March 10, 2026
Ring-ring, 1984 is calling
Ask HN: Remember Fidonet?
Nostalgia erupts: some say 'Google it', others shout old numbers like battle cries
TLDR: An ode to FidoNet, the 1980s dial-up community network, sparked a nostalgia-fueled comment brawl: some linked live resources, others begged not to resurrect their teen posts, and one yelled an old node number. The debate over archiving vs. letting history fade shows how our early internet roots still shape online culture.
Hackers lit up over a love letter to FidoNet—the 1980s phone-based message board network created by Tom Jennings—where old-schoolers swapped memories like trading cards. One veteran credited that era’s decentralized spirit (think: communities running on dial‑up) for inspiring both public forums and private tools like Lotus Notes. But the comments? Pure theater.
The strongest vibe was nostalgia vs. reality check. One user basically replied with a shrug and a “is fidonet alive today” search, while another dropped the official link to fidonet.org. Then the archive angst hit: a fan admitted they still remember their old FidoNet address but dreaded seeing their teenage posts resurface—“maybe best left as a happy memory.” Others hunted receipts: “only what was mirrored to Usenet,” said one, pointing to a Usenet Fido mirror, then roasted it for recent “enshittification.” The crowd quickly redirected to the treasure trove at textfiles.com.
The memes were delightful. One commenter yelled “2:320/104 represent!” like it was a secret handshake, and the thread turned into a reunion party with dial tones. Big picture? Idealism vs. cringe recovery: celebrate the DIY roots of online community… just don’t subpoena everyone’s 90s hot takes. FidoNet isn’t just history—it’s a mood, a ringtone, and apparently a password some people still remember.
Key Points
- •FidoNet, created by Tom Jennings, is portrayed as a key 1984 innovation focused on public community and identity.
- •In 1984, the author and Iris co-founders began developing what became Lotus Notes.
- •Both FidoNet and the early Lotus Notes effort were influenced by Usenet’s decentralized architecture and enabled by UUCP.
- •FidoNet pursued a decentralized BBS model for public community; Lotus Notes used masterless replicated 'notefiles' for private collaboration.
- •The era is characterized as an exciting period of emergent decentralization, influenced by 1960s idealism.