rick@cbosgd.UUCP (08/11/86)
This is the first of two articles describing the new newsgroup naming scheme. This one discusses the differences between the old and new. The second article discusses the new naming scheme in general. This renaming is the product of over 2 months work. It has gone through 7 revisions. Approximately 40 people have commented on it up to this point. It was impossible to get even those 40 people to agree completely. We do not expect any better results with the network as a whole. What we did end up with is something that everyone could live with. EVERYONE (myself included) would have made some minor change had he done it himself. So, I'd like to make it clear that this is not a request for comments. We have no illusions about pleasing everyone and don't expect to. Any followup articles to this will be ignored. If you feel that you have some brilliant insight that you must share, MAIL it to me. I will pass it along to the appropriate people. Some groups don't fit exactly. For example, I can make a case for putting music under sci instead of rec. However, the MAJORITY of the people reading/submitting to that group are viewing it more as a recreation than a science. As I said before, you can't please everyone. The talk.* groups can be considered to be in a sort of limbo. They (and a few of the soc. groups [singles and women at least]) are essentially on probation. As some of the "backbone" sites have said they would not carry talk after the changeover period is complete, some groups may be considered "killed" if they don't clean up their act. It is conceivable that a group may move from talk into soc (or from soc into talk) if the quantity and quality of the postings merit it. This isn't a firm commitment, just a possible scenario. Also,the naming hierarchy is intended to make the DISTRIBUTION of the groups easier. It is not intended to categorize specific groups by quality, etc. It should make "sys" files shorter and easier to maintain for the local news administrators. The creation of the new groups will take place in two phases. Roughly half of them will be created in mid-September, the rest at a later time when we feel the bugs have been worked out of the distributions and software. At a later date (probably December) the "backbone" will simply stop carrying the "net" groups. You will notice that there is no top level group "mod", yet there are groups designated as moderated. The (semi-mythical) 2.11 version of news will mark a group as moderated in the active file, removing the cumbersome mod. prefix and allowing a more meaningful newgroup naming scheme. --rick Top level groups: comp (Computers) sci (Science, Research and Technology) rec (Recreation) news (Usenet Itself) soc (Society and Social Topics) talk (High Volume Discussions) misc (Miscellaneous) Old Name: New Name: mod.ai comp.ai.digest (Moderated) mod.amiga comp.sys.amiga (Moderated) mod.amiga.binaries comp.sources.amiga (Moderated) mod.amiga.sources comp.sources.amiga (Moderated) mod.announce news.announce (Moderated) mod.announce.newusers news.announce.newusers (Moderated) mod.comp-soc soc.comp (Moderated) mod.compilers comp.compilers (Moderated) mod.computers.68k comp.sys.m68k.digest (Moderated) mod.computers.apollo comp.sys.apollo (Moderated) mod.computers.ibm-pc comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest (Moderated) mod.computers.laser-printers comp.laser-printers (Moderated) mod.computers.masscomp comp.sys.masscomp (Moderated) mod.computers.pyramid comp.sys.pyramid (Moderated) mod.computers.ridge comp.sys.ridge (Moderated) mod.computers.sequent comp.sys.sequent (Moderated) mod.computers.sun comp.sys.sun (Moderated) mod.computers.vax comp.os.vms (Moderated) mod.computers.workstations comp.sys.workstations (Moderated) mod.conferences news.announce.conferences (Moderated) mod.graphics comp.graphics.digest (Moderated) mod.human-nets soc.human-nets (Moderated) mod.legal misc.legal mod.mac comp.sys.mac.digest (Moderated) mod.mac.binaries comp.sources.mac (Moderated) mod.mac.sources comp.sources.mac (Moderated) mod.mag rec.mag mod.mag.otherrealms rec.mag.otherrealms (Moderated) mod.map comp.mail.maps (Moderated) mod.motss soc.motss mod.movies rec.arts.movies mod.music rec.music (Moderated) mod.music.gaffa rec.music.gaffa (Moderated) mod.newprod