eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/03/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part12
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X discussion offline." Specifically used on {USENET} to suggest
X that a discussion be taken off a public newsgroup to email.
X
Xold fart: n. Tribal elder. A title self-assumed with remarkable
X frequency by (esp.) USENETters who have been programming for more
X than about twenty five years; frequently appears in {sig block}s
X attached to Jargon File contributions of great archeological
X significance. This is a term of insult in second or third person
X but pride in first person.
X
XOld Testament: n. [C programmers] The first edition of {K&R}, the
X sacred text describing {Classic C}.
X
XONE BELL SYSTEM (IT WORKS): This was the output from the old UNIX
X V6 `1' command. The `1' command then did a random number roll that
X gave it a one-in-ten chance of recursively executing itself.
X
Xone-line fix: n. Used (often sarcastically) of a change to a
X program that is thought to be trivial or insignificant right up to
X the moment it crashes the system. Usually `cured' by another
X one-line fix. See also {I didn't change anything!}.
X
Xone-liner wars: n. Popular game among hackers who code in the
X language APL (see {write-only language}). The objective is to
X see who can code the most interesting and/or useful routine in one
X line of operators chosen from APL's exceedingly {hairy} primitive
X set. A similar amusement was practiced among {TECO} hackers.
X
X Ken Iverson, the inventor of APL, once uttered the following
X one-liner: given a number N, it produces a list of the prime
X numbers from 1 to N! It looks like this
X
X (2 = 0 +.= T o.| T) / T <- iN
X
X where `o' is the APL null character, the assignment arrow is a
X single character, and `i' represents the APL iota.
X
Xooblick: /oo'blik/ [from Dr. Seuss's `Bartholomew and the
X Oobleck'] n. A bizarre semi-liquid sludge made from cornstarch and
X water. Enjoyed among hackers who make batches during playtime at
X parties for its amusing and extremely non-Newtonian behavior; it
X pours and splatters, but resists rapid motion like a solid and will
X even crack when hit by a hammer. Often found near lasers.
X
X Here's a field-tested ooblick recipe contributed by GLS:
X
X 1 cup cornstarch
X 1 cup baking soda
X 3/4 cup water
X N drops of food coloring
X
X This recipe isn't quite as non-Newtonian as a pure cornstarch
X ooblick, but has an appropriately slimy feel.
X
Xopen: n. Abbreviation for `open (or left) parenthesis' --- used when
X necessary to eliminate oral ambiguity. To read aloud the LISP form
X (DEFUN FOO (X) (PLUS X 1)) one might say: "Open defun foo, open
X eks close, open, plus eks one, close close."
X
Xopen switch: [IBM, prob. from railroading] n. An unresolved
X question, issue, or problem.
X
Xoperating system:: [techspeak] n. (Often abbreviated `OS') The
X foundation software of a machine, of course; that which schedules
X tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the
X user between applications. The facilities an operating system
X provides and its general design philosophy exert an extremely
X strong influence on programming style and the technical cultures
X that grows up around its host machines. Hacker folklore has been
X shaped primarily by the UNIX, ITS, TOPS-10, TOPS-20/TWENEX, WAITS,
X CP/M, MS-DOS, and Multics operating systems (most importantly by
X ITS and UNIX). Each of these has its own entry, which see.
X
XOrange Book: n. The U.S. Government's standards document (Trusted
X Computer System Evaluation Criteria, DOD standard 5200.28-STD,
X December, 1985) characterizing secure computing architectures,
X defining levels A1 (most secure) through D (least). Stock UNIXes
X are roughly C2. See also {{book titles}}.
X
XOriental Food:: n. Hackers display an intense tropism towards
X Oriental cuisine, especially Chinese, and especially of the spicier
X varieties such as Szechuan and Hunan. This phenomenon (which has
X also been observed in subcultures which overlap heavily with
X hackerdom, most notably science-fiction fandom) has never been
X satisfactorily explained, but is sufficiently intense that one can
X assume the target of a hackish dinner expedition to be the best
X local Chinese place and be right at least 3 times out of 4. See
X also {ravs}, {great-wall}, {stir-fried random}, {laser
X chicken}, {Yu-Shiang Whole Fish}. Thai, Indian, Korean, and
X Vietnamese cuisines are also quite popular.
X
Xorphan: [UNIX] n. A process whose parent has died; one inherited by
X `init(1)'. Compare {zombie}.
X
Xorthogonal: [from mathematics] adj. Mutually independent; well
X separated; sometimes, irrelevant to. Used in a generalization of
X its mathematical meaning to describe sets of primitives or
X capabilities which, like a vector basis in geometry, span the
X entire `capability space' of the system and are in some sense
X non-overlapping or mutually independent. For example, in
X architectures such as the PDP-11 or VAX where all or nearly all
X registers can be used interchangeably in any role with respect to
X any instruction, the register set is said to be orthogonal. Or, in
X logic, the set of operators `not' and `or' is orthogonal,
X but the set `nand', `or', and `not' is not (because any
X one of these can be expressed in terms of the others). Also used
X in comments on human discourse: "This may be orthogonal to the
X discussion, but...".
X
XOS: /oh ess/ 1. [Operating System] n. Acronym heavily used in email,
X occasionally in speech. 2. n. obs. On ITS, an output spy. See
X Appendix A.
