eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/03/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part13
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X nose.
X
X Quadruple-bucky combinations were very seldom used in practice,
X because when one invented a new command one usually assigned it to
X some character that was easier to type. If you want to imply that
X a program has ridiculously many commands or features, you can say
X something like "Oh, the command that makes it spin the tapes while
X whistling Beethoven's 5th Symphony is quadruple-bucky-cokebottle".
X See {double bucky}, {bucky bits}, {cokebottle}.
X
Xquantum bogodynamics: /kwon'tm boh`goh-die-nam'iks/ n. A theory
X that characterizes the universe in terms of bogon sources (such as
X politicians, used-car salesmen, TV evangelists, and {suit}s in
X general), bogon sinks (such as taxpayers and computers), and
X bogosity potential fields. Bogon absorption, of course, causes
X human beings to behave mindlessly and machines to fail (and may
X cause them to emit secondary bogons as well); however, the precise
X mechanics of the bogon-computron interaction are not yet understood
X and remain to be elucidated. Quantum bogodynamics is most
X frequently invoked to explain the sharp increase in hardware and
X software failures in the presence of suits; the latter emit bogons
X which the former absorb. See {bogon}, {computron}, {suit}.
X
Xquarter: n. Two bits; syn. {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}. The
X term comes from the `pieces of eight' famed in pirate movies ---
X Spanish gold pieces that could be broken into eight
X pie-slice-shaped `bits' to make change. Early in the U.S.'s
X history the coin was considered equal to a dollar, so each of these
X `bits' was considered worth 12.5 cents. Usage: rare. See also
X {nickle}, {nybble}, {{byte}}, {dynner}.
X
Xques: /kwess/ 1. n. The question mark character (`?', ASCII
X #b0111111). 2. interj. What? Also frequently verb-doubled as
X "Ques ques?" See {wall}.
X
Xquick and dirty: adj. Describes a {crock} put together under time
X or user pressure. Used esp. when you want to convey that you think
X the fast way might lead to trouble further down the road. "I can
X have a quick-and-dirty fix in place tonight, but I'll have to
X rewrite the whole module to solve the underlying design problem."
X See also {kluge}.
X
Xquux: /kwuhks/ Mythically, from the Latin semi-deponent verb quuxo,
X quuxare, quuxandum iri; noun form variously `quux' (plural
X `quuces', anglicized to `quuxes') and `quuxu' (genitive plural is
X `quuxuum', for four u-letters out of seven total, using up all the
X `u' letters in Scrabble in one swell foop).] 1. Originally, a
X meta-word like {foo} and {foobar}. Invented by Guy Steele for
X precisely this purpose when he was young and naive and not yet
X interacting with the real computing community. Many people invent
X such words; this one seems simply to have been lucky enough to have
X spread a little. In an eloquent display of poetic justice, it has
X returned to the originator in the form of a nickname, as punishment
X for inventing the bletcherous word in the first place. 2.
X interj. See {foo}; however, denotes very little disgust, and is
X uttered mostly for the sake of the sound of it. 3. Guy Steele in
X his persona as `The Great Quux', which is somewhat infamous for
X light verse and for the `Crunchly' cartoons. 4. In some circles,
X quux is used as a punning opposite of `crux'. "Ah, that's the quux
X of the matter!" implies that the point is *not* crucial
X (compare {tip of the ice-cube}). 5. quuxy: adj. Of or
X pertaining to a quux.
X
Xqux: /kwuhks/ The fourth of the standard metasyntactic variables,
X after {baz} and before the quuu*x series. See {foo}, {bar},
X {baz}, {quux}. Note that this appears to be a recent mutation
X from {quux}, and that many versions of the standard series just
X run {foo}, {bar}, {baz}, {quux}, ....
X
XQWERTY: /kwer'tee/ [from the keycaps at the upper left] adj.
X Pertaining to a standard English-language typewriter keyboard
X (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard after its inventor), as
X opposed to Dvorak or foreign-language layouts or a {space-cadet
X keyboard} or APL keyboard.
X
X= R =
X=====
X
Xrain dance: n. 1. Any ceremonial action taken to correct a hardware
X problem, with the expectation that nothing will be accomplished.
X This especially applies to reseating printed circuit boards,
X reconnecting cables, etc. "I can't boot up the machine. We'll
X have to wait for Greg to do his rain dance." 2. Any arcane
X sequence of actions performed with computers or software in order
X to achieve some goal; the term is usually restricted to rituals
X that include both an {incantation} or two and physical activity
X or motion. Compare {magic}, {voodoo programming}, {black
X art}.
X
Xrandom: adj. 1. Unpredictable (closest to mathematical
X definition); weird. "The system's been behaving pretty
X randomly." 2. Assorted; undistinguished. "Who was at the
X conference?" "Just a bunch of random business types." 3.
X Frivolous; unproductive; undirected (pejorative). "He's just a
X random loser." 4. Incoherent or inelegant; not well organized.
X "The program has a random set of misfeatures." "That's a random
X name for that function." "Well, all the names were chosen pretty
X randomly." 5. Gratuitously wrong, i.e., poorly done and for no
X good apparent reason. For example, a program that handles file
X name defaulting in a particularly useless way, or an assembler
X routine that could easily have been coded using only three
X registers, but randomly uses seven for assorted non-overlapping
X purposes, so that no one else can invoke it without first saving
X four extra registers. 6. In no particular order, though
X deterministic. "The I/O channels are in a pool, and when a file
X is opened one is chosen randomly." 7. n. A random hacker; used
X particularly of high school students who soak up computer time and
X generally get in the way. 8. n. (pejorative) Anyone who is not
X a hacker; the noun form of sense #2 "I went to the talk, but the
X audience was full of randoms asking bogus questions". 9:. n.
X (occasional MIT usage) One who lives at Random Hall. See also
X {J. Random}, {some random X}.
