eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part16
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X complaints about this tended to look like "Terminak #3 has a bad
X keyboard. Pkease fix." See {sun-stools}, {Telerat},
X {HP-SUX}.
X
Xterminal brain death: n. Extreme form of {terminal illness} (sense
X #1).
X
Xterminal illness: n. 1. Syn. {raster burn}. 2. The `burn-in'
X condition your CRT tends to get if you don't have a screen saver.
X
Xterminal junkie: [Great Britain] n. A {wannabee} or early
X {larval stage} hacker who spends most of his/her time wandering
X the directory tree and writing {noddy} programs just to get
X his/her fix of computer time. Variants include `terminal
X jockey', `console junkie', or {console jockey}. The term
X `console jockey' seems to imply more expertise than the other
X three (possibly because of the exalted status of the {{console}}
X relative to an ordinary terminal). See also {twink},
X {read-only user}.
X
Xterpri: /ter'pree/ [from LISP 1.5 (and later, MacLISP)] vi. To
X output a {newline}. Now rare as jargon, though still used as
X techspeak in Common Lisp. It is a contraction of `TERminate PRInt
X line', named for the fact that on early OSes, no characters would be
X printed until a complete line was formed, so this operation
X terminated the line and emitted the output.
X
Xtest: n. 1. Real users bashing on a prototype for long enough to
X get thoroughly acquainted with it, with careful monitoring and
X followup of the results. 2. Some bored random user trying a
X couple of the simpler features with a developer looking over
X his/her shoulder, ready to pounce on mistakes. Judging by the
X quality of most software, the second definition is far more
X prevalent. See also {demo}.
X
XTeX: /tekh/ n. An extremely powerful {macro}-based text-formatter
X written by Donald E. Knuth, very popular in the computer-science
X community (it is good enough to have displaced UNIX
X `troff(1)', the other favored formatter, even at many UNIX
X installations). TeX fans insist on the correct (guttural)
X pronunciation and spelling (all caps, with the E depressed below
X the baseline) of the name (the mixed-case `TeX' is considered an
X acceptable kluge on ASCII-only devices). They like to proliferate
X names from the word `TeX' --- such as TeXnician (TeX user),
X TeXhacker (TeX programmer), TeXmaster (competent TeX programmer),
X TeXhax, TeXnique, TeXpert.
X
Xtext: n. 1. [techspeak] Executable code, esp. a `pure code'
X portion shared between multiple instances of a program running in a
X multitasking OS (compare {English}). 2. Textual material in
X the mainstream sense; data in ordinary, e.g., {{ASCII}} or
X {{EBCDIC}} representation (syn. {flat-ASCII}). "Those are text
X files; you can review them using the editor." These two
X contradictory senses confuse hackers, too.
X
Xthanks in advance: [USENET] Conventional net.politeness ending a
X posted request for information or assistance. Sometimes written
X `advTHANKSance' or `aTdHvAaNnKcSe' or abbreviated `TIA'. See
X {net.-}, {netiquette}.
X
Xtheology: n. 1. Ironically used to refer to {religious issues}.
X 2. Technical fine points of an abstruse nature, esp. those where
X the resolution is of theoretical interest but relatively
X {marginal} with respect to actual use of a design or system.
X Used esp. around software issues with a heavy AI or language
X design component. Example: the smart-data vs. smart-programs
X dispute in AI.
X
Xtheory: n. Used in the general sense of consensus, idea, plan,
X story, or set of rules that is currently being used to inform a
X behavior. This is a generalization and abuse of the technical
X meaning. "What's the theory on fixing this TECO loss?" "What's
X the theory on dinner tonight?" ("Chinatown, I guess.")
X "What's the current theory on letting lusers on during the day?"
X "The theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known
X screw...."
X
Xthinko: /thing'koh/ [by analogy with `typo'] n. A momentary,
X correctable glitch in mental processing, especially one involving
X recall of information learned by rote; a bubble in the stream of
X consciousness. Syn. {braino}. Compare {mouso}.
X
XThis time, for sure!: excl. Ritual affirmation frequently uttered
X during protracted debugging sessions involving numerous small
X obstacles (e.g. attempts to bring up a UUCP connection). For the
X proper effect, this must be uttered in a fruity imitation of
X Bullwinkle J. Moose. Also heard: "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a
X rabbit out of my hat!". The {canonical} response is, of course,
X "But that trick *never* works!". See {{Humor, Hacker}}.
