Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 11:28:35 -0600 (CST)
From: Feren
To: bbssoftware@bbsdocumentary.com
Subject: Correction for "overview of BBS programs."

As a registered WWIV SysOp (#41148) who operated for several years out of
the 612 AC (and did SDS services for a while for WWIV Software Services) I
was interested to see the SlashDot post about the BBS documentary being
produced.  When I saw the link to the overview I instantly went to
http://software.bbsdocumentary.com/ and did a quick skim for my BBS
software of choice.  I noticed some things that concerned me a great deal.
There is a detailed entry for a port of WWIV to the Macintosh platform.
However, the entry for the original WWIV package, which is still being
maintained and updated today for the PC platform, is woefully empty.

Here's some quick information for you:

*WWIV was written by Wayne Bell.
*The WWIV website (WWIV Software
Services) can be found at http://wss.wwiv.com/
*Wayne Bell announced the sale of WWIV Software Services on 1 January,
1998 to Dean Nash (aka Trader Jack)
*WWIV is currently at version 4.30, which can be obtained at the
URL above
*Email for Trader Jack is wss@wwiv.com
*Snail Mail is: WWIV Software Services LLC
120 Judson Drive Gray, TN
37615-2512
*The Mountain Empire BBS (TJ's board) is at 423-477-4015

*WWIV was unique in that once a sysop registered he could obtain a legal
copy of the source code that made up the software, and was allowed to
modify it in any way s/he saw fit.  This could change the look, feel and
even the functionality of the BBS software.  Modifications were constantly
being written and posted to the various networks and file sections of the
BBSs.  In fact, modification for that "unique feel" was encouraged.

*WWIV influenced the BBS world very directly.  Point in case:
When the Telegard BBS software was first released, it was nothing more
than a pirated copy of the WWIV source, heavily modified and with the
most glaring proof that it was WWIV software removed (although canny
users knew where to find other evidence that it was really WWIV
software).  Naturally, the software evolved and was eventually rewritten
into its own source, but this shows how the WWIV software forked another
line of software that became remarkably popular, even if it was done in
an indirect manner.

I strongly encourage you to contact Trader Jack and see if you cannot gain
further information from him.  WWIV was, at its height in the mid 80s to
early 90s, one of the top BBS packages out there, with a number of
WWIV-based message and file networks dedicated to interconnecting these
systems (and ports to connect other systems into the net) and a very
active user base.

Please feel free to contact me for any information you may wish or require
in your search for data for the documentary.

-Jason Olsen
N'ton of Fort Weyr BBS