X
Xrandom numbers:: n. When one wishes to specify a large but random
X number of things, and the context is inappropriate for {N}, certain
X numbers are preferred by hacker tradition (that is, easily
X recognized as placeholders). These include
X
X 17
X Long described at MIT as `the least random number', see 23.
X 23
X Sacred number of Eris, Goddess of Discord (along with 17 and 5).
X 42
X The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and
X Everything. (Note that this answer is completely fortuitous).
X 69
X From the sexual act. This one was favored in MIT's ITS culture.
X 105
X 69 hex = 105 decimal, and 69 decimal = 105 octal.
X 666
X The Number of the Beast.
X
X For further enlightenment, consult the `Principia Discordia',
X `The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy', any porn movie, and
X the Christian Bible's `Book Of Revelations' (chapter 13, verse
X 18). See also {Discordianism} or consult your pineal gland.
X
X One common rhetorical maneuver uses any the canonical random
X numbers as placeholders for variables. One might hear "The max
X function takes 23 arguments, for arbitrary values of 23." or
X "There are 69 ways to leave your lover, for 69 = 50." This is
X especially likely when the speaker has uttered a random number and
X realizes that it was not recognized as such, but even `non-random'
X numbers are occasionally used in this fashion. A related joke is
X that "Pi equals 3 --- for small values of pi and large values of
X 3."
X
Xrandomness: n. An unexplainable misfeature; gratuitous inelegance.
X Also, a {hack} or {crock} which depends on a complex combination of
X coincidences (or rather, the combination upon which the crock
X depends for its accidental failure to malfunction). "This hack
X can output characters 40-57 by putting the character in the
X accumulator field of an XCT and then extracting 6 bits --- the low
X two bits of the XCT opcode are the right thing." "What
X randomness!"
X
Xrape: vt. To (metaphorically) {screw} someone or something,
X violently; in particular, to destroy a program or information
X irrecoverably. Usage: often used in describing file-system damage.
X "So-and-so was running a program that did absolute disk I/O and
X ended up raping the master directory."
X
Xrare: [UNIX] adj. CBREAK mode (character-by-character with
X interrupts enabled). Distinguished from {raw mode} and
X `cooked mode'; the phrase "half-cooked (rare?)" is used in
X the V7/BSD manuals to describe the mode. Usage: rare.
X
Xraster blaster: n. [Cambridge] Specialized hardware for {bitblt}
X operations. Allegedly inspired by analogy with `Rasta Blasta',
X British slang for the sort of portable stereo/radio/tapedeck
X Americans call a `boom box' or `ghetto blaster'.
X
Xraster burn: n. Eyestrain brought on by too many hours of looking at
X low-res, poorly tuned, or glare-ridden monitors, esp. graphics
X monitors. See {terminal illness}.
X
Xrat belt: n. A cable tie, esp. the sawtoothed, self-locking plastic
X kind that you can only remove by cutting (as opposed to a random
X twist of wire or a baggie tie or one of those humongous metal clip
X frobs). Small cable ties are `mouse belts'.
X
Xrave: [WPI] vi. 1. To persist in discussing a specific subject.
X 2. To speak authoritatively on a subject about which one knows
X very little. 3. To complain to a person who is not in a position
X to correct the difficulty. 4. To purposely annoy another person
X verbally. 5. To evangelize. See {flame}. Also used to
X describe a less negative form of blather, such as friendly
X bullshitting. `Rave' differs slightly from {flame} in that
X `rave' implies that it is the manner or persistence of speaking
X that is annoying, while {flame} implies somewhat more strongly
X that the subject matter is annoying as well.
X
Xrave on!: imp. Sarcastic invitation to continue a {rave}, often by
X someone who wishes the raver would get a clue but realizes this is
X unlikely.
X
Xravs: /ravz/, also `Chinese ravs' n. Kuo-teh. A Chinese
X appetizer, known variously in the plural as dumplings, pot stickers
X (the literal translation of kuo-teh), and (around Boston) `Peking
X Ravioli'. The term `rav' is short for `ravioli', which among
X hackers always means the Chinese kind rather than the Italian kind.
X Both consist of a filling in a pasta shell, but the Chinese kind
X uses a thinner pasta and is cooked differently, either by steaming
X or frying. A rav or dumpling can be steamed or fried, but a
X potsticker is always the fried kind (so called because it sticks to
X the frying pot and has to be scraped off). "Let's get
X hot-and-sour soup and three orders of ravs." See also
X {{Oriental Food}}.
X
Xraw mode: n. A mode that allows a program to transfer bits directly
X to or from an I/O device without any processing, abstraction, or
X interpretation by the operating system. Compare {rare}.
X
XRE: /ar-ee/ n. Common spoken and written shorthand for {regexp}.
X
Xread-only user: n. Describes a {luser} who uses computers almost
X exclusively for reading USENET, bulletin boards, and/or email, as
X opposed to writing code or purveying useful information. See
X {twink}, {terminal junkie}, {lurker}.
X
XREADME file: n. By convention, the top-level directory of a UNIX
X source distribution always contains a file named `README' (or
X READ.ME, or (rarely) ReadMe or some other variant) which is a
X hacker's-eye introduction containing a pointer to more detailed
X documentation, credits, miscellaneous revision history notes, etc.
X When asked, hackers invariably relate this to the famous scene in
X Lewis Carroll's `Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' in which
X Alice confronts magic food labelled "Eat Me" and "Drink Me".
X
Xreal estate: n. May be used for any critical resource measured in
X units of area. Most frequently used of `chip real estate', the
X area available for logic on the surface of an integrated circuit
X (see also {nanoacre}). May also be used of floor space in a
X {dinosaur pen} or even space on a crowded desktop (whether
X physical or electronic).
X
Xreal hack: n. A {crock}. This is sometimes used affectionately;
X see {hack}.
