It would be a great addition to support telnet connections alongside SSH.
While telnet is admittedly not a secure protocol and shouldn't be used for sensitive or production systems, there's a vibrant retro-computing scene where it remains highly relevant:
- MUDs / MOOs — Classic text-based multiplayer worlds (e.g., Aardwolf, BatMUD, LambdaMOO) and communities (MOOsaico) that still rely on telnet
- Legacy BBSes — Many classic Bulletin Board Systems are still online and accessible via telnet (e.g., the boards listed at telnetbbsguide.com)
- Hobbyist servers — Retro Unix systems and educational sandboxes
- Network device testing — Some legacy networking equipment in lab environments
Considerations
A clear warning when initiating a telnet session would help set the right expectations regarding security
Basic telnet option negotiation (RFC 854 + common extensions like NAWS, terminal type) would cover most real-world use cases
ANSI color and basic terminal emulation support would significantly improve the experience for MUDs and BBSes
Use case summary
Pure fun and nostalgia — connecting to spaces that simply don't exist anywhere else on the modern internet.
It would be a great addition to support telnet connections alongside SSH.
While telnet is admittedly not a secure protocol and shouldn't be used for sensitive or production systems, there's a vibrant retro-computing scene where it remains highly relevant:
Considerations
A clear warning when initiating a telnet session would help set the right expectations regarding security
Basic telnet option negotiation (RFC 854 + common extensions like NAWS, terminal type) would cover most real-world use cases
ANSI color and basic terminal emulation support would significantly improve the experience for MUDs and BBSes
Use case summary
Pure fun and nostalgia — connecting to spaces that simply don't exist anywhere else on the modern internet.