Disappointed by the features of available list server programs, Chapman decided to write his own list server with the Perl programming language, a popular UNIX-based scripting language. Chapman used Perl because he needed a programming language that would allow Majordomo to effectively parse emailed instructions, process text files, and generate email responses.

Text parsing and processing was key to Chapman since interaction with Majordomo users was strictly in email form. As a result of its simplicity and easy-to-learn Perl code, Majordomo's popularity grew rapidly. A user community arose around Majordomo, spawning a rich world of hacks, modifications, and extensions.

List servers go commercial
In 1993, creator Eric Thomas decided to port Revised Listserv to UNIX. Since members of BITNET (one of the earliest computer networks) used Revised Listserv, Thomas asked CREN and EARN to fund development of the project. CREN and EARN ran the BITNET network in the United States and Europe.

The parties were unable, however, to agree on terms, so Thomas founded L-Soft. L-Soft allowed him to control the destiny of his program and maintain commercial licensing rights.

Thomas first negotiated licensing arrangements with CREN and EARN to allow BITNET members continued use of Revised Listserv. CREN chose not to continue its use of Thomas' software, however, and instead acquired ListProc from Anastosias Kotsikonas. CREN's aim was to develop a list server that would continue to serve the goals of their academic and research oriented members. With the Internet overshadowing BITNET, CREN decided to offer a free license for ListProc as an incentive for members to remain on BITNET and pay membership dues. ListProc 6.0 was the current version at that time, and it was available free to anyone who wanted to download and install it.

CREN later charged a fee for upgraded versions (ListProc 7, 8.0 and 8.2). The free 6.0 version remains available today because CREN can't force Internet sites to remove ListProc source code from FTP download sites. To this day, ListProc 6.0 is still downloaded and installed, although the superior (but not free) later versions are available from CREN.

More advanced systems
Amid the development of the big three list servers (ListProc, Revised Listserv, and Majordomo), I founded a small software company called Walter Shelby Group (WSG). As president of WSG, I developed InfoMagnet, a graphical front end to L-Soft's LISTSERV that ran on Windows. At its 1994 release, InfoMagnet's graphical interface was a revolutionary step in an Internet-based application. InfoMagnet's user-friendly interface made it easy for end-users to locate any LISTSERV list on the network, search its archives, subscribe or unsubscribe, and perform other common list member activities.

About two years after the release of InfoMagnet, L-Soft and WSG parted ways and WSG eventually discontinued InfoMagnet. Considering the emerging power of the Internet, I recognized that list servers, as an application category, were sorely in need of redesign.