X
Xreal operating system: n. Whichever one a given user is accustomed
X to, and subject to wild variation. People from the academic
X community are likely to issue comments like "System V? Why don't
X you use a *real* operating system?", people from the
X commercial/industrial UNIX sector are known to complain, "BSD? Why
X don't you use a *real* operating system?", and people from
X IBM probably think, "UNIX? Why don't you use a *real*
X operating system?" See {holy wars}, {religious issues},
X {proprietary}.
X
Xreal programmer: [indirectly, from the book `Real Men Don't
X Eat Quiche'] n. A particular sub-variety of hacker, one possessed
X of a flippant attitude towards complexity that is arrogant even
X when justified by experience. The archetypal `real programmer'
X likes to program on the {bare metal}, and is very good at same;
X he remembers the binary opcodes for every machine he's every
X programmed; thinks that HLLs are sissy; and he uses a debugger to
X edit his code because full-screen editors are for wimps. Real
X Programmers aren't satisfied with code that hasn't been {bum}med
X into a state of {tense}ness just short of rupture. Real
X Programmers never use comments or write documentation; "If it was
X hard to write", says the Real Programmer, "it should be hard to
X understand." Real Programmers can make machines do things that
X were never in their spec sheets; in fact, they're seldom really
X happy unless doing so. A Real Programmer's code can awe you with
X its fiendish brilliance, even as it appalls by its level of
X crockishness. Real Programmers live on junk food and coffee, hang
X line-printer art on their walls, and terrify the crap out of other
X programmers --- because someday, somebody else might have to try to
X understand their code in order to change it. Their successors
X generally consider it a {Good Thing} that there aren't many Real
X Programmers around any more. For a famous (and somewhat more
X positive) portrait of a Real Programmer, see `The Story of
X Mel' in Appendix A.
X
XReal Soon Now: [orig. from SF's fanzine community, popularized by
X Jerry Pournelle's BYTE column] adj. 1. Supposed to be available
X (or fixed, or cheap, or whatever) real soon now according to
X somebody, but the speaker is quite skeptical. 2. When the
X gods/fates/other time commitments permit the speaker to get to it.
X Often abbreviated RSN.
X
Xreal time: adv. Doing something while people are watching or waiting.
X "I asked her how to find the calling procedure's program counter
X on the stack and she came up with an algorithm in real time."
X
Xreal user: n. 1. A commercial user. One who is paying `real' money
X for his computer usage. 2. A non-hacker. Someone using the system
X for an explicit purpose (research project, course, etc.). See
X {user}. Hackers who are also students may also be real users. "I
X need this fixed so I can do a problem set. I'm not complaining out
X of randomness, but as a real user." See also {luser}.
X
XReal World: n. 1. In programming, those institutions at which
X programming may be used in the same sentence as FORTRAN, {COBOL},
X RPG, {IBM}, etc. Places where programs do such commercially
X necessary but intellectually uninspiring things as compute payroll
X checks and invoices. 2. To programmers, the location of
X non-programmers and activities not related to programming. 3. A
X universe in which the standard dress is shirt and tie and in which
X a person's working hours are defined as 9 to 5 (see {code
X grinder}). 4. The location of the status quo. 5. Anywhere outside
X a university. "Poor fellow, he's left MIT and gone into the real
X world." Used pejoratively by those not in residence there. In
X conversation, talking of someone who has entered the real world is
X not unlike talking about a deceased person. See also {fear and
X loathing}, {mundane}, and {uninteresting}.
X
Xreality check: n. 1. The simplest kind of test of software or
X hardware; doing the equivalent of asking it what `2 + 2' is
X and seeing if you get `4'. The equivalent of a {smoke test} for
X software. 2. The act of letting a {real user} try out prototype
X software. Compare {sanity check}.
X
Xreaper: n. A {prowler} that {GFR}s files. A file removed in
X this way is said to have been `reaped'.
X
Xrectangle slinger: n. See {polygon pusher}.
X
Xrecursion: n. See {recursion}. See also {tail recursion}.
X
Xrecursive acronyms:: pl.n. A hackish (and especially MIT) tradition is
X to choose acronyms that refer humorously to themselves or to other
X acronyms. The classic examples were two MIT editors called EINE
X ("EINE Is Not EMACS") and ZWEI ("ZWEI Was EINE Initially").
X More recently, {GNU} (q.v., sense #1) is said to stand for "GNU's
X Not UNIX!" See also {mung}, {EMACS}.
X
XRed Book: n. 1. Informal name for one of the three standard
X references on PostScript (`PostScript Language Reference
X Manual', Adobe Systems, Addison-Wesley 1985 QA76.73.P67P67, ISBN
X 0-201-10174-2); the others are known as the {Green Book} and {Blue
X Book}. 2. Informal name for one of the three standard references
X on Smalltalk: `Smalltalk-80: The Interactive Programming
X Environment', Adele Goldberg, Addison-Wesley 1984, QA76.8.S635G638,
X ISBN 0-201-11372-4 (this is also associated with blue and green
X books). 3. Any of the 1984 standards issued by the CCITT 8th
X plenary assembly. Until now, these have changed color each review
X cycle (1988 was {Blue Book}, 1992 will be {Green Book}); however,
X it is rumored that this convention is going to be dropped before
X 1992. These include, among other things, the X.400 email spec and
X the Group 1 through 4 fax standards. 4. The new version of the
X {Green Book} (sense #4), IEEE 1003.1-1990, aka ISO 9945-1,
X is (because of the color and the fact that it is printed on A4
X paper), known in the USA as "The Ugly Red Book That Won't Fit On
X The Shelf", and in Europe as "The Ugly Red Book That's A Sensible
X Size". See also {{book titles}}.
X
Xregexp: /reg'eksp/ [UNIX] n. (alt. `regex' or `reg-ex') 1.