X
XOS/2: /oh ess too/ n. The anointed successor to MS-DOS for
X Intel-286 and 386-based micros; proof that IBM/Microsoft couldn't
X get it right the second time, either. Cited here because
X mentioning it is usually good for a cheap laugh among hackers ---
X the design was so {baroque}, and the implementation of 1.x so
X bad, that three years after introduction you could still count the
X major {app}s shipping for it on the fingers of two hands --- in
X unary. Often called `Half-an-OS'. On 28 January 1991, Microsoft
X announced that it was dropping its OS/2 development to concentrate
X on Windows, leaving the OS entirely in the hands of IBM; on 29
X January they claimed the media had got the story wrong, but were
X vague about how. It looks as though OS/2 is dead. See
X {vaporware}, {monstrosity}, {cretinous}, {second-system
X effect}.
X
Xout-of-band: [from telecommunications and network] adj. In
X software, describes values of a function which are not in its
X `natural' range of return values, but are rather signals that some
X kind of exception has occurred. Many C functions, for example,
X return either a nonnegative integral value or an out-of-band -1 to
X indicate failure. Compare {hidden flag}.
X
Xoverflow bit: n. 1. [techspeak] On some processors, an attempt to
X calculate a result too large for a register to hold causes a
X particular {flag} called an {overflow bit} to be set. 2.
X Hackers use the term of human thought too. "Well, the {{Ada}}
X description was {baroque} all right, but I could hack it OK until
X they got to the exception handling...that set my overflow bit."
X
Xoverrun: n. 1. [techspeak] Term for a frequent consequence of
X data arriving faster than it can be consumed, esp. in serial line
X communications. For example, at 9600 baud there is almost exactly
X one character per millisecond, so if your {silo} can hold only
X two characters and the machine takes longer than 2ms to get to
X service the interrupt at least one character will be lost. 2.
X Also applied to non-serial-I/O communications. "I forgot to pay my
X electric bill due to mail overrun." "Sorry, I got four phone
X calls in three minutes last night and lost your message to
X overrun." When {thrash}ing at tasks, the next person to make a
X request might be told "Overrun!" 3. More loosely, may refer to
X a {buffer overflow} not necessarily related to processing time
X (as in {overrun screw}).
X
Xoverrun screw: [C programming] n. A variety of {fandango on core}
X produced by scribbling past the end of an array (C has no checks
X for this). This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the array
X is static; if it is auto, the result may be to {smash the stack}
X --- often resulting in {heisenbug}s of the most diabolical
X subtlety. The term {overrun screw} is used esp. of scribbles
X beyond the end of arrays allocated with `malloc(3)'; this
X typically trashes the allocation header for the next block in the
X {arena}, producing massive lossage within malloc and often
X a core dump on the next operation to use `stdio(3)' or
X `malloc(3)' itself. See {spam}, {overrun}; see also
X {memory leak}, {aliasing bug}, {precedence lossage},
X {fandango on core}.
X
X= P =
X=====
X
XP.O.D.: /pee-oh-dee/ Acronym for `Piece Of Data' (as opposed to a
X code section). Usage: pedantic and rare. See also {pod}.
X
Xpadded cell: n. Where you put lusers so they can't hurt anything.
X A program that limits a {luser} to a carefully restricted subset
X of the capabilities of the host system (for example, the
X `rsh(1)' utility on UNIX). Note that this is different from
X an {iron box} because it's overt and not aimed at enforcing
X security so much as protecting others (and the luser him/herself!)
X from the consequences of the luser's boundless naivete (see
X {naive}). Also `padded cell environment'.
X
Xpage in: [MIT] vi. To become aware of one's surroundings again after
X having paged out (see {page out}). Usually confined to the sarcastic
X comment, "So-and-so pages in. Film at 11." See {film at 11}.
X
Xpage out: [MIT] vi. To become unaware of one's surroundings
X temporarily, due to daydreaming or preoccupation. "Can you repeat
X that? I paged out for a minute." See {page in}. Compare
X {glitch}, {thinko}.
X
Xpain in the net: n. A {flamer}.
X
Xpaper-net: n. Hackish way of referring to the postal service,
X analogizing it to a very slow, low-reliability network. USENET
X {sig block}s not uncommonly include the sender's postal address
X next to a "Paper-Net:" header; common variants of this are
X "Papernet" and "P-Net". Compare {voice-net}, {snail-mail}.
X
Xparam: /p@-ram'/ n. Shorthand for `parameter'. See also
X {parm}; Compare {arg}, {var}.
X
Xparent message: n. See {followup}.
X
Xparity errors: pl.n. Those little lapses of attention or (in more
X severe cases) consciousness, usually brought on by having spent all
X night and most of the next day hacking. "I need to go home and
X crash; I'm starting to get a lot of parity errors." Derives from a
X relatively common but nearly always correctable transient error in
X RAM hardware.
X
Xparse: [from linguistic terminology via AI research] vt. 1. To
X determine the syntactic structure of a sentence or other utterance
X (close to the standard English meaning). Example: "That was the
X one I saw you." "I can't parse that." 2. More generally, to
X understand or comprehend. "It's very simple; you just kretch the
X glims and then aos the zotz." "I can't parse that." 3. Of
X fish, to have to remove the bones yourself (usually at a Chinese
X restaurant). "I object to parsing fish" means "I don't want to
X get a whole fish, but a sliced one is okay." A `parsed fish'
X has been deboned. There is some controversy over whether
X `unparsed' should mean `bony', or also mean `deboned'.
X
XParkinson's Law of Data: n. "Data expands to fill the space
X available for storage"; buying more memory encourages the use of
X more memory-intensive techniques. It has been observed over the
X last ten years that the memory usage of evolving systems tends to
X double roughly once every 18 months. Fortunately, memory density
X available for constant dollars tends to double about once every
X twelve months (see {Moore's Law}) but the laws of physics dictate
X that this cannot be expected to continue indefinitely.
X
Xparm: /parm/ n. Further-compressed spoken-only form of {param};
X the plural is `parms' /parmz/. Compare {arg}, {var}.