comp.newprod (Moderated) mod.newslists news.lists (Moderated) mod.os comp.os (Moderated) mod.os.os9 comp.os.os9 (Moderated) mod.os.unix comp.unix (Moderated) mod.philosophy talk.philosophy (Moderated) mod.philosophy.tech talk.philosophy.tech (Moderated) mod.politics talk.politics (Moderated) mod.politics.arms-d talk.politics.arms-d (Moderated) mod.protocols comp.protocols (Moderated) mod.protocols.appletalk comp.protocols.appletalk (Moderated) mod.protocols.kermit comp.protocols.kermit (Moderated) mod.protocols.tcp-ip comp.protocols.tcp-ip (Moderated) mod.psi misc.psi (Moderated) mod.rec.guns rec.guns (Moderated) mod.recipes rec.food.recipes (Moderated) mod.risks soc.risks (Moderated) mod.sources comp.sources.unix (Moderated) mod.sources.doc comp.doc (Moderated) mod.std comp.std (Moderated) mod.std.c comp.std.c (Moderated) mod.std.mumps comp.std.mumps (Moderated) mod.std.unix comp.std.unix (Moderated) mod.techreports comp.doc.techreports (Moderated) mod.telecom comp.dcom.telecom (Moderated) mod.test misc.test mod.vlsi comp.lsi na.forsale misc.forsale net.abortion talk.abortion net.ai comp.ai net.analog sci.electronics net.announce news.announce (Moderated) net.announce.arpa-internet none net.announce.newusers news.announce.newusers (Moderated) net.arch comp.arch net.astro sci.astro net.astro.expert sci.astro net.audio rec.audio net.auto rec.autos net.auto.tech rec.autos.tech net.aviation rec.aviation net.bicycle rec.bicycles net.bio sci.bio net.bizarre talk.bizarre net.books rec.arts.books net.bugs comp.bugs.misc net.bugs.2bsd comp.bugs.2bsd net.bugs.4bsd comp.bugs.4bsd net.bugs.usg comp.bugs.sys5 net.bugs.uucp comp.bugs.misc net.bugs.v7 comp.bugs.misc net.cog-eng comp.cog-eng net.college soc.college net.columbia sci.space.shuttle net.comics rec.arts.comics net.consumers misc.consumers net.consumers.house misc.consumers.house net.cooks rec.food.cooking net.crypt sci.crypt net.cse comp.edu net.cycle rec.motorcycles net.database comp.databases net.dcom comp.dcom.modems net.decus comp.org.decus net.emacs comp.emacs net.eunice comp.os.eunice net.followup misc.misc net.games rec.games.misc net.games.board rec.games.board net.games.chess rec.games.chess net.games.emp rec.games.empire net.games.frp rec.games.frp net.games.go rec.games.go net.games.hack rec.games.hack net.games.pbm rec.games.pbm net.games.rogue rec.games.rogue net.games.trivia rec.games.trivia net.games.video rec.games.video net.garden rec.gardens net.general misc.misc net.graphics comp.graphics net.ham-radio rec.ham-radio net.ham-radio.packet rec.ham-radio.packet net.info-terms comp.terminals net.internat comp.std.internat net.invest misc.invest net.jobs misc.jobs net.jokes rec.humor net.jokes.d rec.humor.d net.kids misc.kids net.lan comp.dcom.lans net.lang comp.lang.misc net.lang.ada comp.lang.ada net.lang.apl comp.lang.apl net.lang.c comp.lang.c net.lang.c++ comp.lang.c++ net.lang.f77 comp.lang.fortran net.lang.forth comp.lang.forth net.lang.lisp comp.lang.lisp net.lang.mod2 comp.lang.modula2 net.lang.pascal comp.lang.pascal net.lang.prolog comp.lang.prolog net.lang.st80 comp.lang.smalltalk net.legal misc.legal net.lsi comp.lsi net.mag rec.mag net.mail comp.mail.uucp net.mail.headers comp.mail.headers net.math sci.math net.math.stat sci.math.stat net.math.symbolic sci.math.symbolic net.med sci.med net.micro comp.sys.misc net.micro.6809 comp.sys.m6809 net.micro.68k comp.sys.m68k net.micro.amiga comp.sys.amiga (Moderated) net.micro.apple comp.sys.apple net.micro.atari16 comp.sys.atari.st net.micro.atari8 comp.sys.atari.8bit net.micro.att comp.sys.att net.micro.cbm comp.sys.cbm net.micro.cpm comp.os.cpm net.micro.hp comp.sys.hp net.micro.mac comp.sys.mac net.micro.ns32k comp.sys.nsc net.micro.pc comp.sys.ibm.pc net.micro.ti comp.sys.ti net.micro.trs-80 comp.sys.tandy net.misc misc.misc net.motss soc.motss net.movies rec.arts.movies net.music rec.music.misc net.music.classical rec.music.classical net.music.folk rec.music.folk net.music.gdead rec.music.gdead net.music.synth rec.music.synth net.net-people soc.net-people net.news news.misc net.news.adm news.admin net.news.b news.software.b net.news.config news.config net.news.group news.groups net.news.newsite news.newsites net.news.notes news.software.notes net.news.sa news.sysadmin net.news.stargate news.stargate net.nlang sci.lang