Monument to the Nizhny Novgorod FIDO

ФИДО, Fido, Фидонет (from Eng. Fidonet) — an international non-commercial computer network built on store-and-forward and point-to-point technologies.

Fidonet software was originally developed for MS-DOS but was soon ported to all widely used operating systems, including UNIX, GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, and Mac OS.

It was popular in the early 1990s (in Russia — through the late 1990s), after which the number of network nodes began to decline. Fidonet reached its peak in 1996, when it had approximately 40,000 nodes.

The slang term for Fidonet users is fidoshniki.

A key feature of Fidonet that drove its widespread adoption in Russia was the effectively free cost of connecting to and using the network.

The network continues to operate today. As of May 2009, it had more than 5,500 nodes.

Communication on the Fidonet Network

Fidonet users communicate in two ways:

  • via personal correspondence, or netmail (Netmail);
  • in echoconferences, or echos.

The difference between netmail and echos is that a netmail message is delivered only to the person it is addressed to, whereas a message posted to an echo is received by all subscribers of that echo.

The Internet equivalent of netmail is email. The main differences between netmail and email are as follows:

  • lower cost of message delivery;
  • the message header must contain not only the addresses but also the names of both sender and recipient.

Echoconference

An echoconference is a type of teleconference that uses Fidonet technology for distribution. Its closest analogue is a newsgroup (as found, for example, on the Usenet network).

To post a message to an echoconference, a user must "subscribe" to it, after which they automatically begin receiving all messages posted there.

File Transfer

File echoconferences resemble regular echoconferences, but instead of text messages they distribute files. Each file is accompanied by a companion file with a .tic extension containing service information (the name of the file echoconference, filename, file size, checksum, the list of nodes the file passed through, etc.).

File echos also have their own unique names, but since there are far fewer of them than regular echos, their names typically consist of a single word.

File echos are usually narrowly focused; moreover, to prevent spam, the ability to post files to a file echo is generally restricted to a limited number of subscribers. For this reason, there are three additional methods of file transfer in Fidonet by prior arrangement: UUE-encoded messages (yuyk), attaches, and directs.

  • A yuyk is a file encoded in UUE (hence the name) placed in the body of a netmail or echomail message (on the Internet, MIME encoding is used for this purpose and the file is considered an attachment). The yuyk is the most common method of file transfer; however, a UUE-encoded file is one-third larger than the original, and many (outdated or specially configured) tossers and some trackers do not pass echomail (or netmail) messages beyond a certain size. In such cases, a multi-section yuyk is created, which also creates inconveniences: most [citation needed for 104 days] editors (such as older versions of GoldED+) cannot handle multi-section yuyk files, meaning such files must be encoded and decoded using a separate dedicated program.
  • Attach (Eng. attach — to append) — the transfer of a file together with a message. A cover letter is created and the file is appended to it. This method is more convenient and faster than the yuyk (the file is not encoded), but because there is no way to control the size of the attach (the appended file), many nodes do not pass attaches through. For this reason, attaches are less widely used in Fidonet. Furthermore, unlike a yuyk, an attach cannot be sent via echomail — it is transmitted exclusively via netmail.
  • A direct (Eng. direct — straight, directly) — receiving files directly from a node; this method is somewhat akin to a direct transfer in ICQ or peer-to-peer networks. It requires prior agreement between the party requesting the file and the party providing it. Files can be obtained not only from one's own node but from any node or even a point. Once the arrangement is made, the node (or point) providing the file is said to "put it on hold," and once a connection is established (either you call them or they call you — as agreed), the files begin transferring to you. No other party can retrieve your files. This method is undoubtedly the most convenient for transfers, as it imposes no restrictions on the files being sent, but requires prior coordination.

There is yet another way to obtain information on Fidonet — communicating with FAQ servers and file servers.

A FAQ server is a user-run thematic server that generates a netmail reply containing the text (topic) corresponding to the netmail request. Running a FAQ server requires dedicated software; Messmate is the most commonly used. Communication with FAQ servers takes place exclusively via netmail: the name (or names) of the topic (or topics) is written in the body or subject line of the message, and the name of the FAQ server is used in place of the node or point owner's name. Upon receiving the netmail, the program analyzes it, and if it finds a server request, it generates replies to the sender — also, naturally, via netmail.

A file server is a node or point from which files can be downloaded. Strictly speaking, files can be downloaded from any node or active point by creating a file netmail request or by issuing a request through the mailer, but not all nodes make their files publicly available. Therefore, the first thing to try to download from a node is the file list — often named files.bbs, or sometimes carrying a short "alias" of files, which will cause the same files.bbs to be sent to you. If there is no file list, the node does not handle file requests; but if the file arrives, you can review the list of available files and, if you find something you need, create another request — this time specifying the name (or alias) of the desired file — then connect and receive it. Since a File Request (FReq) is created to obtain a file, people say they are "freqing" files, and nodes from which files can be obtained are called "freqeries."

