The Story Behind alt.comp.freeware (ACF)
ACF is a Usenet newsgroup dedicated to the discussion and presentation of freeware programs. It began with a discussion in alt.comp.shareware and alt.config back in the last two weeks of 1995. Some members of alt.comp.shareware saw a need for a group devoted to freeware and carried on a lively discussion about creating one. Not everyone saw the need, and some felt that a single freeware newsgroup was not enough variations, but in the end the new group was established by mid-January of 1996.
The name ACF is commonly used to mean alt.comp.freeware. Some of the early members of the group were responsible for the beginnings of this website and the Pricelessware list. ACF is part of the "alt." group of Usenet.
Alt is a rather special part of Usenet. It is anarchic - there is no central committee that runs it. It is operated by those who use it. Other parts of Usenet have complex and rigid procedures for creating groups. Alt does not. In fact, new groups can be created by anyone as long as certain procedures are followed.
In order to begin the process, there has to be a discussion in an established group to determine the need for a new group. The proposal for a group also has to be presented to alt.config. Alt was created with the intention that it be overseen by alt.config, a group of knowledgeable volunteers who help people create useful groups. Anyone can be a contributor to alt.config: lurk there, read and learn the ropes.
Alt.config's role is to advise proponents of new alt groups. Alt.config does not have the real power of a hierarchy administrator, but its opinions matter a lot to the people you are really trying to convince when you propose a group: the news administrators of the ISP's who decide what groups to carry. They tend to follow the consensus of discussions in alt.config when they make decisions.
Since ACF is unmoderated (no one person decides what is posted), everyone is free to post about freeware related products, information, suggestions, or questions. Discussions and exchanges sometimes reflect the opinions of the posters. Still, the information is useful, even if all you do is read the posts, as many subscribers do. Most readers start out as "lurkers" (a friendly term for non-posters); many eventually get more involved.
These are a few of the newsreaders favored by ACF members:
An explanation and lists of many available newsreaders can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Usenet_newsreaders
If your ISP doesn't offer access to a news server, you'll have to subscribe to one. Here's a starting place, but you can find more with a little searching: http://www.newsgroupservers.net/
As always, you're invited to become a participant in ACF. The more the merrier!