net.nlang.africa soc.culture.african net.nlang.celts soc.culture.celtic net.nlang.greek soc.culture.greek net.nlang.india soc.culture.indian net.origins talk.origins net.periphs comp.periphs net.pets rec.pets net.philosophy talk.philosophy.misc net.physics sci.physics net.poems rec.arts.poems net.politics talk.politics.misc net.politics.terror talk.politics.misc net.politics.theory talk.politics.theory net.puzzle rec.puzzles net.railroad rec.railroad net.rec rec.misc net.rec.birds rec.birds net.rec.boat rec.boats net.rec.bridge rec.games.bridge net.rec.nude rec.nude net.rec.photo rec.photo net.rec.scuba rec.scuba net.rec.ski rec.skiing net.rec.skydive rec.misc net.rec.wood rec.woodworking net.religion talk.religion.misc net.religion.christian talk.religion.christian (Moderated) net.religion.jewish soc.culture.jewish net.research sci.research net.roots soc.roots net.rumor talk.rumors net.sci sci.misc net.sf-lovers rec.arts.sf-lovers net.singles soc.singles net.social soc.misc net.sources comp.sources.unix (Moderated) net.sources.bugs comp.sources.bugs (Moderated) net.sources.d comp.sources.d net.sources.games comp.sources.games (Moderated) net.sources.mac comp.sources.mac (Moderated) net.space sci.space net.sport rec.sport.misc net.sport.baseball rec.sport.baseball net.sport.football rec.sport.football net.sport.hockey rec.sport.hockey net.sport.hoops rec.sport.basketball net.startrek rec.arts.startrek net.suicide misc.misc net.taxes misc.taxes net.test misc.test net.text comp.text net.travel rec.travel net.tv rec.arts.tv net.tv.drwho rec.arts.drwho net.tv.soaps rec.arts.tv.soaps net.unix comp.unix.questions net.unix-wizards comp.unix.wizards net.usenix comp.org.usenix net.veg rec.food.veg net.video rec.video net.wanted misc.wanted net.wanted.sources comp.sources.wanted net.wines rec.food.drink net.wobegon rec.arts.misc net.women soc.women
rick@cbosgd.UUCP (08/11/86)
comp.ai Artificial intelligence discussions. comp.ai.digest Arpanet Artificial Intelligence Digest. (Moderated) comp.arch Computer architecture. comp.bugs.2bsd Reports of UNIX* version 2BSD related bugs. comp.bugs.4bsd Reports of UNIX version 4BSD related bugs. comp.bugs.misc General bug reports and fixes. comp.bugs.sys5 Reports of AT&T System 5 (and System 3) related bugs. comp.cog-eng Cognitive engineering. comp.compilers Compiler construction, etc. (Moderated) comp.databases Database and data management issues and theory. comp.dcom.lans Local area network hardware and software. comp.dcom.modems Data communications hardware and software. comp.dcom.telecom Telecommunications digest. (Moderated) comp.doc Public-domain documentation. (Moderated) comp.doc.techreports Announcements and lists of technical reports.(Moderated) comp.edu Computer science education. comp.emacs EMACS editors of different flavors. comp.graphics Computer graphics, art, animation, image processing, comp.graphics.digest Arpanet Digest on Computer Graphics. (Moderated) comp.lang.ada The computer language Ada*. comp.lang.apl The computer language APL. comp.lang.c The computer language C. comp.lang.c++ The object-oriented computer language C++. comp.lang.forth The computer language Forth. comp.lang.fortran The computer language FORTRAN. comp.lang.lisp The computer language LISP. comp.lang.misc Other computer languages. comp.lang.modula2 The computer language Modula-2. comp.lang.pascal The computer language Pascal. comp.lang.prolog The computer language PROLOG. comp.lang.smalltalk The computer language Smalltalk 80. comp.laser-printers Laser printers, hardware and software. (Moderated) comp.lsi Large scale integrated circuits. comp.mail.headers Arpanet header-people mailnig list. comp.mail.maps Various maps, including UUCP maps. (Moderated) comp.mail.uucp Proposed uucp mail/network standards. comp.newprod Announcements of new products (Moderated) comp.org.decus DEC* Users' Society newsgroup. comp.org.usenix USENIX Association events and announcements. comp.os.cpm The CP/M operating system. comp.os.eunice The SRI Eunice system. comp.os.os9 The os9 operating system. (Moderated) comp.os.vms DEC's VMS Operating System (Moderated) comp.periphs Peripheral devices. comp.protocols File Transfer Protocol discussions. (Moderated) comp.protocols.appletalk Applebus hardware & software. (Moderated) comp.protocols.kermit Information