X
Xthrash: vi. To move wildly or violently, without accomplishing
X anything useful. Paging or swapping systems that are overloaded
X waste most of their time moving data into and out of core (rather
X than performing useful computation) and are therefore said to
X thrash. Someone who keeps changing his mind (esp. about what to
X work on next) is said to be thrashing. A person frantically trying
X to execute too many tasks at once (and not spending enough time on
X any single task) may also be described as thrashing. Compare
X {multitask}.
X
Xthread: /thred/ n. [USENET, GEnie, CI$] Common abbreviation of
X `topic thread', a more or less continuous chain of postings on a
X single topic.
X
Xthree-finger salute: n. Syn. {vulcan nerve pinch}.
X
Xthud: n. Yet another meta-syntactic variable (see {foo}). It is
X reported that at CMU in the mid-70s the canonical series of these
X was `foo', `bar', `thud', `blat'.
X
Xthunk: /thuhnk/ [mythically, the sound made by data hitting the
X stack] n. 1. " ... a piece of coding which provides an
X address." --- P. Z. Ingerman, who invented thunks in 1961 as a way
X of binding actual parameters to their formal definitions in
X Algol-60 procedure calls. If a procedure is called with an
X expression in the place of a formal parameter, the compiler
X generates a {thunk} to compute the expression and leave the
X address of the result in some standard location. 2. Later
X generalized into: an expression, frozen together with its
X environment, for later evaluation if and when needed (similar to
X what in techspeak is called a `closure'). The process of
X unfreezing these thunks is called `forcing'. 3. A {stubroutine},
X in an overlay programming environment, that loads and jumps to the
X correct overlay. Compare {trampoline}. 4. People and activities
X scheduled in a thunklike manner. "It occurred to me the other day
X that I am rather accurately modelled by a thunk --- I frequently
X need to be forced to completion." --- paraphrased from a {plan
X file}.
X
Xtick: n. 1. A {jiffy} (sense #1). 2. In simulations, the
X discrete unit of time that passes `between' iterations of the
X simulation mechanism. In AI applications, this amount of time is
X often left unspecified, since the only constraint of interest is
X the ordering of events. This sort of AI simulation is often
X pejoratively referred to as `tick-tick-tick' simulation,
X especially when the issue of simultaneity of events with long,
X independent chains of causes is {handwave}d.
X
Xtick-list features: [Acorn Computers] n. Features in software or
X hardware that customers insist on but never use (calculators in
X desktop TSRs and that sort of thing). The American equivalent
X would be `checklist features', but this jargon sense of the
X phrase has not been reported.
X
Xtickle a bug: vt. To cause a normally hidden bug to manifest
X through some known series of inputs or operations. "You can
X tickle the bug in the Paradise VGA card's highlight handling by
X trying to set bright yellow reverse video".
X
Xtiger team: [U.S. military jargon] n. A team whose purpose is to
X penetrate security, and thus test security measures. These people
X are paid professionals who do hacker-type tricks, e.g., leave
X cardboard signs saying "bomb" in critical defense installations,
X hand-lettered notes saying "Your codebooks have been stolen"
X (they usually haven't been) inside safes, etc. After a successful
X penetration, some high-ranking security type shows up the next
X morning for a `security review', finds the sign, note, etc., and
X all hell breaks loose. Serious successes of tiger teams sometimes
X lead to early retirement for base commanders and security officers.
X
X A subset of tiger teams are professional {cracker}s, testing the
X security of military computer installations. Some of their
X escapades, if declassified, would probably rank among the greatest
X hacks of all times. The term has been adopted in commercial
X computer-security circles in this more specific sense.
X
Xtime sink: [poss. by analogy with `heat sink'] n. A project which
X consumes unbounded amounts of time.
X
Xtime T: /tiem tee/ n. 1. An unspecified but usually
X well-understood time, often used in conjunction with a later time
X T+1. "We'll meet on campus at time T or at Louie's at time T+1."
X means, in the context of going out for dinner, "We can meet on
X campus and go to Louie's, or we can meet at Louie's itself a bit
X later." (Louie's is a Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto that is a
X favorite with hackers. Had the number 30 been used instead of the
X number 1, it would have implied that the travel time from campus to
X Louie's is thirty minutes; whatever time T is (and that hasn't been
X decided on yet), you can meet half an hour later at Louie's than
X you could on campus and end up eating at the same time. See also
X {since time T equals minus infinity}.
