Iniquity

Iniquity BBS software was originally created by Mike Fricker (known in the scene as "fiend") during the early-to-mid 1990s. Developed in Pascal, it was initially a closed-source project designed to be a highly modular and customizable platform for SysOps. Fricker eventually sold the rights to the software to Michael Pike; however, because Pike lacked the Pascal coding skills to continue development, the project stalled. This eventually led to the software’s source code being leaked, which allowed the Iniquity Development Team (IDT) to take over and transform Iniquity into a community-driven project.

Since the original author's departure, several developers and teams have worked to iterate on the software, ensuring it remains functional for the modern BBS community. While Mike Fricker’s final release remains a cornerstone of the software's history, the work of subsequent teams has greatly expanded its capabilities and longevity.

Evolution and Iterations of Iniquity:

• iq1a25r2: The final official full installation released by Mike Fricker before he moved on from the project.
• 1997: demonic 07/1997 pack reported that the iniquity source code was sold to Michael Pike for $300
• The Iniquity Development Team (IDT): Led by Comatose, this group took over after the source leak, releasing versions such as inqa26r5 and the major iq2.0 update. Dedchylde (Nathan Hyatt) was also a key figure in the transition from the leaked source.
• Jack Phlash: Operating the legendary Distortion BBS, he has been the primary maintainer in recent years, releasing bug fixes and upgrades like iq2.10jp through iq2.20ajp.
• ispyhumanfly: Currently developing Iniquity 3, a modern "re-imagining" of the software rewritten in TypeScript and Node.js to bridge the gap between classic BBS functionality and modern web environments.