BBS (Bulletin Board System)
The late '70s and early '80s were a golden age for the burgeoning world of technology, with bulletin board systems (BBS) paving the way for many of today’s innovations—social media, forums, email, and even file sharing. These systems thrived on the shoulders of microcomputing legends: the Apple II, Radio Shack’s Tandy TRS-80 series, the ATARI 800, Commodore 64, and the mighty IBM PC, each playing a pivotal role. Tucked into basements, perched on kitchen tables, or hidden away in lofts, these machines waited patiently for the familiar handshake of a modem’s carrier signal. Wide-eyed enthusiasts sat before glowing phosphor screens, captivated by the screeches and clicks of modems and acoustic couplers—sounds that signalled a handshake of soon-to-be old and trusted friends.
SYSOPS: the undisputed masters of their domains, each presiding over a carefully crafted BBS they had built from the ground up. Hours were spent perfecting every detail, shaping the look and feel of the digital worlds they offered to those bold enough to dial into their kingdoms. From custom welcome messages to hand-curated file libraries, every corner of a BBS reflected the SYSOP's vision. Long before the commercial giants took centre stage, the little guys ruled the roost. From basements and spare rooms across the globe, these unsung heroes pulled us together, creating vibrant communities of enthusiasts who swapped files, played door games, and shared stories—all while discovering something new, something different, something truly wondrous.
For those of us who share a fondness for those pioneering days, the documentaries linked below are a heartfelt celebration of the SYSOPS, the systems, and the spirit of connection that defined this extraordinary chapter in technology.
The people responsible for the BBS documentary have a website you can find it at http://bbsdocumentary.com
Back to the BBS - Teaser Trailer
Back to the BBS - Part One: The return to being online.
Back to the BBS - Part Two: The Games and Mods.
Back to the BBS - Part Three: Privacy, Messaging & Hardware.
Back to the BBS - Part Four: BBS Server Software.
Back to the BBS - Part Five: The Underground.
Back to the BBS - Part Six: The Demoscene.
Back to the BBS - Part 7: The Music Tracker Scene.
Back to the BBS - Part 8: The Art Scene.
Back to the BBS is the wonderful creation of Al from Al's Geek Lab, I loved this series so much I wanted to pay it some homage. You can find Al and his lab on YouTube or at the his official home page.