RFC 3092 - Etymology of "Foo"

18 years ago
RFC 3092 - Etymology of "Foo"

Abstract

Approximately 212 RFCs so far, starting with RFC 269, contain the terms `foo', `bar', or `foobar' as metasyntactic variables without any proper explanation or definition. This document rectifies that deficiency.
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6 Responses:

  1. jcurious says:
    18 years ago at 12:27 am

    all this time I thought foobar was derived from fubar...

    wow... learn something new everyday
  2. endquote says:
    18 years ago at 1:05 am

    "Security issues are not discussed in this memo."

    Well that seems downright irresponsible.
  3. cirollo says:
    18 years ago at 2:18 am

    I've always liked RFC 1149 and RFC 2549, which describe a protocol for IP over avian carrier.

    The IP datagram is printed, on a small scroll of paper, in hexadecimal, with each octet separated by whitestuff and blackstuff. The scroll of paper is wrapped around one leg of the avian carrier. A band of duct tape is used to secure the datagram's edges. The bandwidth is limited to the leg length. The MTU is variable,and paradoxically, generally increases with increased carrier age.
  4. coldacid says:
    18 years ago at 4:04 am

    The next RFC is on sandwich making. Or something else equally useless.
  5. nutznboltz says:
    18 years ago at 9:05 am

    ...that the word "Fucked" was used in an RFC?