X
XPascal:: n. An Algol-descended language designed by Niklaus Wirth on
X the CDC 6600 around 1967-68 as an instructional tool for elementary
X programming. This language, designed primarily to keep students
X from shooting themselves in the foot and thus extremely restrictive
X from a general-purpose-programming point of view, was later
X promoted as a general-purpose tool and in fact became the ancestor
X of a large family of languages including Modula-2 and Ada (see also
X {bondage-and-discipline language}). The hackish point of view on
X Pascal was perhaps best summed up by a devastating (and, in its
X deadpan way, screamingly funny) 1981 paper by Brian Kernighan (of
X {K&R} fame) entitled `Why Pascal is Not My Favorite
X Programming Language'. Part of his summation is worth repeating
X here, because its criticisms are still apposite to Pascal itself
X after ten years of improvement and could also stand as an
X indictment of many other bondage-and-discipline languages. At
X the end of a summary of the case against Pascal, he wrote:
X
X 9. There is no escape
X
X This last point is perhaps the most important. The language is
X inadequate but circumscribed, because there is no way to escape its
X limitations. There are no casts to disable the type-checking when
X necessary. There is no way to replace the defective run-time
X environment with a sensible one, unless one controls the compiler that
X defines the "standard procedures". The language is closed.
X
X People who use Pascal for serious programming fall into a fatal trap.
X Because the language is impotent, it must be extended. But each group
X extends Pascal in its own direction, to make it look like whatever
X language they really want. Extensions for separate compilation,
X Fortran-like COMMON, string data types, internal static variables,
X initialization, octal numbers, bit operators, etc., all add to the
X utility of the language for one group but destroy its portability to
X others.
X
X I feel that it is a mistake to use Pascal for anything much beyond its
X original target. In its pure form, Pascal is a toy language, suitable
X for teaching but not for real programming.
X
X Pascal has since been almost entirely displaced (by {C}) from the
X niches it had acquired in serious application and systems
X programming, but retains some popularity as a hobbyist language in
X the MS-DOS and Macintosh worlds.
X
Xpatch: 1. n. A temporary addition to a piece of code, usually as a
X {quick and dirty} remedy to an existing bug or misfeature. A
X patch may or may not work, and may or may not eventually be
X incorporated permanently into the program. Compare {one-line
X fix}. 2. vt. To insert a patch into a piece of code. 3. [in the
X UNIX world] n. A {diff} (sense #2).
X
Xpath: n. 1. A {bang path}; a node-by-node specification of a
X link between two machines. 2. [UNIX] A filename, fully specified
X relative to the root directory (as opposed to relative to the
X current directory; the latter is sometimes called a `relative
X path'). This is also called a `pathname'. 3. [UNIX & MS-DOS]
X The `search path', an environment variable specifying the
X directories in which the {shell} (COMMAND.COM, under MS-DOS)
X should look for commands.
X
Xpathological: [scientific computation] adj. Used of a data set
X that is grossly atypical of the expected load, esp. one which
X exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An
X algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be
X useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice. 2.
X When used of a test load, implies that it was purposefully
X engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that
X someone had to explicitly set out to break an algorithm in order to
X come up with such a crazy example.
X
Xpayware: n. Commercial software. Oppose {shareware} or
X {freeware}.
X
XPBD: [abbrev. of `Programmer Brain Damage'] n. Applied to bug reports
X revealing places where the program was obviously broken due to an
X incompetent or short-sighted programmer. Compare {UBD}; see also
X {brain-damaged}.
X
XPC-ism: n. A piece of code or coding technique that takes advantage
X of the unprotected single-tasking environment in IBM PCs and the
X like, e.g., by busy-waiting on a hardware register, direct diddling
X of screen memory, or using hard timing loops. Compare
X {ill-behaved}, {vaxism}, {unixism}. Also, `pc-ware' n., a program
X full of PC-isms on a machine with a more capable operating system.
X Pejorative.
X
XPD: /pee-dee/ adj. Common abbreviation for "public domain", applied
X to software distributed over {USENET} and from Internet archive
X sites. Much of this software is not in fact "public domain" in
X the legal sense but travels under various copyrights granting
X reproduction and use rights to anyone who can {snarf} a copy. See
X {copyleft}.
X
Xpdl: /pid'l/ or /puhd'l/ [acronym for Push Down List] 1. In ITS
X days, the preferred MITism for {stack}. 2. Dave Lebling, one
X of the co-authors of {Zork}; (his {network address} on the ITS
X machines was at one time pdl@dms). 3. Program Design Language.
X Any of a large class of formal and profoundly useless
X pseudo-languages in which {management} forces one to design
X programs. {Management} often expects it to be maintained in
X parallel with the code. Used jokingly as in, "Have you finished
X the PDL?" See also {{flowchart}}.
X
XPDP-10: [Programmed Data Processor model 10] n. The machine that
X made timesharing real. Looms large in hacker folklore due to early
X adoption in the mid-1970s by many university computing facilities and
X research labs including the MIT AI lab, Stanford, and CMU. Some
X aspects of the instruction set (most notably the bit-field
X instructions) are still considered unsurpassed. Later editions
X were labelled `DECsystem-10' as a way of differentiating them from
X the PDP-11. The '10 was eventually eclipsed by the VAX machines
X (descendants of the PDP-11) and dropped from DEC's line in the
X early 1980s, and in mid-1991 to have cut one's teeth on one is
X considered something of a badge of honorable old-timerhood among
X hackers. See {TOPS-10}, {ITS}, {AOS}, {BLT}, {DDT},
X {DPB}, {EXCH}, {HAKMEM}, {JFCL}, {LDB}, {pop},
X {push}, Appendix A.
