{{Primary sources|date=November 2009}}

{{Infobox software |name = Searchlight BBS |logo = |screenshot = |caption = |collapsible = |author = Frank LaRosa |developer = Searchlight Software (1987&ndash;1998); TeleGrafix Communications |released = 1985 <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |discontinued = yes |latest release version = 5.1 |latest release date = February 6, 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=http://telegrafix.com/products/searchlight/index.htm |title=Searchlight BBS |website=telegrafix.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011217063957/http://telegrafix.com/products/searchlight/index.htm |archive-date=17 December 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |latest preview version = |latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |programming language = Microsoft Level III BASIC; Turbo Pascal |operating system = DOS |platform = IBM PC compatible; TRS-80 |size = |language = English |genre = Bulletin board system |license = Shareware |website = }}

'''Searchlight BBS''' is a bulletin board system (BBS) developed in 1985 by Frank LaRosa for the TRS-80.<ref name="franklarosa.com">[http://franklarosa.com/trs80/default.jsp First Searchlight BBS]</ref> LaRosa formed a company, Searchlight Software, through which he marketed and sold Searchlight BBS. In 1987, LaRosa expanded the software and sold it as shareware written for the PC in Pascal (using Turbo Pascal).<ref name="franklarosa.com"/> The features of Searchlight BBS included a full screen text editor, a remote DOS shell, and file transfer via the XMODEM protocol. Searchlight BBS rapidly grew in popularity, and appeared frequently in ''Boardwatch'' magazine and at BBS conventions across the United States. Eventually, Searchlight BBS supported FidoNet, ZMODEM, Internet e-mail and telnet connectivity.

In 1995 LaRosa began work on Spinnaker Web Server, to compete with Netscape and other web server software. Searchight Software sold Searchlight BBS, along with Spinnaker Web Server, to TeleGrafix Communications in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://telegrafix.com/pressrel/searchlight.htm |title=Archived copy |website=telegrafix.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010408064508/http://telegrafix.com/pressrel/searchlight.htm |archive-date=8 April 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://bbs.thenet.gen.nz The Trashcan BBS (Still online in Christchurch, New Zealand)(telnet to bbs.thenet.gen.nz port 2324)] *[http://www.slbbs.com/ The Searchlight BBS Support Page] *[http://franklarosa.com/ Frank LaRosa's Personal Homepage (Creator of Searchight Software)] *[http://www.telnetbbsguide.com/ Telnet BBS Guide] *[http://archives.thebbs.org/ The BBS Archives] *[https://archive.org/details/bbs_documentary BBS Documentary Video Collection (Internet Archive)] *[http://bbslist.textfiles.com/ The TEXTFILES.COM Historical BBS List]

Category:Bulletin board system software

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