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.