Retro 42 BBS

Retro42BBS

Story & Origins

Flash back to 1992: Fantasy Uprising was a widely used T.A.G. BBS in the Houston Metro area. In October of 2024, nostalgia came knocking, and I decided 
to bring “retro” back. Running a DOS-based, COM-port BBS on modern hardware proved more than a little challenging, so I set out to build my own.

The first iteration was written in Python, but after battling Telnet quirks and the limitations of available tools, I pivoted to .NET Core 8.0. 
That’s when Retro42BBS really took shape—a fully ANSI-driven system powered by TTYD and C#.

Core Features

Modern ANSI BBS Framework
Built with .NET 8.0 and TTYD, delivering a true retro experience with modern stability.

C# API + PostgreSQL
A dedicated API layer manages authentication, boards, and gameplay data, ensuring scalability and clean separation of concerns.

Door Games Revival
Classic text-based games are back—Trivia, Blackjack, Slots, and more. Future expansion includes fantasy-inspired adventures integrated with DM42.

Menu System & Customization
ANSI-driven menus echo the look of T.A.G. and Telegard while supporting dynamic content pulled from the API.

User Tracking & Persistence
PostgreSQL tables handle sessions, messages, and even per-board “last viewed” timestamps, bringing a modern touch to old-school message boards.

Technology Stack

Languages: C#, SQL, Python (legacy prototype)

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Frameworks: .NET Core 8.0, TTYD
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Database: PostgreSQL
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Hosting: Linux services managed by systemd

Integration: Retro42BBS.API for data and game logic

Why It Matters

Retro42BBS is more than nostalgia—it’s a modern reimagining of what community-driven online spaces looked like before the web took over. It demonstrates:

My ability to architect full-stack systems (from ANSI frontends to REST APIs).

Practical use of .NET 8.0 and PostgreSQL in a complex, stateful application.

A fusion of creativity and technical execution, bringing Fantasy Uprising back to life for a new era.