X
Xpeek: n.,vt. (and {poke}) The commands in most microcomputer
X BASICs for directly accessing memory contents at an absolute
X address; often extended to mean the corresponding constructs in any
X {HLL}. Much hacking on small, non-MMU micros consists of
X {peek}ing around memory, more or less at random, to find the
X location where the system keeps interesting stuff. Long (and
X variably accurate) lists of such addresses for various computers
X circulate (see {{interrupt list, the}}). The results of {poke}s
X at these addresses may be highly useful, mildly amusing, useless
X but neat, or (most likely) total {lossage} (see {killer poke}).
X
Xpencil and paper: n. An archaic information-storage and
X transmission device that works by depositing smears of graphite on
X bleached wood pulp. More recent developments in paper-based
X technology include improved `write-once' update devices which use
X tiny rolling heads similar to mouse balls to deposit colored
X pigment. These devices require an operator skilled at so-called
X `handwriting' technique. These technologies are ubiquitous outside
X hackerdom, but nearly forgotten inside it. Most hackers had
X terrible handwriting to begin with, and years of keyboarding tend
X if anything to have encouraged it to degrade further. Perhaps for
X this reason hackers deprecate pencil and paper technology and
X often resist using it in any but the most trivial contexts.
X
Xpeon: n. A person with no special ({root} or {wheel})
X privileges on a computer system. "I can't create an account on
X foovax for you; I'm only a peon there."
X
Xpercent-s: /per-sent' ess/ [From "%s", the formatting sequence in
X C's `printf(3)' library function used to indicate that an arbitrary
X string may be inserted] n. An unspecified person or object. "I
X was just talking to some percent-s in administration." Compare
X {random}.
X
Xperf: /perf/ n. See {chad} (sense #1). The term `perfory'
X /per'f@-ree/ is also heard.
X
Xperfect programmer syndrome: n. Arrogance; the egotistical
X conviction that one is above normal human error. Most frequently
X found among programmers of some native ability but relatively
X little experience (especially new graduates; their perceptions may
X be distorted by a history of excellent performance bashing toy
X problems). "Of course my program is correct, there is no need to
X test it." Or "Yes, I can see there may be a problem here, but
X *I'll* never type `rm -r /' while in {root}."
X
XPerl: [Practical Extraction and Report Language, aka Pathologically
X Eclectic Rubbish Lister] n. An interpreted language developed by
X Larry Wall (lwall@jpl.nasa.gov, author of `patch(1)' and
X `rn(1)') and distributed over USENET. Superficially resembles
X `awk(1)', but is much more arcane (see {awk}). Increasingly
X considered one of the {languages of choice} by UNIX sysadmins,
X who are almost always incorrigible hackers. Perl has been
X described, in a parody of a famous remark about `lex(1)', as
X the `Swiss-army chainsaw' of UNIX programming.
X
Xpessimal: /pes'i-ml/ [Latin-based antonym for `optimal'] adj.
X Maximally bad. "This is a pessimal situation." Also `pessimize'
X vt. To make as bad as possible. These words are the obvious
X Latin-based antonyms for `optimal' and `optimize', but for some
X reason they do not appear in most English dictionaries, although
X `pessimize' is listed in the OED.
X
Xpessimizing compiler: /pes'i-miez-ing kuhm-pie'lr/ [antonym of
X `optimizing compiler'] n. A compiler that produces object code that
X is worse than the straightforward or obvious translation. The
X implication is that the compiler is actually trying to optimize the
X program, but through stupidity is doing the opposite. A few
X pessimizing compilers have been written on purpose, however, as
X pranks.
X
Xpeta-: /pe't@/ pref. Multiplier, 10 ^ 15 or [proposed] 2 ^ 50. See
X {kilo-}.
X
XPETSCII: /pet'skee/ [abbreviation of PET ASCII] n. The variation
X (many would say perversion) of the {{ASCII}} character set used by
X the Commodore Business Machines PET series of personal computers
X and the later Commodore C64, C16, and C128 machines. The PETSCII
X set used left-arrow and up-arrow (as in old-style ASCII) instead of
X underscore and caret, placed the unshifted alphabet at positions
X 65-90, and put the shifted alphabet at positions 193-218, as well
X as adding graphics characters.
X
Xphase: 1. n. The phase of one's waking-sleeping schedule with
X respect to the standard 24-hour cycle. This is a useful concept
X among people who often work at night according to no fixed
X schedule. It is not uncommon to change one's phase by as much as
X six hours/day on a regular basis. "What's your phase?" "I've
X been getting in about 8 PM lately, but I'm going to {wrap around}
X to the day schedule by Friday." A person who is roughly 12 hours
X out of phase is sometimes said to be in `night mode'. (The
X term `day mode' is also (but less frequently) used, meaning
X you're working 9 to 5 (or more likely 10 to 6)). The act of
X altering one's cycle is called `changing phase'; `phase
X shifting' has also been recently reported from Caltech. 2.
X `change phase the hard way': to stay awake for a very long time
X in order to get into a different phase. 3. `change phase the
X easy way': To stay asleep etc. However, some claim that either
X staying awake longer or sleeping longer is easy, and that it's
X *shortening* your day or night that's hard (see {wrap
X around}). The phenomenon of `jet lag' that afflicts travelers who
X cross many time-zone boundaries may be attributed to two distinct
X causes: the strain of travel per se, and the strain of changing
X phase. Hackers who suddenly find that they must change phase
X drastically in a short period of time, particularly the hard way,
X experience something very like jet lag without travelling.
