FidoNetinspired

FidoNetinspired describes software, networks, or communities that imitate the design principles of FidoNet, the historic store-and-forward bulletin-board network established in the late 1980s. Like FidoNet, FidoNetinspired systems are typically decentralized, rely on asynchronous message delivery, and use a hierarchical routing structure to move messages between distant sites through scheduled transfers. They commonly support two kinds of mail: netmail, addressed to specific users, and echomail, distributed to discussion groups.

The term covers a range of modern implementations that preserve the core concepts of zones, nets, and nodes, but may transport messages over contemporary media such as email, NNTP, or gateway services. Some projects emphasize offline operation, resilience in low-bandwidth environments, or archival stability, while others aim to integrate with current internet services or to serve retro computing communities.

Classic FidoNet elements such as routing by hop counts, point-to-point connections, and gateways that interconnect disparate networks are retained in many FidoNetinspired systems, but exact practices vary. The software involved is typically FidoNet-compatible mailers or modern reimplementations that emulate the original routing tables and echomail areas, sometimes with added features like encryption, modern authentication, or web-based administration.

Current activity in the space is niche but persistent, supported by hobbyist BBS operators, retro-computing enthusiasts, and amateur radio communities. FidoNetinspired networks aim to offer asynchronous, resilient communication with a historical flavor while remaining usable with contemporary hardware and networks.