• Custom Mystic BBS to access / join Fidonet

    From Paul Hayton@3:770/100 to All on Mon Oct 27 08:46:43 2014
    I've been playing with Mystic BBS and starting to create a customised turnkey system that someone can download, unzip and use.

    So far so good, using a copy of A53. I had left a number of default install menu options in place but now I'm starting to think 'no' and perhaps it's better to really create something that while basic looking, will not be
    overly confusing to a first time user.

    When I have something I want to share I'll post a copy of the files on Agency BBS for download / feedback :-)


    `I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid, and I'm not going' - Kerr Avon, Blake's 7

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 A53 (Windows)
    * Origin: Agency BBS | telnet://agency.bbs.geek.nz (3:770/100)
  • From Spiro Dotgeek@3:772/300 to Paul Hayton on Mon Oct 27 09:20:46 2014
    So far so good, using a copy of A53. I had left a number of default install menu options in place but now I'm starting to think 'no' and perhaps it's better to really create something that while basic looking, will not be overly confusing to a first time user.

    If I'm interpreting that correctly, you're saying you'll be cutting out
    unused menus, or only including the ones needed?

    It's a good idea to cull them, but also consider that some of the inactive
    ones are, or could be, used as examples.

    I recall seeing an old doc somewhere that guided a new sysop step by step in what they needed to do to configure a specific package to get it up and running. Perhaps a mix of the two, your turnkey solution, plus a doc which covered a few other things, or offered "cookbook" style hints on how to do specific things -- eg; how to set up a lightbar menu, a door game, how to configure a new theme/language, or things of that nature.

    Happy to help out with the docs there too (disclaimer: time permitting). :D

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 A53 (Linux)
    * Origin: The Shadow Dominion BBS (3:772/300)
  • From Paul Hayton@3:770/100 to Spiro Dotgeek on Mon Oct 27 10:28:52 2014
    On 10/27/14, Spiro Dotgeek pondered and said...

    If I'm interpreting that correctly, you're saying you'll be cutting out unused menus, or only including the ones needed?

    Well that's what I started to think, but in doing so it's hard to know where
    to draw the line. Was starting to think the best way would be to just cut it right down but save an original menu in the BBS menus so anyone could look at the unfetted version.

    I also figured if we offered a current version of the Mystic installer then anyone who really wants to play BBS can get their hands on the untouched version to install and play with anyway.

    I recall seeing an old doc somewhere that guided a new sysop step by
    step in what they needed to do to configure a specific package to get it up and running. Perhaps a mix of the two, your turnkey solution, plus a doc which covered a few other things, or offered "cookbook" style hints
    on how to do specific things -- eg; how to set up a lightbar menu, a
    door game, how to configure a new theme/language, or things of that nature.

    Happy to help out with the docs there too (disclaimer: time permitting).

    Thanks :-) For me first step is to just configure something basic that will offer Fido NZ echoareas and access to Fido nodelist and snooze in the file
    area of the BBS.

    Labour day fun :-)


    `I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid, and I'm not going' - Kerr Avon, Blake's 7

    --- Mystic BBS v1.10 A53 (Windows)
    * Origin: Agency BBS | telnet://agency.bbs.geek.nz (3:770/100)