X
Xphase of the moon: n. Used humorously as a random parameter on which
X something is said to depend. Sometimes implies unreliability of
X whatever is dependent, or that reliability seems to be dependent on
X conditions nobody has been able to determine. "This feature
X depends on having the channel open in mumble mode, having the foo
X switch set, and on the phase of the moon."
X
X True story: Once upon a time, a program written by Gerry Sussman
X (professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT) and Guy Steele had a
X bug that really did depend on the phase of the moon! There is a
X little subroutine that had traditionally been used in various
X programs at MIT to calculate an approximation to the moon's true
X phase; the phase is then printed out at the top of program
X listings, for example, along with the date and time, purely for
X {hack value}. (Actually, since hackers spend a lot of time
X indoors, this might be the only way they would ever know what the
X moon's phase was!) Steele incorporated this routine into a LISP
X program that, when it wrote out a file, would print a `timestamp'
X line almost 80 characters long. Very occasionally the first line
X of the message would be too long and would overflow onto the next
X line, and when the file was later read back in the program would
X {barf}. The length of the first line depended on the precise
X date and time when the timestamp was printed, and so the bug
X literally depended on the phase of the moon!
X
X The first paper edition of the Jargon File (Steele-1983) included
X an example of this bug, but the typesetter `corrected' it. This
X has since been described as the phase-of-the-moon-bug bug.
X
Xphreaking: [from "phone phreak"] n. 1. The art and science of
X cracking the phone network (so as, for example, to make free
X long-distance calls). 2. By extension, security-cracking in any
X other context (especially, but not exclusively, on communications
X networks).
X
X At one time phreaking was a semi-respectable activity among
X hackers; there was a gentleman's agreement that phreaking as an
X intellectual game and a form of exploration was O.K., but serious
X theft of services was taboo. There was significant crossover
X between the hacker community and the hard-core phone phreaks who
X ran semi-underground networks of their own like the legendary `TAP
X Newsletter'. This ethos began to break down in the mid-1980s as
X wider dissemination of the techniques put them in the hands of less
X responsible phreaks. Around the same time, changes in the phone
X network made old-style technical ingenuity less effective as a way
X of hacking it, so phreaking came to depend more on overtly criminal
X acts like stealing phone-card numbers. The crimes and punishments
X of gangs like the `414 group' turned that game very ugly. A few
X old-time hackers still phreak casually just to keep their hand in,
X but most these days have hardly even heard of `blue boxes' or any
X of the other paraphernalia of the great phreaks of yore.
X
Xpico-: [in measurement, a quantifier meaning * 10 ^ -12] pref.
X Smaller than {nano-}; used in the same rather loose and
X connotative way as {nano-} and {micro-}. This usage is not yet
X common in the way {nano-} and {micro-} are, but is instantly
X recognizable to any hacker. The remaining standard quantifiers are
X `femto' (10 ^ -15) and `atto' (10 ^ -18); these,
X interestingly, derive not from Greek but from Danish. They have
X not yet acquired jargon loadings, though it is easy to predict what
X those will be once computing technology enters the required realms
X of magnitude (however, see {attoparsec}). See also {micro-}.
X
Xpig, run like a: adv. To run very slowly on given hardware, said of
X software. Distinct from {hog}.
X
Xping: /ping/ [from TCP/IP terminology, prob. originally contrived
X to match the submariners' term for a sonar pulse.] n.,vt. 1.
X Slang term for a small network message (ICMP ECHO) sent by a
X computer to check for the presence and aliveness of another.
X Occasionally used as a phone greeting. See {ACK}, also {ENQ}.
X 2. To verify the presence of. 3. To get the attention of.
X From the UNIX command by the same name (an acronym of `Packet
X INternet Groper') that sends an ICMP ECHO packet to another host.
X 4. To send a message to all members of a {mailing list}
X requesting an {ACK} (in order to verify that everybody's
X addresses are reachable). "We haven't heard much of anything from
X Geoff, but he did respond with an ACK both times I pinged
X jargon-friends."
X
X The funniest use of `ping' to date was described in January 1991 by
X Steve Hayman on the USENET group comp.sys.next. He was trying to
X isolate a faulty cable segment on a TCP/IP Ethernet hooked up to a
X NeXT machine, and got tired of having to run back to his console
X after each cabling tweak to see if the ping packets were getting
X through. So he used the sound-recording feature on the NeXT, then
X wrote a script that repeatedly invoked ping, listened to the output,
X and played back the recording on each returned packet. Result? A
X program that caused the machine to repeat, over and over,
X "Ping ... ping ... ping ..." as long as the network was
X up. He turned the volume to maximum, scurried through the building
X with one ear cocked, and found a faulty tee connector in no time.
X
XPink-Shirt Book: `The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM
X PC'. The original cover featured a picture of Peter Norton with a
X silly smirk on his face, wearing a pink shirt. Perhaps in
X recognition of this usage, the current edition has a different
X picture of Norton wearing a pink shirt. See also {{book titles}}.
X
XPIP: /pip/ [Peripheral Interchange Program] vt.,obs. To copy, from
X the program PIP on CP/M and RSX-11 that was used for file copying
X (and in RSX for just about every other file operation you might
X want to do). Obsolete, but still occasionally heard. It is said
X that when the program was originated during the development of the
X PDP-6 in 1963 it was called ATLATL (`Anything, Lord, to Anything,
X Lord').
X
Xpipeline: [UNIX, orig. by Doug McIlroy; now also used under MS-DOS
X and elsewhere] n. A chain of {filter} programs connected
X `head-to-tail' so that the output of one becomes the input of the
X next. Under UNIX, user utilities can often be implemented or at
X least prototyped by a suitable collection of pipelines and
X temp-file grinding encapsulated in a shell script (this is called
X {plumbing}); this is much less effort than writing C every time,
X and the capability is considered one of UNIX's major winning
X features.
