RLTELNET.SH and rlwrap
RLTELNET.SH is a small shell script that runs a Telnet client through rlwrap and Expect. It provides local command-line editing and history while connecting to either MajorBBS/Worldgroup or MBBSEmu. The script is a convenience for players using a Unix-like terminal; it does not change the game.
Download and use
Download RLTELNET.SH from the ge-next repository. Install telnet, rlwrap, and expect, then run:
chmod +x RLTELNET.SH ./RLTELNET.SH example.com 2323
Replace the hostname and port with those of the BBS. It is a shell script, not a DOS batch file. It can be used from Linux and other Unix-like environments; on Windows, a suitable Unix-like environment such as WSL is needed.
What rlwrap adds
rlwrap gives a Telnet session left/right cursor editing and up/down command history. A partially typed command stays local until Enter, so incoming game output can continue to appear while the line is being edited.
MajorBBS may ask the terminal for its cursor position during detection; the script answers that request before rlwrap can mistake the response for typed input. It also normalizes MBBSEmu's password-prompt ANSI sequence so rlwrap can recognize both MajorBBS and MBBSEmu prompts. The prompt match is intended to keep passwords out of local echo and command history. If a BBS uses a different password prompt, verify that masking works before entering a real password. Telnet itself is unencrypted; this wrapper does not make the connection private.
See also
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