X
Xtinycrud: /tie'nee-kruhd/ n. Pejorative used by habitues of older
X game-oriented {MUD} versions for TinyMUDs and other
X user-extensible {MUD} variants; esp. common among users of the
X rather violent and competitive AberMUD and MIST systems. These
X people justify the slur on the basis of how (allegedly)
X inconsistent and lacking in genuine atmosphere the scenarios
X generated in user extensible muds can be. Other common knocks on
X them are that they feature little overall plot, bad game topology,
X little competitive interaction, etc. --- not to mention the alleged
X horrors of the TinyMUD code itself. This dispute is one of the MUD
X world's hardiest perennial {holy wars}.
X
Xtip of the ice-cube: [IBM] n. The visible part of something small and
X insignificant. Used as an ironic comment in situations where `tip
X of the iceberg' might be appropriate if the subject were actually
X nontrivial.
X
Xtired iron: [IBM] n. Hardware that is perfectly functional but
X enough behind the state of the art to have been superseded by new
X products, presumably with enough improvement in bang-per-buck that
X the old stuff is starting to look a bit like a {dinosaur}.
X
Xtits on a keyboard: n. Small bumps on certain keycaps to keep
X touch-typists registered (usually on the `5' of a numeric keypad,
X and on the `F' and `J' of a QWERTY keyboard).
X
XTLA: /tee el ay/ [Three-Letter Acronym] n. 1. Self-describing
X acronym for a species with which computing terminology is infested.
X 2. Any confusing acronym at all. Examples include MCA, FTP, SNA,
X CPU, MMU, SCCS, DMU, FPU, TLA, NNTP. People who like this looser
X usage argue that not all TLAs have three letters, just as not all
X four-letter words have four letters. One also hears of `ETLA'
X (Extended Three Letter Acronym, pronounced /ee tee el ay/) being
X used to describe four-letter acronyms. The term `SFLA' (Stupid
X Four-Letter Acronym) has also been reported. See also {YABA}.
X
X The self-effacing phrase "TDM TLA" (Too Damn Many...) is often
X used to bemoan the plethora of TLAs in use. In 1989, a random of
X the journalistic persuasion asked hacker Paul Boutin "What do you
X think will be the biggest problem in computing in the 90s?"
X Paul's straight-faced response: "There are only seventeen thousand
X three-letter acronyms."
X
Xto a first approximation: 1. [techspeak] when doing certain
X numerical computations, an approximate solution may be computed by
X any of several heuristic methods, then refined to a final value.
X By using the technique of a first approximation of the answer, an
X algorithm can be written that converges more quickly to the correct
X result. 2. In jargon, a preface to any comment that indicates that
X the comment is only approximately true. The remark "To a first
X approximation, I feel good" might indicate that deeper questioning
X would reveal that all is not perfect (e.g., a nagging cough still
X remains after an illness).
X
Xtoast: 1. n. Any completely inoperable system, esp. one that has
X just crashed; "Uh, oh...I think the serial board is toast."
X 2. vt. To cause a system to crash accidentally, especially in a
X manner that requires manual rebooting. "Rick just toasted the
X {firewall machine} again."
X
Xtoaster: n. 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an
X embedded microprocessor controller; often used in comments which
X imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see
X {elevator controller}). "{DWIM} for an assembler? That'd be
X as silly as running UNIX on your toaster!" 2. A very, very dumb
X computer. "You could run this program on any dumb toaster." See
X {bitty box}, {Get a real computer!}, {toy}, {beige toaster}.
X 3. A Macintosh, esp. the Classic Mac. Some hold that this is
X implied by sense #2. 4. A peripheral device. "I bought my box
X without toasters, but since then I've added two boards and a second
X disk drive."
X
Xtoeprint: n. A {footprint} of especially small size.
X
Xtoggle: vt. To change a {bit} from whatever state it is in to the
X other state; to change from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1. This probably
X comes from `toggle switches', such as standard light switches,
X though the word `toggle' actually refers to the mechanism that
X keeps the switch in the position to which it is flipped, rather
X than to the fact that the switch has two positions. There are four
X things you can do to a bit: set it (force it to be 1), clear (or
X zero) it, leave it alone, or toggle it. (Mathematically, one would
X say that there are four distinct boolean-valued functions of one
X boolean argument, but saying that is much less fun than talking
X about toggling bits.)
