Boom is a limit-removing source port of '[[doom (format)[Doom] created by TeamTNT (the same group of mappers that made TNT: Evolution). Boom fixes bugs, removes map limitations and adds new features while still maintaining the feel of the original game. As such, Boom remains a popular format for newly-released PWADs.

The final version of Boom released was '[l[https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/themes/TeamTNT/boom/boom202[Boom 2.02 for DOS] in 1998, and the source code was released in 1999. As a result, many source ports are now "Boom-compatible", offering support for all of Boom's unique features. This is what most people mean by "Boom maps", and is also what the BotB format refers to.

One of the main mapping features that Boom adds is additional linedef types (i.e. triggers) - not only expanding and generalizing the hard-coded linedef types from the original game, but also adding completely new features such as silent teleporters and conveyor belts. Clever usage of these features can result in much more dynamic and exciting maps.

Boom's uses IWADs and PWADs in a similar way to '[[doom (format)[the original game]. However, it also supports configurable animated and switch textures, and introduced the BEX standard for easily distributing '[l[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/DeHackEd[DeHackEd] settings. For a comprehensive reference of features, see the '[l[https://soulsphere.org/projects/boomref/[HTML version of boomref.txt].

'[#[Boom on BotB]
The Boom format works similarly to '[[doom (format)[vanilla Doom] - so check that page for more detailed information. 

Boom entries on BotB are generally single-player maps for either Doom or Doom II. WADs may also include custom music or custom graphics (unless stated otherwise in the bitpack).

Although technically the maps should be tested to be compatible with the final DOS release of Boom, this is rarely done in practice. The standard nowadays is to test the maps are compatible with '[l[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/DSDA-Doom[DSDA-Doom] set at complevel 9. That said, DSDA-Doom (and its predecessor, PrBoom+) support some extra features that the original Boom does not - namely linedef types 271/272 (sky transfers), and certain DeHackEd features (which aren't applicable on BotB). In addition, ensure that jumping is disabled in the settings.

'[#[How to Play]
Setup for playing Boom-compatible maps is similar to the setup for playing vanilla maps. You will first need to source the IWAD for the relevant game, which can be done by purchasing Doom/Doom II on Steam or a similar service. An option for those who don't have the Ultimate Doom or Doom II IWADS is '[l[https://freedoom.github.io/download.html[Freedoom], designed to be a free, drop-in replacement for those IWADs.

You will also need to download a Boom-compatible source port; ideally this is '[l[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/PrBoom%2B[PrBoom+] or '[l[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/DSDA-Doom[DSDA-Doom], but another port, like '[l[https://eternity.youfailit.net/wiki/Eternity_Engine[Eviternity Engine], will also work reasonably well. Or heck, you can even use the original DOS version of Boom in DOSBox for maximum authenticity!

Once you have your method of choice set up and running, the PWADs available on BotB can be played by including them in the relevant command-line arguments. The following examples assume a PWAD called FOO.WAD to be played with Doom II, starting on MAP07.

'[b]NOTE:'[/b] Some source ports have a launcher you can turn on in the settings that lets you pick and launch WADs with a GUI instead. There's also '[l[https://github.com/nstlaurent/DoomLauncher[Doom Launcher], a separate Windows utility that accomplishes the same purpose.

'[t[2]DOS Boom'[/t]
'[t[mono]boom.exe -iwad DOOM2.WAD -file FOO.WAD -warp'[/t]

'[t[2]PrBoom+ and DSDA-Doom'[/t]
'[t[mono]prboom-plus.exe -iwad DOOM2.WAD -file FOO.WAD -warp 7 -complevel 9'[/t]
Complevel should always be 9 for modern Boom-compatible WADs. DSDA-Doom has the same command-line format (with a different .exe, obviously).

'[t[2]GZDoom'[/t]
'[t[mono]gzdoom.exe -iwad DOOM2.WAD -file FOO.WAD -warp 7'[/t]
GZDoom is not ideal as it doesn't aim to be 100% compatible with the DOS Boom releases, but it's included here as it is a popular source port.

'[#[Tools and resources]
'[t[2]Map editors and resource managers'[/t]
'[l[https://slade.mancubus.net/index.php?page=about[SLADE 3], a cross-platform resource manager and map editor. If you want to add custom assets to your WAD, you basically have to use this- but you can still do all your map editing in another utility.
'[l[https://devbuilds.drdteam.org/ultimatedoombuilder/[Ultimate Doom Builder], a map editor for Windows. It's the latest in '[l[https://doomwiki.org/w/images/5/51/DoomBuilderTimeline.png[a long line of forks] of the original Doom Builder, and is currently the only fork still receiving regular updates. Some prefer '[l[https://github.com/anotak/doombuilderx[Doom Builder X] or '[l[http://devbuilds.drdteam.org/doombuilder2-gzdb/[GZDoom Builder] instead.
'[l[http://eureka-editor.sourceforge.net/[Eureka], a cross-platform map editor and the second choice (after SLADE) for people not on Windows.

'[t[2]Source ports'[/t]
'[l[https://doomwiki.org/wiki/DSDA-Doom[DSDA-Doom], the de-facto flagship port for Boom. It's a continuation of '[l[http://doomwiki.org/wiki/PrBoom%2B[PrBoom+].
'[l[https://eternity.youfailit.net/wiki/Eternity_Engine[Eternity Engine], an alternative to PrBoom+ that also strives to maintain its Boom compatibility
'[l[http://doomwiki.org/wiki/Source_ports[Many others].

Special caution must be taken with '[l[https://zdoom.org/index[ZDoom-based ports]. GZDoom is one of the most advanced source ports out there- but as a result, it's way less strict than most ports when it comes to lump organization and texture formats. It's easy to accidentally make a "Boom" wad that only runs in GZDoom, so be careful!

'[t[2]See Also'[/t]
'[[doom (format)] goes into a little more detail about WAD files.
'[l[https://soulsphere.org/projects/boomref/[boomref.txt], a comprehensive reference of all of Boom's additional mapping features
'[l[https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/themes/TeamTNT/boom/boomedit[BOOMEDIT.WAD], a WAD designed to demonstrate Boom's new features
'[l[http://doomwiki.org/wiki/Entryway[Doom Wiki], a wiki for Doom-related information
'[l[https://www.doomworld.com/[Doomworld], a Doom forum
'[l[https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/[idgames], a large FTP-based repository for PWADs
'[l[https://freedoom.github.io/download.html[Freedoom]
'[l[https://github.com/nstlaurent/DoomLauncher[Doom Launcher]
'[l[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REiGGiygbbE[A very thorough Ultimate Doom Builder tutorial]