FidoNet

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FidoNet is a global network that connected bulletin board systems (BBSes). It uses a store-and-forward method to exchange private messages (netmail) and public discussions (echomail), plus occasional files, between the participating BBSes. Instead of sending messages in real time, FidoNet batches mail and ships it between systems, often during late-night hours to save long-distance costs.

How it worked
- The network is made up of many BBSes. Each system runs small programs that handle mail, routing, and file transfers.
- Every system is part of a larger structure: zones (regions of the world), regions (geographic areas within zones), nets (groups within regions), and nodes (individual BBSes). Some systems also exist as “points,” private off-line receivers that fetch mail without running a public BBS.
- Each system keeps a nodelist, a directory of all other FidoNet members with contact details, location, and software capabilities. The nodelist is updated weekly.
- Messages are tagged with destination addresses ( Zone:Net/Node, and sometimes a point number). A mailer on each system collects messages for its targets, creates packets, and calls the appropriate remote systems to exchange those packets. If a packet fails, the process can retry later.
- Historically, long-distance telephone charges mattered a lot. The network was designed to minimize toll calls by routing mail in bulk through local “hubs” and by scheduling transfers during cheap times (a practice known as the Zone Mail Hour).

Key features that shaped FidoNet
- Netmail: private messages between users on different BBSes.
- Echomail: public discussion forums broadcast across many BBSes, similar to Usenet groups. Echomail grew to dominate traffic and gave FidoNet a social life beyond private mail.
- File attachments: early on, mail could carry file attachments; later, various file-sharing methods and “tosser/scanner” tools helped publish or retrieve forum content.
- Points and offline readers: to reduce dial-up costs and allow reading mail without keeping a BBS online, points and offline readers (like Blue Wave or Squiggy) became popular, especially in Europe where calls were often metered.
- Cost control: local and regional routing, along with toll-sharing arrangements, helped keep intercity and international mail affordable.

Origins and growth
- FidoNet began in 1983–1984, driven by Tom Jennings’ Fido BBS in San Francisco and early spread to Baltimore. By 1984, FidoNet software started to connect two BBSes and gradually expanded.
- In 1985, the network adopted a more scalable addressing and routing scheme, introducing zones and a more formal nodelist process. The 10C release in 1985 brought major features and a smoother upgrade path for many systems.
- Echomail appeared in 1986–1987, creating large, shared forums. The Echolist helped organize hundreds of public forums.

Scale and decline
- FidoNet peaked in the early to mid-1990s, with tens of thousands of systems and millions of users. At its height, about 39,000 systems were listed; echomail traffic could be enormous.
- The rise of the Internet in the mid-1990s reduced the need for store-and-forward mail, as direct Internet access became inexpensive and widespread. Direct dialing to local BBSes fell away, and many operators became Internet providers or gateways.
- Since the late 1990s, FidoNet shrank but did not disappear. It continued in some regions, especially where Internet access remained costly or limited, and it still exists in smaller communities and among retro-computing enthusiasts.

Structure and governance
- FidoNet is organized hierarchically: zones, regions, networks, nodes, and sometimes points. A world-wide International Coordinator sits above regional coordinators who manage zones.
- Each level handles administration, disputes, and updating the master nodelist through a network of coordinators.
- The rules emphasize local autonomy and cost-conscious routing, with a focus on reliable, low-cost mail delivery.

Legacy and technology
- FidoNet’s classic software was modular: BBS programs, mailers, scanners/tossers, and the FOSSIL driver that connected programs to modems.
- Over time, many FidoNet systems migrated to Internet-based transport (via gateways or IP-based mailers like BinkP) while preserving the familiar netmail/echomail concepts.
- Today, while far less central to online communication, FidoNet still exists in some places, sometimes integrated with Usenet gateways or accessible through telnet-based BBS services.

In short
FidoNet was a pioneering, user-run network that linked BBSes around the world through private mail and shared forums. It kept costs down with clever routing and night-time transfers, grew to a huge, bustling ecosystem in the 1980s and early 1990s, and gradually gave way to the Internet while still leaving a lasting mark on online hobbyist culture.