資料來源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

plan file
     
         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)