X Common written and spoken abbreviation for `regular
X expression', one of the wildcard patterns used, e.g., by UNIX
X utilities such as `grep(1)', `sed(1)', and `awk(1)'.
X These use conventions similar to but more elaborate than those
X described under {glob}. For purposes of this lexicon, it is
X sufficient to note that regexps also allow complemented character
X sets using `^' and ranges in character sets using `-';
X thus, one can specify any non-alphabetic character with
X `[^A-Za-z]'. 2. Name of a well-known PD regexp-handling
X package in portable C, written by revered USENETter Henry Spencer
X (henry@zoo.toronto.edu).
X
Xreincarnation, cycle of: n. See {cycle of reincarnation}.
X
Xreinvent the wheel: v. To design or implement a tool equivalent to
X an existing one or part of one, with the implication that doing so
X is silly or a waste of time. This is frequently a valid criticism;
X but automobiles don't use wooden rollers, either, and some kinds of
X wheel have to be re-invented many times before you get it right. On
X the other hand, it has often been pointed out that people
X reinventing the wheel tend to come up with the moral equivalent of
X a trapezoid with an offset axle....
X
Xreligious issues: n. Questions which seemingly cannot be raised
X without touching off {holy wars}, such as "What is the best
X operating system (or editor, language, architecture, shell, mail
X reader, news reader)?" and "What about that Heinlein guy, eh?".
X See {holy wars}; see also {theology}, {bigot}.
X
X This entry is an example of {ha ha only serious}. People
X actually develop the most amazing and religiously intense
X attachments to their tools, even when the tools are intangible.
X The most constructive thing one can do when one stumbles into the
X crossfire is mumble {Get a life!} and leave --- unless of course
X one's *own* unassailably rational and obviously correct
X choices are being slammed....
X
Xreplicator: n. Any construct that acts to produce copies of itself;
X this could be a living organism, an idea (see {meme}), a program
X (see {worm}, {wabbit}, and {virus}), a pattern in a cellular
X automaton (see {life}, sense #1), or (speculatively) a robot or
X {nanobot}. It is even claimed by some that {UNIX} and {C}
X are the symbiotic halves of an extremely successful replicator; see
X {UNIX conspiracy}.
X
Xreply: n. See {followup}.
X
Xrestriction: n. A {bug} or design error that limits a program's
X capabilities, and which is sufficiently egregious that nobody can
X quite work up enough nerve to describe it as a {feature}. Often
X used (esp. by {marketroid} types) to make it sound as though some
X crippling bogosity had been intended by the designers all along, or
X was forced upon them by arcane considerations no mere user could
X possibly comprehend (these claims are almost invariably false).
X
X Old-time hacker Joseph M. Newcomer (jn11+@andrew.cmu.edu) passes
X along this wisdom: "Whenever choosing a restriction which is
X quantifiable by a number, make it either a power of 2 or a power of
X 2 minus 1. If you impose a limit of 17 items in a list, everyone
X knows it is a random number. If the limit is 15 or 16, there is
X clearly some deep reason and you will get less {flamage}."
X
Xretcon: /ret'kon/ [`retroactive continuity', from USENET's
X rec.arts.comics] 1. n. The common situation in pulp fiction (esp.
X comics, soaps) where a new story `reveals' new things about events
X in previous stories, usually leaving the `facts' the same (thus
X preserving continuity) while completely changing their
X interpretation. E.g., revealing that a whole season's episodes of
X Dallas was a dream was a retcon. 2. vt. To write such a story
X about (a character or fictitious object). Thus, "Byrne has
X retconned Superman's cape so that it is no longer unbreakable".
X "Marvelman's old adventures were retconned into synthetic
X dreams", "Swamp Thing was retconned from a transformed person
X into a sentient vegetable."
X
X [This is included because it's a good example of hackish linguistic
X innovation in a field completely unrelated to computers. The word
X `retcon' will probably spread through comics fandom and lose its
X association with hackerdom within a couple of years; for the
X record, it started here. --- ESR]
X
Xretrocomputing: /ret'-roh-k@m-pyoo'ting/ n. Refers to emulations
X of way-behind-the-state-of-the-art hardware or software, or
X implementations of never-was-state-of-the-art; esp. if such
X implementations are elaborate practical jokes and/or parodies of
X more `serious' designs. Perhaps the most widely distributed
X retrocomputing utility was the `pnch(6)' or `bcd(6)'
X program on V7 and other early UNIX versions, which would accept up
X to 80 characters of text argument and display the corresponding
X pattern in {{punched card}} code. Other well-known retrocomputing
X hacks have included the programming language {INTERCAL}, a
X {JCL}-emulating shell for UNIX, the card-punch-emulating editor named
X 029, and various elaborate PDP-11 hardware emulators and RT-11 OS
X emulators written just to keep an old, sourceless {Zork} binary
X running.
X
XRFC: /ahr ef see/ n. Request For Comment. One of a long-established
X series of numbered Internet standards widely followed by commercial
X and PD software in the Internet and UNIX communities. Perhaps the
X single most influential one has been RFC-822 (the Internet
X mail-format standard). The RFCs are unusual in that they are
X floated by technical experts acting on their own initiative and
X reviewed by the Internet at large, rather than formally promulgated
X through an institution such as ANSI. For this reason, they remain
X known as RFCs even once adopted.
X
XRFE: n. 1. Request For Enhancement. 2. [from `Radio Free Europe'
X Bellcore and Sun] Radio Free Ethernet, a system (originated by
X Peter Langston) for broadcasting audio among Sun SPARCstations over
X the ethernet.
X
Xrib site: [by analogy with {backbone site}] n. A machine which
X has an on-demand high-speed link to a {backbone site} and serves
X as a regional distribution point for lots of third-party traffic in
X email and USENET news. Compare {leaf site}, {backbone site}.
