BBS — Runable.app

What is a BBS?

A Bulletin Board System (BBS) is one of the earliest forms of online community, dating back to the late 1970s. Users connect via Telnet (originally dial-up modems) to read messages, upload and download files, play door games, and chat — all through a text-based terminal interface.

Our BBS will bring back the classic experience — ANSI art, message forums, file areas, and retro door games. Stay tuned.

telnet bbs.runable.app 10000

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What to Expect

💬

Message Boards

Threaded discussion forums for conversations on any topic — the original online community.

📁

File Sharing

Upload and download files through the BBS file area — software, text files, and more.

🎮

Door Games

Classic text-based multiplayer games like Legend of the Red Dragon, TradeWars, and more.

GUI Clients

Desktop applications for connecting to BBS systems with a graphical interface.

⭐

SyncTERM Recommended

Win, Mac, Linux — The go-to BBS terminal. Supports Telnet, SSH, and RLogin with full ANSI, RIP, and Petscii graphics. Built specifically for BBS access.

syncterm.bbsdev.net →

📟

NetRunner

Windows — A modern BBS terminal with RIP graphics support, ANSI music, and a tabbed interface for connecting to multiple boards at once.

mysticbbs.com →

🖥

mTelnet

Windows — A lightweight, open-source Telnet client with phonebook-style BBS dialing, ANSI support, and file transfer protocols (Zmodem, Ymodem).

mtelnet.sourceforge.net →

🎨

PuTTY

Win, Linux — Not BBS-specific, but a rock-solid Telnet/SSH client that works well for text-mode BBS access. Universally available.

putty.org →

CLI & TUI Clients

Terminal-based tools for connecting to BBS systems from the command line.

💻

SyncTERM (CLI)

Win, Mac, Linux — Also runs in text mode. Full ANSI support with Telnet, SSH, and RLogin protocols. The best all-around BBS client.

sudo apt install syncterm or syncterm.bbsdev.net →

⌨

telnet / ncat

Win, Mac, Linux — The simplest way to connect. Built into most systems. Basic but functional for text-mode boards.

telnet bbs.example.com 23 or sudo apt install telnet

📡

minicom

Linux, Mac — A classic serial/modem terminal emulator. For the truly retro experience of dialing into a BBS over a real modem.

sudo apt install minicom or brew install minicom

🌍

EtherTerm

Win, Mac, Linux — An SDL-based terminal emulator with full ANSI/Xterm support. Designed for BBS and MUD connections with modern rendering.

GitHub → — build from source