WWWAdmin Just Won't Work!

Check file permissions on wwwadmin.pl (should be 755), verify the path to passwd.txt, ensure it's readable by the web server, and check your Perl path.

WWWAdmin works, but the password parts don't!

Ensure passwd.txt contains properly encrypted passwords using Perl's crypt() function in format username:encrypted_password.

Where can I get add-ons and help for WWWBoard?

For modern alternatives, consider phpBB, Discourse, NodeBB, or Flarum as forum software options.

Does WWWBoard run on Windows NT/Windows?

Yes, with Perl for Windows (ActivePerl or Strawberry Perl) and a web server with CGI support.

I think my WWWBoard was hacked, how so?

Earlier versions had a vulnerability where followup fields could be manipulated. Update to version 2.0 ALPHA 2.1 with security patches.

How do I customize the look of WWWBoard?

Edit wwwboard.html template, modify HTML output in wwwboard.pl, add CSS styles, or change configuration variables.

How do I run multiple boards?

Create separate directories for each board with unique paths, data.txt, and messages/ directories.

What are modern alternatives to WWWBoard?

Modern alternatives include phpBB, Discourse, NodeBB, Flarum, XenForo, and Vanilla Forums.

WWWBoard

A threaded World Wide Web discussion forum and message board that allows users to post new messages and follow up to existing ones.

"WWWBoard, a Perl script-based message board with some of the features found in higher-end products."

PCWeek, July 1996

Perl v2.0 ALPHA 2.1 Patched Jan 2000

Download View Demo Readme

Note: This is a fan archive. We provide documentation and modern alternatives inspired by the original WWWBoard concept.

Quick Info

Version: 2.0 ALPHA 2.1
Patched: January 07, 2000
Language: Perl 5+
License: Free for use
Includes: WWWAdmin tool

History Modern Alternatives Overview Features Installation Download FAQ

Historical Context

WWWBoard was one of the most influential CGI scripts from the 1990s. Released in 1996, it pioneered web-based discussion forums before dedicated forum software existed.

"WWWBoard, a Perl script-based message board with some of the features found in higher-end products."

PCWeek, July 1996

Why WWWBoard Mattered

First web forums: Before phpBB or vBulletin existed
Threaded discussions: Revolutionary for the time
Free & open: No expensive software needed
Community building: Enabled early web communities

The Evolution of Forums

1996: WWWBoard, UBB (Ultimate Bulletin Board)
2000: phpBB, vBulletin launched
2010: Facebook Groups, Reddit growth
2014: Discourse, modern forum era

Security Note: WWWBoard had significant security vulnerabilities. Version 2.0 ALPHA 2.1 includes patches, but for production use, we strongly recommend modern forum software.

Modern Forum Software (2024)

Today's forum software offers moderation tools, spam protection, mobile support, and integrations that WWWBoard couldn't provide:

Modern & Recommended

Discourse

Modern forum platform used by 30,000+ communities (Docker, GitLab, etc). Trust system, auto-upgrades, mailing list mode.

Open Source Ruby/Docker Hosted from $100/mo

Flarum

Lightweight, mobile-first, fastest forum software. Clean UI, MIT licensed. Great for small-medium communities.

Open Source PHP MIT License

NodeBB

Real-time Node.js forum. Modern UI, social integrations, plugins, themes. Redis/MongoDB backend.

Open Source Node.js

Traditional / Easy Setup

phpBB

Most popular open source forum since 2000. 1-click install on shared hosting. WordPress/Drupal integration.

Free PHP Easy setup

SMF (Simple Machines Forum)

Feature-rich PHP forum. Easy customization, large community, lightweight.

Free PHP

MyBB

Free, extensible forum. Plugin system, themes, moderation tools. PHP/MySQL.

Free PHP LGPL

Commercial / Enterprise

XenForo

Premium forum software. Rich features, excellent support.

From $160

Invision Community

Suite: Forums, CMS, commerce, support. Enterprise-grade.

From $45/mo

Vanilla Forums

Cloud or self-hosted. Modern design, gamification, Q&A.

Open Source Cloud paid

Comparison: WWWBoard vs Modern Forums

Feature	WWWBoard (1996)	phpBB	Discourse
User registration	No	Yes	Yes
Spam protection	None	CAPTCHA, Akismet	AI + Trust levels
Mobile support	No	Themes	Built-in
Search	None	Full-text	Advanced
Notifications	None	Email	Real-time
Moderation	Basic admin	Full suite	Trust system
Database	Flat files	MySQL	PostgreSQL
Setup difficulty	Easy	1-click	Docker

Overview

WWWBoard is a threaded World Wide Web discussion forum and message board. Users can post new messages, follow up to existing ones, and participate in discussions organized by thread.

