He shared: Impulse BBS getting some love ... on Reddit
After watching the video, I jumped onto my LinkedIn account, and tracked down NivenH. Introduced myself (a programmer with the same roots, except I started BBSing in 1983).
So, I downloaded the 7.1 source from **Serial Port**. I had developed near 10+ different BBS packages ~ however, this was the first time I stopped and tried to decipher a "Forum BBS" source. I have worked on Vision/X, Oblivion2, and other Art-Scene BBS packages... even authored the original RiSC BBS package for couriers in 1996 (based upon QuickBBS 2.x source code). The first time view of a Forum BBS source is crazy, when you see they used like 3 file names with adding a sequential number to the filename each time new ideas were incorporated. So, you have MAIL1.PAS, MAIL2.PAS, etc. FILE1.PAS, SYSOP1.PAS, MENU1.PAS - A total of 115 source files for Impulse 7.1...
It took me a while to get over my "NIH" (Not invented Here) issue a friend said I have. (meaning, I do not like using other people's code ~ I would rather write it from scratch). But, I started like I always do when taking over someone else's code. I opened the main source file IMP.PAS ~ and a notepad (actual pencil and paper!), I write down the flow of the code first ~ so I can learn what units are doing what. So I end up with my "Cheat-Sheet Quick Reference" by the time I am finished.