[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}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {field circus}{finger}{Hacking X for Y}{thunk}]