X
Xpistol: [IBM] n. A tool that makes it all too easy for you to
X shoot yourself in the foot. "UNIX `rm *' makes such a nice
X pistol!"
X
Xpizza box: [SUN] n. The largish thin box housing the electronics
X in (especially SUN) desktop workstations, so named because of its
X size and shape, and the dimpled pattern that looks like air holes.
X
Xpizza, ANSI standard: /an'see stan'd@rd peet'z@/ [CMU] Pepperoni
X and mushroom pizza. Coined allegedly because most pizzas ordered
X by CMU hackers during some period leading up to mid-1990 were of
X that flavor. See also {rotary debugger}; compare {tea, ISO
X standard cup of}.
X
Xplain-ASCII: Syn. {flat-ASCII}.
X
Xplan file: [UNIX] n. On systems that support {finger}, the
X `.plan' file in a user's home directory is displayed when he or she
X is fingered. This feature was originally intended to be used to
X keep potential fingerers apprised of one's near-future plans, but
X has been turned almost universally to humorous and self-expressive
X purposes (like a {sig block}). See {Hacking X for Y}.
X
Xplatinum-iridium: adj. Standard, against which all others of the
X same category are measured. Usage: silly. The notion is that one
X of whatever it is has actually been cast in platinum-iridium alloy
X and placed in the vault beside the Standard Kilogram at the
X International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris. (From
X 1889 to 1960, the meter was defined to be the distance between two
X scratches in a platinum or platinum-iridium bar kept in the same
X place. Since 1960 it has been defined to be 1650763.73 wavelengths
X of the orange-red line of krypton-86 propagating in a vacuum. The
X kilogram is now the only unit of measure officially defined in
X terms of a unique artefact.) "This garbage-collection algorithm
X has been tested against the platinum-iridium cons cell in Paris."
X Compare {golden}.
X
Xplaypen: [IBM] n. A room where programmers work. Compare {salt
X mines}.
X
Xplayte: /playt/ 16 bits, by analogy with {nybble} and {{byte}}. Usage:
X rare and extremely silly. See also {dynner} and {crumb}.
X
Xplingnet: /pling'net/ n. Syn. {UUCPNET}. Also see {{Commonwealth
X Hackish}}.
X
Xplonk: [USENET; possibly influenced by British slang `plonk' for
X cheap booze] The sound a {newbie} makes as he falls to the bottom
X of a {kill file}. Almost exclusively used in the {newsgroup}
X `talk.bizarre', this term (usually written "*plonk*") is a
X form of public ridicule.
X
Xplugh: /ploogh/ [from the {ADVENT} game] v. See {xyzzy}.
X
Xplumbing: [UNIX] n. Term used for {shell} code, so called
X because of the prevalence of `pipeline's that feed the output
X of one program to the input of another. Esp. used in the
X construction `hairy plumbing' (see {hairy}). "You can kluge
X together a basic spell-checker out of `sort(1)',
X `comm(1)', and `tr(1)' with a little plumbing."
X
XPM: /pee em/ 1. [from `preventive maintenance'] v. To bring down a
X machine for inspection or test purposes; see {scratch monkey}. 2.
X n. Abbrev. for `Presentation Manager', an {elephantine} OS/2
X graphical user interface. See also {provocative maintenance}.
X
Xpod: [allegedly from acronym POD for `Prince Of Darkness'] n. A
X Diablo 630 (or, latterly, any impact letter-quality printer). From
X the DEC-10 PODTYPE program used to feed formatted text to same.
X See also {P.O.D.}
X
Xpoke: n.,vt. See {peek}.
X
Xpoll: v.,n. 1. The action of checking the status of an input line,
X sensor, or memory location to see if a particular external event
X has been registered. 2. To ask. "I'll poll everyone and see where
X they want to go for lunch."
X
Xpolygon pusher: n. A chip designer who spends most of his/her time at
X the physical layout level (which requires drawing *lots* of
X multi-colored polygons). Also `rectangle slinger'.
X
XPOM: /pee-oh-em/ n. Common acronym for {phase of the moon}.
X Usage: usually used in the phrase `POM-dependent' which means
X {flaky}.
X
Xpop: /pop/ [based on the stack operation that removes the top of a
X stack, and the fact that procedure return addresses are saved on
X the stack] (also POP, POPJ /pop-jay/) 1. vt. To remove something
X from a {stack} or {pdl}. If a person says he has popped
X something from his stack, he means he has finally finished working
X on it and can now remove it from the list of things hanging over
X his head. 2. To return from a digression (the J-form derives
X specifically from a {PDP-10} assembler instruction). By verb
X doubling, "Popj, popj" means roughly, "Now let's see, where were
X we?" See {RTI}.
X
Xposing: n. On a {MUD}, the use of `:' or an equivalent
X command to announce to other players that one is taking a certain
X physical action, which however has no effect on the game. For
X example, if one's character name is Firechild, one might type `:
X begins hacking on the nearest terminal' to broadcast a message that
X says `Firechild begins hacking on the nearest terminal'.
X
Xpost: v. To send a message to a {mailing list} or {newsgroup}.
X Distinguished in context from `mail'; one might ask, for
X example, "Are you going to post the patch or mail it to known
X users?"
X
Xposting: n. Noun corresp. to v. {post} (but note that the
X shorter word can be nouned). Distinguished from a `letter' or
X ordinary {email} message by the fact that it's broadcast rather
X than point-to-point. It is unclear whether messages sent to a
X small mailing list are postings or email; perhaps the best dividing
X line is that if you don't know the names of all the potential
X recipients, it's a posting.