about the Kermit package. (Moderated) comp.protocols.tcp-ip TCP and IP network protocols. (Moderated) comp.sources.amiga Public Domain Software for the Amiga. (Moderated) comp.sources.bugs Bugs and fixes for comp.sources postings (Moderated) comp.sources.d Any discussion on comp.sources postings. comp.sources.games Postings of recreational software (Moderated) comp.sources.mac Public Domain Software for the Macintosh (Moderated) comp.sources.unix Public Domain Software for Unix systems (Moderated) comp.sources.wanted Requests for software, termcap entries, etc. comp.std.c C language standards (Moderated) comp.std.internat International standards comp.std.mumps The X11.1 committee on Mumps (Moderated) comp.std.unix The P1003 committee on UNIX (Moderated) comp.sys.amiga Commodore Amiga computers -- info, uses, no programs. comp.sys.apollo Apollo computer systems. (Moderated) comp.sys.apple Apple computers. comp.sys.atari.8bit 8 bit Atari computers. comp.sys.atari.st 16 bit Atari computers. comp.sys.att AT&T computers. comp.sys.cbm Commodore computers. comp.sys.dec DEC computers. comp.sys.hp Hewlett/Packard computers comp.sys.ibm.pc IBM personal computers. comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest Arpanet Digest on the IBM PC family. (Moderated) comp.sys.intel Intel computers. comp.sys.m6809 Motorola 6809's. comp.sys.m68k Motorola 68000, 68010, 68020 based computers comp.sys.m68k.digest Arpanet Digest on 68000-based systems. (Moderated) comp.sys.mac The Apple Macintosh & Lisa comp.sys.mac.digest Arpanet Digest on Apple Macintosh computers (Moderated) comp.sys.masscomp Masscomp computers. (Moderated) comp.sys.misc Other types of computers. comp.sys.nsc National Semiconductor Computers and chips. comp.sys.pyramid Pyramid 90x computers. (Moderated) comp.sys.ridge Ridge 32 computers and ROS. (Moderated) comp.sys.sequent Sequent systems, (esp. Balance 8000). (Moderated) comp.sys.sun Sun "workstation" computers (Moderated) comp.sys.tandy Tandy/Radio Shack computers comp.sys.ti Texas Instruments computers. comp.sys.workstations Various workstation-type computers. (Moderated) comp.terminals All sorts of terminals. comp.text Text processing. comp.unix UNIX* features and bugs. (Moderated) comp.unix.questions General questions on UNIX. comp.unix.wizards Expert discussions, bug reports, and fixes for UNIX. misc.consumers Consumer interests, product reviews, etc. misc.consumers.house Owning and maintaining a house. misc.invest Investments and the handling of money. misc.jobs Job announcements, requests, etc. misc.kids Children, their behavior and activities. misc.legal Legalities and the ethics of law. misc.misc Various discussions too short-lived for other groups. misc.psi ESP,PSI, etc (Moderated) misc.taxes Tax laws and advice. misc.test Testing of network software. Very boring. misc.wanted Requests for things that are needed. news.admin Comments directed to news administrators. news.announce General announcements of interest to all. (Moderated) news.announce.conferences Upcoming conferences (Moderated) news.announce.newusers Explanatory postings for new users. (Moderated) news.config Postings of system down times and interruptions. news.groups Discussions and lists of newsgroups news.lists News-related statistics and lists (Moderated) news.misc Discussions of USENET itself. news.newsites Postings of new site announcements. news.software.b B news software. news.software.notes Notesfile software from the Univ. of Illinois. news.stargate Satellite transmission of news. news.sysadmin Comments directed to system administrators. rec.arts.books Books of all genres, shapes, and sizes. rec.arts.comics The funnies, old and new. rec.arts.drwho Dr. Who. rec.arts.misc Other arts related topics. rec.arts.movies Reviews and discussions of movies. rec.arts.poems Poetry. rec.arts.sf-lovers Science fiction lovers' newsgroup. rec.arts.startrek Star Trek, the TV show and the movies. rec.arts.tv The boob tube, its history, and past and current shows. rec.arts.tv.soaps Postings about TV soap operas. rec.audio High fidelity audio. rec.autos Automobiles, automotive products and laws. rec.autos.tech Technical aspects of automobiles, et. al. rec.aviation Aviation rules, means, and methods. rec.bicycles Bicycles, related products and laws. rec.birds Hobbyists interested