retro 42 BBS

Overview

Retro42BBS is a modern reimagining of the classic Bulletin Board Systems of the early 1990s. Inspired by my original Fantasy Uprising T.A.G. BBS, Retro42BBS brings back ANSI-driven menus, door games, and community message boards — but rebuilt with today’s technology stack.

You can explore the live system here: Retro42BBS

Why I Built It

Running a traditional DOS-based T.A.G. BBS on modern hardware proved to be more trouble than it was worth. I wanted to capture the nostalgia of the original Fantasy Uprising experience while also leveraging modern tools for stability, security, and scalability. Retro42BBS is the result — a way to keep that BBS spirit alive in 2025 and beyond.

Tech Stack

• Operating System: Linux Mint

• Framework: .NET Core 8.0

• Frontend Experience: ANSI-driven menus served via TTYD

• Database: PostgreSQL

• API Layer: Retro42BBS.API — built with DTO / Session / Controller flow, including authentication tokens for secure access and scalability.

Features

• ANSI Menu System: Full-screen ANSI menus recreate the authentic BBS experience while allowing modern customization.

• Message Boards: Threaded boards with user-specific “last viewed” timestamps for tracking new messages.

• Door Games: Classic text-based door games brought back to life, including:

  • Blackjack

  • Trivia

• User Management: Authentication, role-based permissions, and secure session tracking.

• Extensible API: Retro42BBS.API enables clean integration of new games, boards, and modules without disrupting the core system.

Architecture at a Glance

Retro42BBS follows a clean, modular architecture:

• Retro42BBS (Frontend): ANSI-driven user interface delivered over telnet/TTYD.

• Retro42BBS.API (Backend): Handles database access, authentication, user sessions, and door game logic.

• PostgreSQL Database: Stores users, sessions, message boards, and game data.

This separation allows Retro42BBS to evolve and expand while keeping the user experience true to the BBS era.