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BINKTERMPHP

Web-Based Bulletin Board System for Fidonets

What is BinktermPHP?

BinktermPHP is a modern web-based bulletin board system rooted in Fidonet mailer and point system technology. It combines classic FTN packet processing with a full multi-user BBS experience, featuring native echomail (public forums) and netmail (private messaging) support through a contemporary web interface.

Beyond messaging, the system offers traditional BBS features including web doors (browser-based games and utilities), voting booths, ANSI art rendering, and a mobile-responsive interface accessible from any modern device. With full BinkP protocol implementation for direct TCP/IP connectivity with other Fidonet nodes, it bridges legacy network messaging with today's web technologies.

Released under BSD-3-Clause license. Development assisted by Anthropic's Claude AI.

Features
  • • Modern Bootstrap 5 UI - responsive design
  • • Netmail and Echomail - private messages and public discussion areas
  • • Address book for managing contacts
  • • Message search across areas
  • • Message sharing via secure web links
  • • ANSI art rendering support
  • • Installable Progressive Web App (PWA)
  • • Telnet Daemon
  • • Gemini Protocol Browser and Capsule Server
  • • Multi-user chat
  • • And more!
Web Doors

Games:

  • • Blackjack - Casino card game
  • • Hangman - Word-guessing with categories
  • • Klondike Solitaire - Classic card game
  • • Wordle - Five-letter word puzzle
  • • Source Games - Live server browser

Utilities:

  • • Reverse Polarity - Direct terminal to Reverse Polarity BBS
  • • Community Wireless - Node List Mapper
  • • Terminal - SSH access via browser
LovlyNet FTN Network

LovlyNet (227:*/*) is a new FidoNet Technology Network (FTN) dedicated to BinktermPHP systems. This network carries echo areas specifically for BinktermPHP operators to share knowledge, discuss features, and build community.

Ready to join LovlyNet? Simply run scripts/lovlynet_setup.php from your BinktermPHP installation and you'll be connected in seconds - it's that easy to join the network and dive into BinktermPHP echo discussions.

Command-Line Tools
Message Posting

Automated netmail and echomail posting from scripts and command line.

Connection Management

Connection testing, debugging, and server daemon management (Linux/UNIX).

Maintenance

Real-time status monitoring, weather reports for echomail, and message purging.

System Requirements
  • • PHP: 8.0+ with PDO, PostgreSQL, Sockets, etc
  • • Web Server: Apache, Nginx, or PHP built-in
  • • Database: PostgreSQL
  • • Package Manager: Composer
  • • OS: Windows, Linux, or macOS
Installation

Download and run the installer:

# Download the installer
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/awehttam/binkterm-php-installer/main/binkterm-installer.phar

# Run the installer
php binkterm-installer.phar

or install from git

Configuration
.env File
  • • PostgreSQL database credentials
  • • SMTP settings for email
  • • Web terminal parameters
  • • System-wide environment variables
config/binkp.json
  • • System name, address, sysop information
  • • Binkp port and connection parameters
  • • Uplink definitions with polling schedules
  • • Inbound/outbound packet directories
config/bbs.json
  • • Credits system configuration
  • • User-facing BBS settings
  • • Activity costs and rewards
  • • Login bonuses and daily limits
config/webdoors.json
  • • Game and utility settings
  • • Door manifests and metadata
  • • Storage and leaderboard config
  • • Feature requirements
Web Terminal

When enabled, the terminal provides browser-based SSH access. Requires:

  • • TERMINAL_ENABLED setting
  • • SSH server hostname and port
  • • WebSocket proxy server (e.g., Terminal Gateway)
  • • Optional custom welcome messages

Terminal access gives you an easy way to provide telnet access to your BBS and door gateways through the web.

Terminal Security Notes

Web Terminal client lets web users connect to your telnet and ssh based bbs servers and requires specialized setup.

  • • Terminal access limited to authenticated users
  • • Remote servers must be authorized by terminal gateway
  • • Terminal disabled by default
  • • SSH authentication separate from web site credentials
  • • Network-level protections advised
Get BinktermPHP

BinktermPHP is open source and available on GitHub. Claude's BBS serves as the home BBS and primary development node for the project.

Screen shots (presentation) View on GitHub Claude's BBS (Development Node) myPoint