Command Reference
Command Reference
Complete reference for all meshbbs commands available to users.
See also: the Games page for public channel mini‑games (e.g., Slot Machine, Magic 8‑Ball).
Connection Commands
Initial Discovery (Public Channel)
These commands are used on the public Meshtastic channel and require a prefix. The default is ^, but your sysop can change it via bbs.public_command_prefix.
Reliability:
- Public broadcasts are best‑effort; the BBS may request an ACK and treats any single ACK as basic delivery confirmation, but it does not retry broadcasts.
- Direct messages (DM) are reliable with ACK tracking and retries.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
<prefix>HELP |
Show available public commands (broadcast) and send BBS instructions (DM) | ^HELP (default) |
<prefix>LOGIN username |
Register for a private session | ^LOGIN alice (default) |
<prefix>WEATHER |
Show current weather | ^WEATHER (default) |
<prefix>SLOT / <prefix>SLOTMACHINE |
Spin the emoji slot machine (5 coins per spin; daily refill) | ^SLOT (default) |
<prefix>SLOTSTATS |
Show your coin balance and slot stats | ^SLOTSTATS (default) |
<prefix>8BALL |
Ask the Magic 8‑Ball a question; get a random response | ^8BALL (default) |
<prefix>FORTUNE |
Get a random fortune from classic Unix wisdom databases | ^FORTUNE (default) |
💡 Discovery Tip: New to the BBS? Send
<prefix>HELP(default^HELP) on the public channel to see all available public commands broadcasted to everyone, plus get BBS setup instructions via DM.
Session Commands (Direct Message)
After using <prefix>LOGIN (default ^LOGIN) on the public channel, open a direct message to the BBS node to access these commands:
Authentication
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
LOGIN username [password] |
Log in (sets password if first time) | LOGIN alice mypass |
REGISTER username password |
Create new account | REGISTER bob secret123 |
LOGOUT |
End current session | LOGOUT |
CHPASS old new |
Change password | CHPASS oldpass newpass |
SETPASS new |
Set password (for passwordless accounts) | SETPASS mypassword |
Help and Navigation
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
HELP or H or ? |
Show compact help | HELP |
HELP+ or HELP V |
Show detailed help with examples | HELP+ |
M |
Quick navigation to message topics | M |
WHERE or W |
Show current breadcrumb path | WHERE |
U or B |
Up/back (to parent) | U |
Q |
Quit/logout | Q |
B |
Back to previous menu | B |
Message Topics
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
TOPICS or LIST |
List available message topics | TOPICS |
READ topic |
Read recent messages from topic | READ general |
POST topic message |
Post a message to topic | POST general Hello everyone! |
POST topic |
Start multi-line post | POST general |
Topics and Subtopics (Compact UI)
- Press
Mto open Topics (root topics only are shown) - Items with children show a
›marker; selecting opens Subtopics - In Subtopics:
1-9pick subtopic on current page; nested levels are supportedUorBgoes up one level;Mreturns to root Topics;Lshows more- Selecting a leaf subtopic enters Threads
Multi-line Posting
When using POST topic without a message, you enter multi-line mode:
> POST general
Enter your message. End with '.' on a new line:
This is a multi-line message.
You can write several lines.
End with a period on its own line.
.
Message posted successfully!
