documentation (BBSList.txt); a full page is being written.