The current release (2.0 ALPHA 2.1) includes the WWWAdmin program for board maintenance and has security patches to prevent board clobbering by followup fields.

Package Contents

File	Description
`wwwboard.pl`	Main WWWBoard Perl script
`wwwadmin.pl`	Admin script for board maintenance
`wwwboard.html`	HTML file with post form and message links
`faq.html`	FAQ file for your users
`data.txt`	Data file tracking message numbers
`passwd.txt`	Password file for WWWAdmin
`messages/`	Directory where posted messages are stored
`README`	Installation and configuration guide
`ADMIN_README`	WWWAdmin documentation
`ALPHA-2`	Special information about this release

Features

Discussion Features

Threaded message display
Post new messages
Follow up to existing posts
Subject line threading
Email address linking
Optional URL field

Admin Features (WWWAdmin)

Password-protected administration
Delete individual messages
Remove threads
Board maintenance tools
Message archiving options

Security Note: Version 2.0 ALPHA 2.1 includes security patches that prevent board clobbering through followup fields. Make sure you're using the patched version.

Installation

Requirements: Perl 5+, Web server with CGI support, Write permissions for messages directory

Step 1: Download and Extract

Download the WWWBoard package and extract all files.

Step 2: Upload Files

wwwboard.pl → CGI-bin directory
wwwadmin.pl → CGI-bin directory
wwwboard.html → Web directory
faq.html → Web directory
data.txt → Web directory (or secure location)
passwd.txt → Secure location outside web root
messages/ → Create directory in web space

Step 3: Set Permissions

# Scripts executable
chmod 755 wwwboard.pl
chmod 755 wwwadmin.pl

# Data files writable
chmod 666 data.txt
chmod 666 wwwboard.html

# Messages directory writable
chmod 777 messages/

Step 4: Configure Variables

Edit wwwboard.pl and set required paths and URLs.

Step 5: Set Admin Password

Create a password hash and add it to passwd.txt for WWWAdmin access.

Download

Download the WWWBoard script package:

wwwboard.tar.gz ~16 KB wwwboard.zip ~19 KB

View Individual Files

Working Demo

See WWWBoard in action:

Frequently Asked Questions

Common issues with WWWAdmin:

Check file permissions on wwwadmin.pl (should be 755)
Verify the path to passwd.txt is correct
Ensure passwd.txt is readable by the web server
Check your Perl path in the shebang line
Look at server error logs for specific errors

Password authentication issues:

Ensure passwd.txt contains properly encrypted passwords
Use Perl's crypt() function to generate password hashes
Format should be: username:encrypted_password
Check file permissions on passwd.txt

See the Extras section below for historical add-ons. For modern alternatives, consider:

phpBB - Free open source forum
Discourse - Modern discussion platform
NodeBB - Node.js based forum
Flarum - Elegant forum software

Yes, WWWBoard can run on Windows with:

Perl for Windows (ActivePerl or Strawberry Perl)
A web server with CGI support (IIS, Apache for Windows)
Proper path adjustments in the script

Note: File paths use backslashes on Windows, so adjust accordingly.

Security Issue: Earlier versions had a vulnerability where followup fields could be manipulated to clobber the board.

To protect your board:

Update to version 2.0 ALPHA 2.1 with security patches
Restrict admin access by IP if possible
Regularly backup your messages directory
Consider modern forum alternatives with better security

Customization options:

Edit wwwboard.html template for the main page
Modify HTML output in wwwboard.pl
Add CSS styles to customize appearance
Change colors and fonts in configuration variables

To run multiple WWWBoards:

Create separate directories for each board
Copy all files to each directory
Configure each wwwboard.pl with unique paths
Use different data.txt and messages/ for each

Or use the single-script multiple boards modification from the Extras section.

Modern forum software alternatives:

phpBB - Free, open source, PHP-based
Discourse - Modern, feature-rich platform
NodeBB - Real-time Node.js forum
Flarum - Elegant, simple forum
XenForo - Commercial forum software
Vanilla Forums - Cloud or self-hosted

View All FAQs | WWWBoard FAQ Archive

WWWBoard in Action

See examples of WWWBoard implementations:

WWWBoard Extras

Historical add-ons and modifications for WWWBoard:

Multiple Boards on One Script

Run multiple discussion boards using a single wwwboard.pl installation.

Multi-Page Layout

Solution for large bulletin boards with archiving and pagination options.

Simple Search Engine

Add search functionality to find messages in your WWWBoard.

Preview Before Posting

Allow users to preview their messages before submitting.

Private Board

Create a password-protected private discussion board.

Subscription Function

Email notifications when new posts are added.

Japanese Version

Support for Japanese characters with translated documentation.

Related Scripts

Guestbook Perl

Simpler visitor comment system without threading.

FormMail Perl

Send form data via email instead of posting to a board.