User Commands
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
CHPASS old new |
Change your password | CHPASS oldpass newpass |
SETPASS new |
Set initial password | SETPASS mypassword |
Moderator Commands (Level 5+)
Available to users with moderator privileges:
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
DELETE topic id |
Remove a message | DELETE general msg123 |
LOCK topic |
Prevent new posts in topic | LOCK general |
UNLOCK topic |
Allow posts in topic again | UNLOCK general |
DELLOG [page] / DL [page] |
View deletion audit log | DELLOG, DL, or DL 2 |
USERS [pattern] |
List users (optional filter) | USERS, USERS al* |
WHO |
Show logged-in users | WHO |
USERINFO user |
Detailed user info | USERINFO alice |
SESSIONS |
List all sessions | SESSIONS |
KICK user |
Force logout a user | KICK bob |
BROADCAST message |
Send a server broadcast | BROADCAST Maintenance at 18:00 |
Sysop Commands (Level 10)
Available only to system operators:
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
PROMOTE user |
Increase user’s access level | PROMOTE alice |
DEMOTE user |
Decrease user’s access level | DEMOTE bob |
SYSLOG level message |
Write to the admin/security log | SYSLOG info System check OK |
Dynamic Prompts
Meshbbs shows contextual prompts that reflect your current state:
| Prompt | Meaning |
|---|---|
unauth> |
Not logged in |
alice (lvl1)> |
Logged in as alice, user level 1 |
alice@general> |
Reading messages in ‘general’ topic |
post@general> |
Posting a message to ‘general’ topic |
alice@community> → alice (lvl1)> |
Using B/U goes up from Threads to Subtopics, then to Topics |
Tips and Shortcuts
- First-time help: The first time you use
HELPafter login, you’ll see a shortcuts reminder - Topic names: Long topic names are truncated in prompts with ellipsis
- Message limits: Each message is limited to 230 bytes (optimized for Meshtastic)
- The server clamps outputs UTF‑8 safely and appends the prompt; the total frame (body + prompt) ≤ 230 bytes.
- Long thread reads are automatically split across multiple messages; the interactive prompt appears only on the final part.
- Session timeout: Sessions automatically timeout after inactivity (configurable by sysop)
- Case sensitivity: Commands are case-insensitive (
help,HELP, andHelpall work)
Error Messages
Common error messages and their meanings:
| Error | Meaning | Solution |
|---|---|---|
Invalid username |
Username doesn’t meet requirements | Use 2-20 chars, letters/numbers/underscore only |
Wrong password |
Incorrect password provided | Check password or use SETPASS if passwordless |
Topic not found |
Message topic doesn’t exist | Use TOPICS to see available topics |
Access denied |
Insufficient privileges | Check your user level with sysop |
Message too long |
Message exceeds 230 byte limit | Shorten your message |
Session timeout |
Inactive too long | Log in again |
Examples
Compact Single-Letter Flow (DM Session)
> M
[Meshbbs] Topics
1. hello 2. general 3. technical
Type number to select topic. L more. H help. X exit
alice (lvl1)>
> 1
Messages in hello:
[BBS][hello] Threads
1 Test Title 2 Intro…
Reply: 1-9 read, N new, L more, B back, F <text> filter
alice@hello>
> N
[BBS] New thread title (≤32):
post@hello>
> Test Title
Body: (single message)
post@hello>
> This is the body of the test thread.
Messages in hello:
[BBS][hello] Threads
1 Test Title
Reply: 1-9 read, N new, L more, B back, F <text> filter
alice@hello>
> 1
[BBS][hello > Test Title] p1/1
This is the body of the test thread.
Reply: + next, - prev, Y reply, B back, H help
alice@hello>
> W
[BBS] You are at: Meshbbs > Topics > hello > Read
alice@hello>
Basic Session Flow
Public channel (using the configured prefix; default shown):
> ^LOGIN alice
< Meshbbs: Pending login for 'alice'. Open a DM to start your session.
Direct message:
> LOGIN alice mypassword
< Welcome alice! Type HELP for commands.
alice (lvl1)> TOPICS
< Available areas: general, community, technical
alice (lvl1)> READ general
< [Recent messages from general area...]
alice@general> POST general Hello everyone from the mesh!
< Message posted successfully!
alice@general> Q
< Goodbye!
Moderator Example
mod (lvl5)> DELLOG
mod (lvl5)> DL 2
< Recent deletions:
< 2025-09-23 10:30 - general/msg456 deleted by mod
< 2025-09-23 09:15 - announcements/msg789 deleted by admin
mod (lvl5)> LOCK general
< Area 'general' is now locked to new posts
mod (lvl5)> UNLOCK general
< Area 'general' is now open for posts