Fidonet Subculture in Russia

Over the years of Fidonet's existence in Russia, a distinct subculture developed within the network. This is reflected:

  • in the informal way network participants relate to one another (an unspoken rule of the network is to address everyone informally, regardless of age or social standing);
  • in the existence of fidoshnik folklore (various "fidoshnik tales," songs, and jokes); see also the joke about the hen;
  • in the regular holding of informal gatherings among network participants.

Offline Meetings

Gatherings of fidoshniki are called "sisopkas" and "pointovkas." The term "pointovka" more commonly refers to a meeting of points belonging to the same node. Meetings of subscribers to the same echoconference also take place; in such cases, the name is usually formed by combining the name of the echo (or echo tag) with the suffix -ovka — for example, if the echo is called spb.cars, the meeting is called a "karzovka"; if spb.school — a "skulyovka"; if ru.punk.rock — an "rprovka"; if su.kaschenko.local — a "kashchenuha"; and so on. General gatherings of fidoshniki from a particular region or several regions are also held.

Fidoshnik Dictionary

Listed below are words frequently used by echoconference subscribers on FIDO.

  • Aka (Eng. Also Known As) — a fidoshnik's alternative address (e.g., "point aka") or nickname (e.g., "Yuri Nesterenko aka YuN").
  • Alias (Eng. Alias) — a shorter filename for convenient file requests.
  • Unpublished (Eng. Unpublished) — an address, usually a phone number, not listed in the current pointlist, nodelist, etc. Variant: unpublished.
  • Uplink (Eng. Uplink) — a station higher in the network hierarchy.
  • Arcmail (Eng. ArcMail) — mail that has been pre-compressed with an archiver.
  • Attach (Eng. Attach) — a special message sent together with a file.
  • Outbound (Eng. Outbound) — the directory containing a station's outgoing mail.
  • Busy (Eng. Busy) — a busy telephone line signal. Variant: busy.
  • Bink (Eng. Bink) — a shortened name for mailers of the BinkleyTerm type.
  • Borda or borda — same as BBS.
  • Boss (Eng. Boss) — the node of which the given station is a point.
  • Bad (Eng. Bad) — mail that arrived with errors, or the informal name for the area where such mail ends up (Badmail).
  • Gate (Eng. Gate) — a gateway for transferring mail from zone to zone or from one global network to another.
  • Downlink (Eng. DownLink) — a station lower in the node structure of the network.
  • Ded — the "Russian" abbreviated pronunciation of the GoldED editor's name.
  • Direct (Eng. Direct) — sending something directly, i.e., not through the standard routing system.
  • Domain (Eng. Domain) — an address field denoting the name of the global network.
  • Dupe (Eng. Dupe) — mail that the tosser has identified as "already received," or the informal name for the area where such mail ends up (Dupemail).

Karbonka — the informal name for a special area where copies of personal messages from echoconferences are stored; the name comes from the fact that this area is often called CARBON.COPIES by default, or something along those lines, from Eng. Carbon Copy.