X
Xpostmaster: n. The email contact and maintenance person on a site
X connected to the Internet or UUCPNET. Often, but not always, the
X same as the {admin}. It is conventional for each machine to have
X a `postmaster' alias that goes to this person.
X
Xpower cycle: vt. (also, `cycle power' or just `cycle') To
X power off a machine and then power it on immediately, with the
X intention of clearing some kind of {hung} or {gronk}ed state.
X Syn. {120 reset}; see also {Big Red Switch}. Compare {vulcan
X nerve pinch}, {bounce}, {boot}, and see the AI Koan in Appendix
X A about Tom Knight and the novice.
X
XPPN: /pip'n/ [from `Project-Programmer Number'] n. A user-ID under
X {TOPS-10} and its various mutant progeny at SAIL, BBN,
X CompuServe, and elsewhere. Old-time hackers from the PDP-10 era
X sometimes use this to refer to user IDs on other systems as well.
X
Xprecedence lossage: /pre's@-dens los'j/ [C programmers] n. Coding
X error in an expression due to unexpected grouping of arithmetic or
X logical operators by the compiler. Used esp. of certain common
X coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low precedence levels
X of `&', `|', `^', `<<', and `>>'. Can
X always be avoided by suitable use of parentheses. {LISP} fans
X enjoy pointing out that this can't happen in *their* favorite
X language, which requires one to use explicit parentheses
X everywhere. See {aliasing bug}, {memory leak}, {smash the
X stack}, {fandango on core}, {overrun screw}.
X
Xprepend: /pree`pend'/ [by analogy with `append'] vt. To prefix.
X Like `append', but unlike `prefix' or `suffix' as a verb, the
X direct object is always the thing being added and not the original
X word (character string, etc). No, this is *not* standard
X English, yet!
X
Xpretty pictures: n. [scientific computation] The next step up from
X {numbers}. Interesting graphical output from a program which may
X not have any real relationship to the reality the program is
X intended to model. Good for showing to {management}.
X
Xprettyprint: /prit'ee-print/ v. 1. To generate `pretty'
X human-readable output from a {hairy} internal representation;
X esp. used for the process of {grind}ing (sense #2) LISP code. 2.
X To format in some particularly slick and nontrivial way.
X
Xprime time: [from TV programming] n. Normal high-usage hours on a
X timesharing system; the day shift. Avoidance of prime time is a
X major reason for {night mode} hacking.
X
Xpriority interrupt: [from the hardware term] n. Describes any
X stimulus compelling enough to yank one right out of {hack mode}.
X Classically used to describe being dragged away by an {SO} for
X immediate sex, but may also refer to more mundane interruptions
X such as a fire alarm going off in the near vicinity. Also called
X an {NMI} (non-maskable interrupt), especially in PC-land.
X
Xprofile: [UNIX] n. 1. A control file for a program, esp. a text
X file automatically read from each user's home directory and
X intended to be easily modified by the user in order to customize
X the program's behavior. Used to avoid {hardcoded} choices. 2.
X A report on the amounts of time spent in each routine of a program,
X used to find and {tune} away the {hot spot}s in it. This sense
X is often verbed. Some profiling modes report units other than time
X (such as call counts) at granularities other than per-routine, but
X the idea is similar.
X
Xprogram: 1. n. A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to
X turn one's input into error messages. 2. n. An exercise in
X experimental epistemology. 3. vt. To engage in a pastime similar
X to banging one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities
X for reward.
X
XProgrammer's Cheer: "Shift to the left! Shift to the right! Pop
X up, push down! Byte! Byte! Byte!" A joke so old it has hair on
X it....
X
Xprogramming: n. In folklore, this was classically defined as "the
X art of debugging a blank sheet of paper". Following the rise of
X on-line editing this should probably be recast as "The art of
X debugging an empty source file".
X
Xpropeller head: n. Used by hackers, this is syn. with {computer
X geek}. Non-hackers sometimes use it to describe all techies.
X Prob. derives from SF fandom's tradition (originally invented by
X old-time fan Ray Faraday Nelson) of propeller beanies as fannish
X insignia (though nobody actually wears them except as a joke).
X
Xproprietary: adj. 1. In {marketroid}-speak, superior; implies a
X product imbued with exclusive magic by the unmatched brilliance of
X their employer's hardware or software designers. 2. In the
X language of hackers and users, inferior; implies a product not
X conforming to open-systems standards, and thus one which puts the
X customer at the mercy of a vendor able to gouge freely on service
X and upgrade charges after the initial sale has locked the customer
X in (that's assuming it wasn't too expensive in the first place).
X
Xprotocol: n. As used by hackers, this never refers to niceties
X about the proper form for addressing letters to the Papal Nuncio or
X the order in which one should use the forks in a Russian-style
X place setting; hackers don't care about such things. It is used
X instead to describe any set of rules that allow different machines
X or pieces of software to coordinate with each other without
X ambiguity; for example, it does include niceties about the proper
X form for addressing packets on a network or the order in which one
X should use the forks in the Dining Philosophers Problem. It
X implies that there's some common message format and accepted set of
X primitives or commands that all parties involved understand, and
X that transactions among them follow predictable logical sequences.
X See also {handshaking}, {do protocol}.
X
Xprovocative maintenance: [common ironic mutation of `preventive
X maintenance'] n. Actions performed upon a machine at regularly
X scheduled intervals to insure that the system remains in a usable
X state. So called because its all too frequently performed by a
X {field servoid} who doesn't know what he is doing; this results
X in the machine remaining in an *un*usable state for an
X indeterminate amount of time.
