plan file
 n.

    [Unix] On systems that support finger, the .plan file in a user's home
    directory is displayed when the user is fingered. This feature was
    originally intended to be used to keep potential fingerers apprised of
    one's location and near-future plans, but has been turned almost
    universally to humorous and self-expressive purposes (like a sig block).
    See also Hacking X for Y.

    A recent innovation in plan files has been the introduction of ?scrolling
    plan files? which are one-dimensional animations made using only the
    printable ASCII character set, carriage return and line feed, avoiding
    terminal specific escape sequences, since the finger command will (for
    security reasons; see letterbomb) not pass the escape character.

    Scrolling .plan files have become art forms in miniature, and some sites
    have started competitions to find who can create the longest running,
    funniest, and most original animations. Various animation characters
    include:

    +-------------------------------+
    |Centipede:              |mmmmme|
    |------------------------+------|
    |Lorry/Truck:            |oo-oP |
    |------------------------+------|
    |Andalusian Video Snail: |_@/   |
    +-------------------------------+

    and a compiler (ASP) is available on Usenet for producing them. See also 
    twirling baton.

plan file
.plan

    On Unix systems that support finger,
   the ".plan" file in a user's home directory is displayed
   when the user is fingered.  This feature was originally
   intended to be used to keep potential fingerers apprised of
   one's location and near-future plans, but has been turned
   almost 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 animations
   made using only the printable ASCII character set, carriage
   return and line feed, avoiding terminal specific escape
   sequences, since the finger command will (for security
   reasons; see letterbomb) not pass the escape character.

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

    Centipede:		 mmmmme
    Lorry/Truck:		 oo-oP
    Andalusian Video Snail: _@/

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

   See also twirling baton.

   [Jargon File]

   (1998-01-16)