X
Xrice box: [from ham radio slang] n. Any Asian-made commodity
X computer, esp. an 80*86-based machine built to IBM PC-compatible
X ISA or EISA-bus standards.
X
XRight Thing: n. That which is *obviously* the correct or
X appropriate thing to use, do, say, etc. Often capitalized, always
X emphasized in speech as though capitalized. Use of this term often
X implies that in fact reasonable people may disagree. "Never let
X your conscience keep you from doing the right thing!" "What's
X the right thing for LISP to do when it reads `(mod a 0)'?
X Should it return `a', or give a divide-by-zero error?"
X Antonym: {Wrong Thing}.
X
XRL: [MUD community] n. Real Life. "Firiss laughs in RL" means
X Firiss's player is laughing.
X
Xroach: [Bell Labs] vt. To destroy, esp. of a data structure. Hardware
X gets {toast}ed or {fried}, software gets roached.
X
Xrobust: adj. Said of a system that has demonstrated an ability to
X recover gracefully from the whole range of exception conditions in
X a given environment. One step below {bulletproof}. Compare
X {smart}, oppose {brittle}.
X
Xrococo: adj. {Baroque} in the extreme. Used to imply that a
X program has become so encrusted with the software equivalent of
X gold leaf and curlicues that they have completely swamped the
X underlying design. Called after the later and more extreme forms
X of Baroque architecture and decoration prevalent during the
X mid-1700s in Europe.
X
Xrogue: [UNIX] n. Dungeons-And-Dragons-like game using character
X graphics, written under BSD UNIX and subsequently ported to other
X UNIX systems. The original BSD `curses(3)' screen-handling
X package was hacked together by Ken Arnold to support
X `rogue(6)' and has since become one of UNIX's most important
X and heavily used application libraries. Nethack, Omega, Larn, and
X an entire subgenre of computer dungeon games all took off from the
X inspiration provided by `rogue(6)'. See {nethack}.
X
Xroom-temperature IQ: [IBM] quant. 80 or below. Used in describing the
X expected intelligence range of the {luser}. As in "Well, but
X how's this interface gonna play with the room-temperature IQ
X crowd?" See {drool-proof paper}. This is a much more insulting
X phrase in countries that use Celsius thermometers.
X
Xroot: [UNIX] n. 1. The `superuser' account that ignores
X permission bits, user number zero on a UNIX system. This account
X has the user name `root'. 2. The top node of the system directory
X structure (home directory of the root user). 3. By extension, the
X privileged system-maintenance login on any OS. 4. Thus, `root
X mode': Syn. with {wizard mode} or `wheel mode'. Like these,
X it is often generalized to describe privileged states in systems
X other than OSs. 5. `go root': to temporarily enter `root mode'
X in order to perform a privileged operation. This use is deprecated
X in Australia, where v. `root' is slang for "to have sex with".
X
Xrot13: /rot ther'teen/ [USENET, from `rotate alphabet 13 places']
X n.,v. The simple Caesar-cypher encryption that replaces each
X English letter with the one 13 places forward or back along the
X alphabet, so that "The butler did it!" becomes "Gur ohgyre qvq
X vg!" Most USENET news reading and posting programs include a
X rot13 feature. It is used as if to enclose the text in a sealed
X wrapper that the reader must choose to open, for posting things
X that might offend some readers, answers to puzzles, or discussion
X of movie plot surprises. A major advantage of rot13 over rot(N)
X for other N is that it is self-inverse --- thus the same code can
X be used for encoding and decoding.
X
Xrotary debugger: [Commodore] n. Essential equipment for those late
X night or early morning debugging sessions. Mainly used as
X sustenance for the hacker. Comes in many decorator colors such as
X Sausage, Pepperoni, and Garbage. See {pizza, ANSI standard}.
X
XRSN: adj. See {Real Soon Now}.
X
XRTFAQ: /ahr-tee-eff-ay-kyoo/ [USENET, by analogy with {RTFM}]
X imp. Abbrev. for `Read the FAQ!', an exhortation that the person
X being addressed ought to read the newsgroup's {FAQ list} before
X posting questions.
X
XRTFM: /ahr-tee-ef-em/ [UNIX] imp. Abbrev. for `Read The Fucking Manual'.
X 1. Used by GURUs to brush off questions they consider trivial or
X annoying. Compare {Don't do that, then!}. 2. Used when reporting
X a problem to indicate that you aren't just asking out of
X {randomness}. "No, I can't figure out how to interface UNIX to my
X toaster, and yes, I have RTFM." Unlike sense #1, this use is
X considered polite. See also {RTFAQ}, {RTM}.
X
XRTI: /ahr-tee-ie/ interj. The mnemonic for the `return from
X interrupt' instruction on many computers including the 6502 and
X Z80. Equivalent to "Now, where was I?" or used to end a
X conversational digression. See {pop}.
X
XRTM: /ahr-tee-em/ [USENET, acronym for `Read The Manual'] Politer
X variant of {RTFM}.
X
Xrude: [WPI] adj. 1. (of a program) Badly written. 2. Functionally
X poor, e.g. a program which is very difficult to use because of
X gratuitously poor (random?) design decisions. See {cuspy}.
X
Xrunes: pl.n. 1. Anything that requires {heavy wizardry} or
X {black art} to {parse}; core dumps, JCL commands, or even code
X in a language you don't have the faintest idea how to read.
X Compare {casting the runes}, {Great Runes}. 2. Special
X display characters (for example, the high-half graphics on an IBM
X PC).
X
Xrunic: adj. Syn. {obscure}. VMS fans sometimes refer to UNIX as
X `Runix'; UNIX fans return the compliment by expanding VMS to `Very
X Messy Syntax' or `Vachement Mauvais Systeme' (French, lit.
X "Cowlike Bad System").
X
Xrusty iron: n. Syn. {tired iron}. It has been claimed that this
X is the inevitable fate of {water MIPS}.
