Research: Vintage CLI multi-user chat software, circa 1989/1990
From
BBS (
/u/faldrich603
https://www.reddit.com/user/faldrich603
) to
All on Mon Mar 2 15:00:36 2026
Back in 89/90, there was a dial-up online multi-user chat we used, paid for via a 900 number. The interface was a plain-text, CLI that had group and private/individual chats; may have been part of a BBS software package. At the time, I was using ProComm on an AT&T 3B1 UNIXPC, using VT100 emulation. I believe it was accessed via telnet but I could be wrong.
I can't recall whether it had a curses-based interface (split screen, UNIX) or not, or provided other emulation. I seem to recall when you entered a private chat, it cleared the screen and there was "some" format to it.
From what I recall, the source code of this may have been available.
I wonder if this rings a bell with anyone here? Any leads would be very appreciated. submitted by /u/faldrich603 [link] [comments]