in bird watching. rec.boats Hobbyists interested in boating. rec.food.cooking Food, cooking, cookbooks, and recipes. rec.food.drink Wines and spirits. rec.food.recipes A "distributed cookbook" of recipes. (Moderated) rec.food.veg Vegetarians. rec.games.board Board games. rec.games.bridge Hobbyists interested in bridge. rec.games.chess Chess & computer chess. rec.games.empire The computer game Empire. rec.games.frp Fantasy Role Playing games. rec.games.go Go. rec.games.hack The computer game Hack. rec.games.misc Other games and computer games. rec.games.pbm Play by Mail games. rec.games.rogue The computer game Rogue. rec.games.trivia Trivia. rec.games.video Video games. rec.gardens Gardening, methods and results. rec.guns Firearms (Moderated) rec.ham-radio Amateur Radio practices, contests, events, rules, etc. rec.ham-radio.packet Packet radio setups. rec.humor Jokes and the like. May be somewhat offensive. rec.humor.d The content of net.jokes articles rec.mag Magazine summaries, tables of contents, etc. rec.mag.otherrealms A science fiction and fantasy "magazine". (Moderated) rec.misc Other Recreational/participant sports. rec.motorcycles Motorcycles and related products and laws. rec.music Reviews and discussion of things musical (Moderated) rec.music.classical Classical music. rec.music.folk Folks discussing folk music of various sorts rec.music.gaffa Kate Bush lovers. (Moderated) rec.music.gdead A group for (Grateful) Dead-heads rec.music.misc Other music related topics. rec.music.synth Synthesizers and computer music rec.nude Hobbyists interested in naturist/nudist activities. rec.pets Pets, pet care, and household animals in general. rec.photo Hobbyists interested in photography. rec.puzzles Puzzles, problems, and quizzes. rec.railroad Real and model train fans' newsgroup. rec.scuba Hobbyists interested in SCUBA diving. rec.skiing Hobbyists interested in skiing. rec.sport.baseball Professional baseball. rec.sport.basketball Professional basketball. rec.sport.football Professional football. rec.sport.hockey Professional hockey. rec.sport.misc Other spectator sports. rec.travel Traveling all over the world. rec.video Video and video components. rec.woodworking Hobbyists interested in woodworking. sci.astro Astronomy discussions and information. sci.bio Biology and related sciences. sci.crypt Different methods of data en/decryption. sci.electronics Electronic design developments, ideas, and components. sci.lang Natural languages. sci.math Mathematical discussions and puzzles. sci.math.stat Statistics discussion. sci.math.symbolic Symbolic algebra discussion. sci.med Medicine and its related products and regulations. sci.misc General purpose scientific discussions. sci.physics Physical laws, properties, etc. sci.research Research and computer research. sci.space Space, space programs, space related research, etc. sci.space.shuttle The space shuttle and the STS program. soc.college College, college activities, campus life, etc. soc.comp Computers and Society (Moderated) soc.culture.african Africa & things African soc.culture.celtic Celtics culture. soc.culture.greek Greeks culture. soc.culture.indian India & things Indian soc.culture.jewish Information and discussion about Judaism. soc.human-nets Computer aided communications digest. (Moderated) soc.misc Other Social topics soc.motss Issues pertaining to homosexuality. soc.net-people Announcements, requests, etc. about people on the net. soc.risks Risks to the public from computers (Moderated) soc.roots Genealogical matters. soc.singles Newsgroup for single people, their activities, etc. soc.women Women's rights, discrimination, etc. talk.abortion Abortion. talk.origins Evolution versus creationism (sometimes hot!). talk.philosophy Philosophical discussions (Moderated) talk.philosophy.misc Philosophical discussions. talk.philosophy.tech Philosphy and technology (Moderated) talk.politics Political problems, systems, solutions. (Moderated) talk.politics.arms-d Arms discussion digest. (Moderated) talk.politics.misc Political discussions. Could get hot. talk.politics.theory Theory of politics and political systems. talk.religion.christian The form and nature of Christianity (Moderated) talk.religion.misc Religious, ethical, and moral implications of actions. talk.rumors For the posting of rumors.