X
Xrusty memory: n. Mass-storage that uses iron-oxide-based magnetic
X media (esp. tape and the pre-Winchester removable disk packs used
X in {washing machine}s). Compare {donuts}.
X
X= S =
X=====
X
Xs/n ratio: n. (also `s:n ratio'). See {signal-to-noise
X ratio}. Often abbreviated `SNR'.
X
Xsacred: adj. Reserved for the exclusive use of something (a
X metaphorical extension of the standard meaning). "Register 7 is
X sacred to the interrupt handler." Often means that anyone may
X look at the sacred object, but clobbering it will screw whatever it
X is sacred to. Example: The comment "Register 7 is sacred to the
X interrupt handler" appearing in a program would be interpreted by
X a hacker to mean that one part of the program, the `interrupt
X handler', uses register 7, and if any other part of the program
X changes the contents of register 7 dire consequences are likely to
X ensue.
X
Xsaga: [WPI] n. A cuspy but bogus raving story dealing with N random
X broken people.
X
Xsagan: /say'gn/ [from Carl Sagan's TV series `Cosmos'; think
X `Billions and Billions'] n. A large quantity of anything.
X "There's a sagan different ways to tweak EMACS." "The US
X Government spends sagans on military hardware."
X
XSAIL: /sayl/, not /ess ay ie el/ n. 1. Stanford University
X Artificial Intelligence Lab. An important site in the early
X development of LISP; with the MIT AI LAB, BBN, CMU, and the UNIX
X community, one of the major founts of technical innivation and
X hacker culture traditions (see the {WAITS} entry for details).
X The SAIL machines were shut down in late May 1990, scant weeks
X after the MIT AI lab's ITS cluster went down for the last time. 2.
X The Stanford Artificial Intelligence Language used at SAIL (sense
X #1). It was an Algol-60 derivative with some new data types
X intended for building search trees and association lists and a
X coroutining facility.
X
Xsalescritter: /sayls'kri`tr/ n. Pejorative hackerism for a computer
X salesperson. Hackers tell the following joke:
X
X Q. What's the difference between a used car dealer and a computer
X salesman?
X A. The used car dealer knows he's lying.
X
X This reflects the widespread hacker belief that salescritters are
X self-selected for stupidity (after all, if they had brains and the
X inclination to use them, they'd be in programming). The terms
X `salesthing' and `salesdroid' are also common. Compare
X {marketroid}, {suit}.
X
Xsalt mines: n. Dense quarters housing large numbers of programmers
X working long hours on grungy projects, with some hope of seeing the
X end of the tunnel in N years. Noted for their absence of sunshine.
X Compare {playpen}, {sandbox}.
X
Xsalt substrate: [MIT] n. Collective noun used to refer to potato
X chips, pretzels, saltines, or any other form of snack food
X essentially designed as a carrier for sodium chloride. From the
X technical term `chip substrate', used to refer to the silicon on the
X top of which the active parts of integrated circuits are deposited.
X
Xsame-day-service: n. Ironic term is used to describe slow response
X time, particularly with respect to {MS-DOS} system calls. Such
X response time is a major incentive for programmers to write
X programs that are not {well-behaved}. See also {PC-ism}.
X
Xsandbender: [IBM] n. A person involved with silicon lithography and
X the physical design of chips. Compare {ironmonger}, {polygon
X pusher}.
X
Xsandbox: n. (or `sandbox, the') Common term for the R&D
X department at many software and computer companies (where hackers
X in commercial environments are likely to be found). Half-derisive,
X but reflects the truth that research is a form of creative play.
X Compare {playpen}.
X
Xsanity check: n. 1. The act of checking a piece of code for
X completely stupid mistakes. Implies that the check is to make sure
X the author was sane when it was written; e.g., if a piece of
X scientific software relied on a particular formula and was giving
X unexpected results, one might first look at the nesting of
X parentheses or the coding of the formula, as a {sanity check},
X before looking at the more complex I/O or data structure
X manipulation routines. Compare {reality check}. 2. A run-time
X test, either validating input or ensuring that the program hasn't
X screwed up internally (producing an inconsistent value or state).
X
Xsay: vt. In some contexts, to type to a terminal. "To list a
X directory verbosely, you have to say `ls -l'". Tends to imply
X a carriage-return-terminated command (a `sentence'). A computer
X may also be said to `say' things to you even if it doesn't have a
X speech synthesizer, by displaying them on a terminal in response to
X your commands. Hackers find it odd that this usage confuses other
X people.
X
XScience-Fiction Fandom:: n. Another voluntary subculture having a very
X heavy overlap with hackerdom; most hackers read SF and/or fantasy
X fiction avidly, and many go to `cons' (SF conventions) or are
X involved in fandom-connected activities like the Society for
X Creative Anachronism. Some hacker jargon originated in SF fandom;
X see {defenestration}, {great-wall}, {cyberpunk}, {h}, {ha ha
X only serious}, {IMHO}, {mundane}, {neep-neep}, {Real Soon Now}.
X Additionally, the jargon terms {cowboy}, {cyberspace}, {de-rezz},
X {go flatline}, {ice}, {virus}, {wetware}, {wirehead}, and {worm}
X originated in SF itself.
X
Xscram switch: [from the nuclear power industry] n. An
X emergency-power-off switch (see {Big Red Switch}), esp. one
X positioned to be easily hit by evacuating personnel. In general,
X this is *not* something you frob lightly; these are installed
X in a {dinosaur pen} for use in case of electrical fire or in case
X some luckless {field servoid} should put 120 volts across himself
X while {Easter egging}.
X
Xscratch: 1. [from `scratchpad'] adj. Describes a device or
X recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary-use
X purposes; one that can be {scribble}d on without loss. Usually
X in the combining forms `scratch memory', `scratch
X register', `scratch disk', `scratch tape', `scratch
X volume'. See {scratch monkey}. 2. [primarily IBM] vt. To delete
X (as in a file).
