plan file

plan file

(operating system)On Unix systems that support finger,the ".plan" file in a user's home directory is displayedwhen the user is fingered. This feature was originallyintended to be used to keep potential fingerers apprised ofone's location and near-future plans, but has been turnedalmost universally to humorous and self-expressive purposes(like a sig block). See also Hacking X for Y.

A later innovation in plan files was the introduction of"scrolling plan files" which are one-dimensional animationsmade using only the printable ASCII character set, carriage return and line feed, avoiding terminal specific escape sequences, since the finger command will (for securityreasons; see letterbomb) not pass the escape character.

Scrolling .plan files have become art forms in miniature, andsome sites have started competitions to find who can createthe longest running, funniest, and most original animations.A compiler (ASP) is available on Usenet for producing them.Typical animation components include:

Centipede: mmmmmeLorry/Truck: oo-oPAndalusian Video Snail: _@/

In the mid-1990s WWW home pages largely supplanted .planfiles, providing a much richer forum for the publication ofpersonal minutiae and digital creativity.

See also twirling baton.