  • Quoting (Eng. Quoting) — the act of citing a message.
  • Kludge (Eng. Kludge) — service information in a message. Variant: kladge.
  • Complain (Eng. Complain) — a formal complaint.
  • Coordinator (Eng. Coordinator) — the person responsible for a network.
  • Kityonok ("kitten") — informal name for the KittenMail mailer.
  • Crash Poll (Eng. Crash Poll) — continuous and frequent dialing of a node, ignoring the node's operating hours flag. Variants: Crash Pool, crashpoll, etc.
  • Link (Eng. Link) — same as downlink.
  • Log (Eng. Log) — a service report file created by FidoNet programs.
  • Mailer (Eng. Mailer) — a program that sends and receives mail.
  • Moderator (Eng. Moderator) — a person who enforces the rules of a given echoconference.
  • NetMail (Eng. NetMail) — network mail. Variants: mylo, netmayl.
  • Node (Eng. Node) — a network node. Variant: nod.
  • Nodediff (Eng. Nodediff) — a file containing changes to the network structure.
  • Nodelist (Eng. Nodelist) — a list of network nodes. Variants: nodeelist, noudlist.
  • Overquoting (Eng. Overquoting) — excessive quoting, strongly discouraged on the network.
  • Origin (Eng. Origin) — the last line of a message in echomail.
  • Offtopic (Eng. OffTopic) — a message unrelated to the conference topic.
  • Passthrough (echo, fecho) (from Eng. Pass through) — transit (file)echoconferences, i.e. those that are deleted from the node after being distributed to points and links.
  • Point (Eng. Point) — a network subscriber.
  • Pointlist (Eng. Pointlist) — a list of network points.
  • Poll (Eng. Poll) — a command to initiate dialing of a node.
  • Policy (Eng. Policy) — the charter of the FidoNet network.
  • Post (Eng. Post) — to send messages to an echo.
  • Routing (Eng. Routing) — mail routing.
  • Rules (Eng. Rules) — conference rules.
  • Subj (Eng. Subj, Subject) — the subject of a message. Variants: subdj, subzh.
  • Seen-by (Eng. Seen by) — a kludge in a message showing which nodes this mail has already been passed to.
  • SysOp (Eng. SysOp, System Operator) — system operator.
  • Tagline (Eng. Tagline) — an optional line at the end of a message.
  • Template (Eng. Template) — a message template ("boilerplate").
  • Tearline (Eng. TearLine) — a special message line marking the end of the text.
  • Tosser (Eng. Tosser) — an echo processor.
  • Traffic (Eng. Traffic) — the volume of messages in kilobytes passing through a station (or conference) over a given period of time.
  • Fasta — the "Russian" pronunciation of the tosser name FastEcho.
  • Flame (Eng. Flame) — an emotional argument in an echo, usually devolving into personal attacks, insults, and abuse.
  • Flamer — a participant in a flame, or a person prone to starting or sustaining a flame.
  • Freq (Eng. Freq, File Request) — a file request.
  • Fronda (from Eng. FrontDoor) — a mailer; also known as Frondur, also known as "Front Door".
  • Fecho (from Eng. File Echo) — a file conference (file echoconference).
  • Hub (Eng. Hub) — a heavily loaded network station used for mail distribution.
  • Hatch (Eng. Hatch) — to send files into a file echoconference.
  • Hidden (Eng. Hidden) — an optional user service line.
  • Host (Eng. Host) — the main station of a network.
  • CM, CM-mode (Eng. CM) — around-the-clock; derived from the fact that in the nodelist, stations operating continuously are flagged CM (from Continuous Mail).

Excommunication (Eng. Excommunication) — the removal of a system from the network.

  • Echo (Eng. Echo) — a (echo)conference of the network.
  • Echotag (Eng. Echotag) — the name of a conference (usually without a prefix), used as a shorthand reference to it. Example: the phrase "This isn't echotaggy" in reference to the SU.HUMOR echo means that the content is not funny.
  • XAB (abbreviation from Eng. eXcessively Annoying Behavior) — excessively inappropriate (annoying) behavior.

Origins

An origin (origin, Eng. — origin, provenance) — in FidoNet, the last line of an electronic message, containing service information about where the message was sent from. Traditionally, FidoNet users would insert into this line, alongside their station's address, a short yet pithy "motto," a witty proverb, or sometimes an unexpectedly profound thought. By way of metonymy, these sayings themselves also came to be called origins.

Like Japanese haiku, FidoNet origins are an example of deliberate laconism, in which brevity and depth of expression are achieved through the inescapable constraints imposed on the length of the utterance.

As the Internet spread, users familiar with FidoNet began adding origins to the last line of their e-mail messages and to their signatures on forums. However, the tradition never achieved the same universal reach that it had in FidoNet.

Examples of origins

  • May our children have wealthy parents!
  • A pessimist is a well-informed optimist…
  • If it's forbidden but you really want to, then it's allowed!
  • To strive, to seek, to find… and to hide it somewhere else!
  • Good people write and write awhile, then crack open a bottle
  • Fate followed close behind me, like a madman with a razor
  • Bad guy, good guy… What matters is who's got the gun!
  • Do you think I'm an idiot? I won't do your work for you!
  • Whoever comes to us with whatever for whatever — gets whatever from whatever…
  • The hammer and sickle — a student's symbol: skive off and goof around
  • Better early than as usual.
  • It was Friday the 13th. Nothing foreshadowed anything bad…
  • Alcohol in small doses is harmless in any quantity
  • Don't complain about life — you might not have had even this much.
  • And my Windows understa~1 long~1 filenames

The Plus-Shooter

The Plus-Shooter — a fictional weapon belonging to a Moderator, with which they hand out pluses (penalty points).

The term originated in FidoNet, where (in the Russian-language and similar sections) one of the warning signs for inappropriate behavior was "[+]", dubbed a "plus," and the moderator dispensing these warnings was said to be armed with a "plus-shooter."

According to the rules of many echoconferences, three "pluses" were to be followed by a ban ("[!]"), much like how a Hayes-compatible modem upon receiving the "+++" sequence stops transmitting data and enters command mode.

Interesting facts