X
Xscratch monkey: n. As in, "Before testing or reconfiguring, always
X mount a...", a proverb used to advise caution when dealing
X with irreplaceable data or devices. Used to refer to any
X non-expendable device or scratch volume hooked to a computer, in
X memory of Mabel, the Swimming Wonder Monkey who expired when a
X computer vendor PM'd a machine which was regulating the gas mixture
X that the monkey was breathing at the time. See Appendix A. See
X {scratch}.
X
Xscrew: [MIT] n. A {lose}, usually in software. Especially used for
X user-visible misbehavior caused by a bug or misfeature.
X
Xscrewage: /skroo'@j/ n. Like {lossage} but connotes that the
X failure is due to a designed-in misfeature rather than a simple
X inadequacy or mere bug.
X
Xscribble: n. To modify a data structure in a random and
X unintentionally destructive way. "Bletch! Somebody's
X disk-compactor program went berserk and scribbled on the i-node
X table." "It was working fine until one of the allocation routines
X scribbled on low core." Synonymous with {trash}; compare {mung},
X which conveys a bit more intention, and {mangle}, which is more
X violent and final.
X
Xscrog: /skrog/ [Bell Labs] vt. To damage, trash, or corrupt a data
X structure. "The cblock got scrogged." Also reported as
X `skrog', and ascribed to `The Wizard of Id' comix. Equivalent
X to {scribble} or {mangle}
X
Xscrozzle: /skroz'l/ vt. Used when a self-modifying code segment runs
X incorrectly and corrupts the running program or vital data. "The
X damn compiler scrozzled itself again!"
X
XSCSI: n. Small Computer System Interface is a system-level
X interface between a computer and intelligent devices. Typically
X annotated in literature with `sexy' (/sek'see/), `sissy' /sis'ee/
X and `scuzzy' (/skuhz'zee/) as pronunciation guides --- the last
X being the overwhelmingly predominant form, much to the dismay of
X the designers and their marketing people. One can usually assume
X that a person who pronounces it /ess see ess eye/ is clueless.
X
Xsearch-and-destroy mode: n. Hackerism for the search-and-replace
X facility in an editor, so called because an incautiously chosen
X match pattern can cause {infinite} damage.
X
Xsecond-system effect: n. (sometimes, more euphoniously,
X `second-system syndrome'.) When designing the successor to a
X relatively small, elegant, and successful system, there is a
X tendency to become grandiose in one's success and design an
X {elephantine} feature-laden monstrosity. The term was first used
X by Fred Brooks in his classic book `The Mythical Man-Month'.
X It described the jump from a set of nice, simple, operating
X monitors on the IBM 70xx series to OS/360 on the 360 series. A
X similar effect can also happen in an evolving system; see
X {creeping elegance}, {creeping featurism}. See also
X {Multics}.
X
X This version of the jargon lexicon has been described (with
X altogether too much truth for comfort) as the result of
X second-system effect applied to jargon-1...
X
Xsecondary damage: n. When a fatal error occurs (esp. a
X {segfault}) the immediate cause may be that a pointer is damaged
X due to a {fandango on core}. However, this fandango may have
X been due to an *earlier* fandango, so no amount of analysis
X will reveal (directly) how the damage occurred. "The data
X structure was clobbered, but it was secondary damage."
X
X This generalizes. The corruption resulting from N cascaded
X fandangoes on core is "Nth-level damage". There is at least one
X case on record in which 17 hours of grovelling with `adb'
X actually dug up the underlying bug behind an instance of 7th-level
X damage! The hacker who accomplished this near-superhuman feat was
X presented with an award by his fellows.
X
Xsecurity through obscurity: n. A name applied by hackers to most OS
X vendors' favorite way of coping with security holes --- namely,
X ignoring them and not documenting them and trusting that nobody
X will find out about them and that people who do find out about them
X won't exploit them. This never works for long and occasionally
X sets the world up for disasters like the RTM worm of 1988, but once
X the brief moments of panic created by such events subside most
X vendors are all too willing to turn over and go back to sleep.
X After all, actually fixing the bugs would siphon off the resources
X needed to implement the next user-interface frill on Marketing's
X wish list --- besides, if they started fixing security bugs
X customers might begin to *expect* it and imagine that their
X warranties of merchantability gave them some sort of *right*
X to a system with fewer holes in it than a shotgunned Swiss cheese,
X and then where would we be?
X
X Historical note: this term was first used in the USENET newsgroup
X in `comp.sys.apollo' during a campaign to get HP/Apollo to fix
X rampant security problems in its UNIX-lookalike Aegis/DomainOS.
X They didn't change a thing.
X
Xsegfault: n.,vi. Syn. {segment}, {seggie}.
X
Xseggie: /seg'ee/ [UNIX] n. Shorthand for {segmentation fault}
X reported from Britain.
X
Xsegment: /seg'ment/ vi. To experience a {segmentation fault}.
X Confusingly, this is often accented on the first syllable rather
X than on the second as for mainstream v. segment; this is because
X it's actually a noun shorthand that has been verbed.
X
Xsegmentation fault: n. [UNIX] 1. Error in which a running program
X attempts to access memory not allocated to it and {core dump}s
X with a segment violation error. 2. To lose a train of thought or a
X line of reasoning. Also uttered as an exclamation at the point of
X befuddlement.
X
Xsegv: /seg'vee/ n.,vi. Yet another synonym for {segmentation fault}.
X
Xself-reference: n. See {self-reference}.
X
Xselvage: /sel'v@j/ [from sewing] n. See {chad} (sense #1).
