In today’s world of instant communication, it’s easy to take the internet for granted. But long before we had social media, forums, or even the web, there was the Bulletin Board System, or BBS. For many, it was their first experience of online communities, digital communication, and file sharing. Let’s dive into the early days of BBS, a critical precursor to the internet we know today.
What is a BBS?
A Bulletin Board System (BBS) was essentially a server running software that allowed users to connect, typically through a dial-up modem, to perform a variety of functions. Once connected, users could post messages, share files, play text-based games, and communicate with others—often within their local area. This was an era when “online” meant connecting to someone’s computer over a phone line, often one user at a time, making it an experience vastly different from the internet of today.
The Beginning: Ward Christensen and Randy Suess
The history of BBS begins in 1978, when two computer enthusiasts, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess, built the first system that would change the course of digital communication. At the time, Christensen and Suess were members of the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyists’ Exchange (CACHE), a local group of technology aficionados who often found themselves isolated from one another during Chicago’s harsh winter months.
Christensen had developed a file transfer protocol named Xmodem, a program designed to transfer files between computers over phone lines. This led to the duo’s big idea—what if they could use this technology to create a system where users could connect to a central computer, leave messages, and share files with one another? From this concept, the CBBS (Computerized Bulletin Board System) was born, considered the first-ever BBS.
They completed the CBBS software in early 1978, and for the first time, people could dial into a central computer, upload and download data, and leave messages for others. It was a groundbreaking moment in computer history and the beginning of something much larger.
The Technology of the Early Days
In the late 1970s, the technology needed to run and access a BBS was basic by today’s standards. Early personal computers like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and IBM PC were beginning to emerge, but these machines had very limited processing power, storage, and memory. Dial-up modems, which allowed computers to communicate over phone lines, were slow and unreliable by modern standards, typically operating at speeds of 300 baud—roughly 0.03 kilobytes per second.
Despite these limitations, the simplicity of the BBS system was part of its charm. All you needed was a computer, a modem, and a phone line. The early users, often called “sysops” (system operators), would run BBS software on their home machines and keep them open to the public. As users connected, they could leave messages, download or upload files, and interact with one another in what was the first form of “online” social interaction.
The Rise of Local BBS Communities
Initially, BBSes were localized due to the costs associated with long-distance phone calls. Most users connected to BBSes in their local area, which gave rise to tight-knit communities that mirrored real-life interactions. Many boards were focused on specific topics, like computer programming, science fiction, or gaming, while others were more general-purpose hangouts where people from the same area could meet and chat.
These BBS communities became hotbeds for discussions, collaborations, and innovation. They were a precursor to the forums and social networks of today, bringing together like-minded individuals to share ideas, troubleshoot problems, or simply pass the time. Each BBS had its unique flavor and culture, defined largely by the sysop who ran it and the user base that frequented it.
FidoNet: Expanding Beyond Local
As the popularity of BBS grew, so did the desire to connect systems beyond local boundaries. One of the first major networks to enable long-distance communication between BBSes was FidoNet, created by Tom Jennings in 1984. FidoNet allowed BBSes to communicate with one another, enabling users to send messages and files to people outside their local area. This development effectively created a global BBS network, connecting users from different cities and countries in a way that had never been possible before.
FidoNet set the stage for the kind of long-distance, global communication that the internet would later perfect. By the mid-1980s, thousands of BBSes were running worldwide, each contributing to a growing culture of digital communication and community building.
Conclusion
The birth of the Bulletin Board System in 1978 marked the beginning of a new era in communication. What started as a way for a small group of computer enthusiasts to stay connected during a Chicago winter would grow into a global phenomenon. Early BBSes were more than just a novelty—they represented the first real opportunity for people to communicate and share ideas in a digital space.
In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how BBS systems rapidly grew in popularity during the 1980s, paving the way for the massive, interconnected world we live in today.