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  • Re: IRC-like FORUM for TOPS-10

    From Mr. Rogers@mrrogersmaddenfilmroom@gmail.com to alt.sys.pdp10,alt.folklore.computers on Wed Jun 17 09:36:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    jayjwa wrote:
    I came across this find today on the DECUS tapes [1]. The files are
    dated '79 so this is way before IRC yet it looks very much like IRC,
    right down to the "/" style commands. The best part is that it still builds/runs. The package comes with some support programs that are
    useful in their own right (linked-lists, output library).

    .r forum

    FORUM -- A program for inter-terminal communication

    Please enter your name (up to 20 characters): jayjwa
    ********** Welcome to the FORUM ********** 17-Apr-99 13:00:58 <OPERATOR has entered the FORUM>
    <OPERATOR>: I can't believe this is working in 2026.
    Evidently it is, and it comes with some nice packages as well.
    I shall install it in the base system.
    <OPERATOR>: This really reminds me of IRC...
    /list

    <List of commands: H, HELP, EX, EXIT, WHO, REPLAY, REMOVE, MYNAME,
    TELL, SEND, SYSTAT, MYFILE, ACCESS, NOACCE, PROFIL, LOG, NOLOG,
    LC, LOWERC, UC, UPPERC, TIME, ENTMAX, AUTHOR, WHAT, HOW,
    WHY, HELLO, HI, LIST, EXPOSE, USER, WHEN, WHERE, LOCATE,
    TTY, PPN, JOB, ENTRY, BEEP, GROUP, NOGROU, FORCE, NOFORC,
    IGNORE>
    /hi
    <Hi, there>
    /tty operator
    <OPERATOR is located at TTY105>
    /tty
    <You are located at TTY4>
    /time
    <The current time is 13:08:46>
    <OPERATOR>: Time to move the files into the correct places.
    <OPERATOR>: Good bye.
    <OPERATOR has left the FORUM>
    /exit
    Bye-bye

    .r who

    */tty
    Job User name PPN Line Connect Prog Low + Hgh OH State
    5 JAYJWA 30,1 TTY4 NERGIG_4 WHO 14+0 3 R1* *^Z

    .r monitr

    Monitor name: KL+NETMON-704
    Monitor build date: 18-Jan-99
    Monitor version: 70400
    Monitor load date/time: 16-Apr-99:21:57:03
    Monitor uptime: 15:44:39
    File from which monitor was loaded: DSKB:NETMON.EXE[1,4]


    [1] https://pdp-10.trailing-edge.com/decuslib10-08/01/43,50501/abstrt.doc.html


    I'm on https://telehack.com/ watching an ascii art program of "A New
    Hope" after going down this rabbit hole.
    --
    +--[ Mr. Rogers ]------------------------------------------------------+
    | stray signals & static electricity // a ghost in the infrastructure |
    | watching the web decay, one dead hyperlink at a time | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    --- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Daniel@me@sc1f1dan.com to alt.sys.pdp10,alt.folklore.computers on Wed Jun 17 09:08:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.folklore.computers

    "Mr. Rogers" <mrrogersmaddenfilmroom@gmail.com> writes:

    jayjwa wrote:
    I came across this find today on the DECUS tapes [1]. The files are
    dated '79 so this is way before IRC yet it looks very much like IRC,
    right down to the "/" style commands. The best part is that it still
    builds/runs. The package comes with some support programs that are
    useful in their own right (linked-lists, output library).
    .r forum
    FORUM --
    A program for inter-terminal communication
    Please
    enter your name (up to 20 characters): jayjwa
    ********** Welcome to the FORUM ********** 17-Apr-99 13:00:58 >> <OPERATOR has entered the FORUM>
    <OPERATOR>: I can't believe this is working in 2026.
    Evidently it is, and it comes with some nice packages as well.
    I shall install it in the base system.
    <OPERATOR>: This really reminds me of IRC...
    /list
    <List of commands: H, HELP, EX, EXIT, WHO, REPLAY, REMOVE, MYNAME,
    TELL, SEND, SYSTAT, MYFILE, ACCESS, NOACCE, PROFIL, LOG, NOLOG,
    LC, LOWERC, UC, UPPERC, TIME, ENTMAX, AUTHOR, WHAT, HOW,
    WHY, HELLO, HI, LIST, EXPOSE, USER, WHEN, WHERE, LOCATE,
    TTY, PPN, JOB, ENTRY, BEEP, GROUP, NOGROU, FORCE, NOFORC,
    IGNORE>
    /hi
    <Hi, there>
    /tty operator
    <OPERATOR is located at TTY105>
    /tty
    <You are located at TTY4>
    /time
    <The current time is 13:08:46>
    <OPERATOR>: Time to move the files into the correct places.
    <OPERATOR>: Good bye.
    <OPERATOR has left the FORUM>
    /exit
    Bye-bye
    .r who
    */tty
    Job User name PPN Line Connect Prog Low + Hgh OH State >> 5 JAYJWA 30,1 TTY4 NERGIG_4 WHO 14+0 3 R1* >> *^Z
    .r monitr
    Monitor name: KL+NETMON-704
    Monitor build date: 18-Jan-99
    Monitor version: 70400
    Monitor load date/time: 16-Apr-99:21:57:03
    Monitor uptime: 15:44:39
    File from which monitor was loaded: DSKB:NETMON.EXE[1,4]
    [1]
    https://pdp-10.trailing-edge.com/decuslib10-08/01/43,50501/abstrt.doc.html >>

    I'm on https://telehack.com/ watching an ascii art program of "A New
    Hope" after going down this rabbit hole.

    Great find above. Yeah telehack is a great spot. Whenever I'm designing
    a new door for my bbs, I use the figlet tool on telehack. I haven't gone
    down the rabbit hole though, I only use a few features so far.

    I connect on telehack via telnet though, I didn't know it also has a web portal.

    --
    Daniel
    sysop | air & wave bbs
    finger | info@bbs.airandwave.net
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