X
Xsemi: /se'mee/ or /se'mie/ 1. n. Abbreviation for `semicolon', when
X speaking. "Commands to {grind} are prefixed by semi-semi-star"
X means that the prefix is `;;*', not 1/4 of a star. 2. Prefix with
X words such as `immediately', as a qualifier. "When is the system
X coming up?" "Semi-immediately." (That is, maybe not for an
X hour). "We did consider that possibility semi-seriously." See
X also {infinite}.
X
Xsenior bit: [IBM] n. Syn. {meta bit}.
X
Xserver: n. A kind of {daemon} that performs a service for the
X requester, which often runs on a computer other than the one on
X which the server runs. A particularly common term on the Internet,
X which is rife with `name servers', `domain servers', `news
X servers', `finger servers', and the like.
X
XSEX: [Sun User's Group & elsewhere] n. 1. Software EXchange. A
X technique invented by the blue-green algae hundreds of millions of
X years ago to speed up their evolution, which had been terribly slow
X up until then. Today, SEX parties are popular among hackers and
X others. 2. The rather Freudian mnemonic often used for Sign EXtend,
X a machine instruction found in the PDP-11 and many architectures.
X
X DEC's engineers nearly got a PDP-11 assembler using the SEX
X mnemonic out the door at one time, but (for once) marketing wasn't
X asleep and forced a change. That wasn't the last time this
X happened, either. The author of `The Intel 8086 Primer', who
X was one of the original designers of the 8086, noted that there was
X originally a SEX instruction on that processor, too. He says that
X Intel management got cold feet and decreed that it be changed, and
X thus the instruction was renamed CBW and CWD (depending on what was
X being extended). Amusingly, the Intel 8048 (the microcontroller
X used in IBM PC keyboards) is also missing straight SEX but has
X logical-or and logical-and instructions ORL and ANL.
X
Xsex changer: n. Syn. {gender mender}.
X
Xshareware: n. {freeware} for which the author requests some payment,
X usually in the accompanying documentation files or in an
X announcement made by the software itself. Such payment may or may
X not buy additional support or functionality. See {guiltware},
X {crippleware}.
X
Xshelfware: n. Software purchased on a whim (by an individual user) or
X in accordance with policy (by a corporation or government), but not
X actually required for any particular use. Therefore, it often ends
X up on some shelf.
X
Xshell: [UNIX, now used elsewhere] n. 1. [techspeak] The command
X interpreter used to pass commands to an operating system; so called
X because it's the part of the operating system that interfaces to
X the outside world. 2. More generally, any interface program
X which mediates access to a special resource or {server} for
X convenience, efficiency, or security reasons; for this meaning, the
X usage is usually `a shell around' whatever. This sort of
X program is also called a `wrapper'.
X
Xshell out: [UNIX] n. To spawn an interactive {subshell} from within a
X program such as a mailer or editor. "Bang foo runs foo in a
X subshell, while bang alone shells out."
X
Xshift left (or right) logical: [from any of various machines'
X instruction sets] 1. vi. To move oneself to the left (right). To
X move out of the way. 2. imper. "Get out of that (my) seat! You
X can shift to that empty one to the left (right)." Usage: often
X used without the `logical', or as `left shift' instead of
X `shift left'. Sometimes heard as LSH /l@sh/, from the PDP-10
X instruction set. See {Programmer's Cheer}.
X
Xshitogram: /shit'oh-gram/ n. A *really* nasty piece of email.
X Compare {nastygram}, {flame}.
X
Xshort card: n. A half-length IBM PC expansion card or adapter that
X will fit in one of the two short slots located towards the right
X rear of a standard chassis (tucked behind the floppy disk drives).
X See also {tall card}.
X
Xshotgun debugging: n. The software equivalent of {Easter egging};
X the making of relatively undirected changes to software in the hope
X that a bug will be perturbed out of existence. This almost never
X works, and usually introduces more bugs.
X
Xshowstopper: n. A hardware or (especially) software bug that makes
X an implementation effectively unusable; one that absolutely has to
X be fixed before development can go on. Opposite in connotation
X from its original theatrical use, which refers to something
X stunningly *good*.
X
Xshriek: n. See {excl}. Occasional CMU usage, also in common use
X among APL fans and mathematicians, especially category theorists.
X
Xsidecar: n. 1. Syn. {slap on the side}. Esp. used of add-ons for
X the late and unlamented IBM PCjr. 2. The IBM PC compatibility box
X that could be bolted on to the side of an Amiga. Designed and
X produced by Commodore and broke all of their design rules. If it
X worked with any other peripherals, it was by {magic}.
X
Xsig block: /sig blok/ [UNIX; often written ".sig" there] n. Short
X for `signature', used specifically to refer to the electronic
X signature block that most UNIX mail- and news-posting software
X will allow you to automatically append to outgoing mail and news.
X The composition of one's sig can be quite an art form, including an
X ASCII logo or one's choice of witty sayings (see {sig quote}); but
X many consider large sigs a waste of {bandwidth}, and it has been
X observed that the size of one's sig block is usually inversely
X proportional to one's longevity and level of prestige on the net.
X
Xsig quote: /sig kwoht/ [USENET] n. A maxim, quote, proverb, joke, or
X slogan embedded in one's {sig block} and intended to convey
X something of one's philosophical stance, pet peeves, or sense of
X humor. "He *must* be a Democrat --- he posted a sig quote
X from Dan Quayle."
X
Xsignal-to-noise ratio: [from analog electronics] n. Used by hackers
X in a generalization of its technical meaning. `Signal' refers to
X useful information conveyed by some communications medium and
X `noise' to anything else on that medium. Hence a low ratio implies
X that it is not worth paying attention to the medium in question.
X Figures for such metaphorical ratios are never given. The term is
X most often applied to {USENET} newsgroups during {flame war}s.
X Compare {bandwidth}. See also {coefficient of x}, {lost in
X the noise}.
X
Xsilicon: n. Hardware, esp. ICs or microprocessor-based computer
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 13, continue with part 14'
echo 14 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0