X
Xprowler: [UNIX] n. A {demon} that is run periodically (typically once
X a week) to seek out and erase core files (see {core}), truncate
X administrative logfiles, nuke `lost+found' directories, and otherwise
X clean up the {cruft} that tends to pile up in the corners of a file
X system. See also {GFR}, {reaper}, {skulker}.
X
Xpseudo: /soo'doh/ [USENET] n. 1. An electronic-mail or {USENET}
X persona adopted by a human for amusement value or as a means of
X avoiding negative repercussions of his/her net.behavior; a `nom de
X USENET', often associated with forged postings designed to conceal
X message origins. Perhaps the best-known and funniest hoax of this
X type is {BIFF}. 2. Notionally, a {flamage}-generating AI
X program simulating a USENET user. Many flamers have been accused
X of actually being such entities, despite the fact that no AI
X program of the required sophistication exists. However, in 1989
X there was a famous series of forged postings that used a
X phrase-frequency-based travesty generator to simulate the styles of
X several well-known flamers based on large samples of their back
X postings (compare {Dissociated Press}). A significant number of
X people were fooled by these, and the debate over their authenticity
X was only settled when the perpetrator of the hoax came publicly
X forward to admit the deed.
X
Xpseudoprime: n. A backgammon prime (six consecutive occupied points)
X with one point missing. This term is an esoteric pun derived from
X a mathematical method which, rather than determining precisely
X whether a number is prime (has no divisors), uses a statistical
X technique to decide whether the number is "probably" prime. A
X number that passes this test is called a pseudoprime. The hacker
X backgammon usage stems from the idea that a pseudoprime is almost as
X good as a prime: it does the job of a prime until proven otherwise,
X and that probably won't happen.
X
Xpseudosuit: n. A {suit} wannabee; a hacker who's decided that he
X wants to be in management or administration and begins wearing
X ties, sport coats, and (shudder!) suits voluntarily. His
X funeral....
X
Xpsychedelicware: /sie`k@-del'-ik-weir/ [Great Britain] n. Syn.
X {display hack}. See also {smoking clover}.
X
Xpubic directory: [NYU] n. The `pub' (public) directory on a
X machine that allows {FTP} access; the top-level directory owned
X by ftp. So called because it is the default location for {SEX}
X (sense #1).
X
Xpuff: vt. To decompress data that has been crunched by Huffman
X coding. At least one widely distributed Huffman decoder program
X was actually *named* `PUFF', but these days it isn't usually
X separate from the encoder. Oppose {huff}.
X
Xpunched card:: alt. `punch card' [techspeak] n.obs. The
X signature medium of computing's {Stone Age}, now obsolescent
X outside of some IBM shops. The punched card actually predated
X computers considerably, originating as a control device for
X mechanical looms. The version patented by Hollerith and used with
X mechanical tabulating machines in the 1890 U.S. Census was a piece
X of cardboard about 90 mm by 215 mm, designed to fit exactly in the
X currency trays used for that era's larger dollar bills.
X
X IBM (which originated as a tabulating-machine manufacturer) married
X the punched card to computers, encoding binary information as
X patterns of small rectangular holes; one character per column, 80
X columns per card. Later, other coding schemes, sizes of card, and
X hole shape were tried.
X
X The 80-column width of most character terminals is a legacy of the
X punched card; so is the size of the quick reference cards
X distributed with many varieties of computers even today. See
X {chad}, {chad box}, {eighty-column mind}, {green card},
X {dusty deck}, {lace card}, {card walloper}.
X
Xpunt: [from the punch line of an old joke referring to American
X football: "Drop back 15 yards and punt"] vt. 1. To give up, typically
X without any intention of retrying. "Let's punt the movie
X tonight." "I was going to hack all night to get this feature in,
X but I decided to punt" may mean that you've decided not to stay up
X all night, and may also mean you're not ever even going to put in
X the feature. 2. More specifically, to give up on figuring out what
X the {Right Thing} is and resort to an inefficient hack.
X
XPurple Book: n. The `System V Interface Definition'. The covers
X of the first editions were an amazingly nauseating shade of
X off-lavender. See also {{book titles}}.
X
Xpush: [based on the stack operation that puts the current
X information on a stack, and the fact that procedure return
X addresses are saved on the stack] Also PUSH or PUSHJ /push-jay/,
X based on the PDP-10 procedure call instruction. 1. To put
X something onto a {stack} or {pdl}. If a person says something
X has been pushed onto his stack, he means yet another thing has been
X added to the list of things hanging over his head for him to do.
X This may also imply that he will deal with it *before* other
X pending items; otherwise he might have said the thing was "added
X to his queue". 2. vi. To enter upon a digression, to save the
X current discussion for later. Antonym of {pop}; see also
X {stack}, {pdl}.
X
X= Q =
X=====
X
Xquad: n. 1. Two bits; syn. for {quarter}, {crumb},
X {tayste}. 2. A four-pack of anything (compare {hex}, sense
X #2). 3. The rectangle or box glyph used in the APL language for
X various arcane purposes mostly related to I/O. Ex-Ivy-Leaguers and
X Oxbridge types are said to associate it with nostalgic memories of
X dear old University.
X
Xquadruple bucky: n., obs. 1. On an MIT {space-cadet keyboard},
X use of all four of the shifting keys control, meta, hyper, and
X super while typing a character key. 2. On a Stanford or MIT
X keyboard in {raw mode}, use of four shift keys while typing a
X fifth character, where the four shift keys are the control and meta
X keys on *both* sides of the keyboard. This was very difficult
X to do! One accepted technique was to press the left-control and
X left-meta keys with your left hand, the right-control and
X right-meta keys with your right hand, and the fifth key with your
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 12, continue with part 13'
echo 13 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0