X
Xtool: 1. n. A program primarily used to create, manipulate, modify,
X or analyze other programs, such as a compiler or editor or
X cross-referencing program. Oppose {app}, {operating system}.
X 2. [UNIX] An application program with a simple, `transparent'
X (typically text-stream) interface designed specifically to be used
X in programmed combination with other tools (see {filter}).
X 3. [MIT] vi. To work; to study (connotes tedium). The TMRC
X Dictionary defined this as "to set one's brain to the
X grindstone". See {hack}. 4. [MIT] n. A student who studies too
X much and hacks too little.
X
Xtoolsmith: n. The software equivalent of a tool-and-die specialist;
X one who specializes in making the {tool}s with which other
X programmers create applications. See also {uninteresting}.
X
XTOPS-10: /tops-ten/ n. DEC's proprietary OS for the fabled {PDP-10}
X machines, long a favorite of hackers but now effectively extinct.
X A fountain of hacker folklore; see Appendix A. See also {ITS},
X {TOPS-20}, {TWENEX}, {VMS}, {operating system}. TOPS-10 was
X sometimes called BOTS-10 (from `bottoms-ten') as a comment on the
X inappropriateness of describing it as the top of anything.
X
XTOPS-20: /tops-twen'tee/ n. See {TWENEX}.
X
Xtoto: n. This is reported to be the default scratch file name among
X French-speaking programmers; in other words, a Francophone {foo}.
X
Xtourist: [from MIT's ITS system] n. A guest on the system,
X especially one who generally logs in over a network from a remote
X location for {comm mode}, email, games and other trivial
X purposes. One step below {luser}. Note: hackers often spell
X this `turist', perhaps by some sort of tenuous analogy with `luser'
X (this also expresses the ITS culture's penchant for
X six-letterisms). Compare {twink}, {read-only user}.
X
Xtourist information: n. Information in an on-line display that is
X not immediately useful, but contributes to a viewer's gestalt of
X what's going on with the software or hardware behind it. Whether a
X given piece of info falls in this category or not partly depends on
X what the user is looking for at any given time. The `bytes free'
X information at the bottom of an MS-DOS `dir' display is
X tourist information; so (most of the time) is the TIME information
X in a UNIX `ps(1)' display.
X
Xtouristic: adj. Having the quality of a {tourist}. Often used as
X a pejorative, as in the phrase `losing touristic scum'. Often
X spelled `turistic' or `turistik', so that phrase might be more
X properly rendered `lusing turistic scum'.
X
Xtoy: n. A computer system; always used with qualifiers.
X 1. `nice toy': One that supports the speaker's hacking style
X adequately. 2. `just a toy': A machine that yields
X insufficient {computron}s for the speaker's preferred uses. This
X is not condemnatory as is {bitty box}; toys can at least be fun.
X It is also strongly conditioned by one's expectations; Cray XMP
X users sometimes consider the Cray-1 a `toy', and certainly all RISC
X boxes and mainframes are toys by their standards. See also {Get
X a real computer!}.
X
Xtoy language: n. A language useful for instructional purposes or as
X a proof-of-concept for some aspect of computer science theory, but
X which is inadequate for general-purpose programming. {Bad
X Thing}s can result when a toy language is promoted as a general
X purpose solution for programming (see {bondage-and-discipline
X language}); the classic example is {{Pascal}}. Several moderately
X well-known formalisms for conceptual tasks like programming Turing
X machines also qualify as toy languages in a less negative sense.
X See also {MFTL}.
X
Xtoy problem: [AI] n. A deliberately simplified or even
X oversimplified case of a challenging problem used to investigate,
X prototype, or test algorithms for a real problem. Sometimes used
X pejoratively. See also {gedanken}, {toy program}.
X
Xtoy program: n. 1. One that can be readily comprehended; hence, a
X trivial program (compare {noddy}). 2. One for which the effort
X of initial coding dominates the costs through its life cycle.
X See also {noddy}.
X
Xtrampoline: n. An incredibly {hairy} technique found in some
X {HLL} and program-overlay implementations (e.g., on the
X Macintosh) that involves on-the-fly generation of small executable
X (and, like as not, self-modifying) code objects to do indirection
X between code sections. These pieces of {live data} are called
X `trampolines'. Trampolines are notoriously difficult to understand
X in action; in fact, it is said by those who use this term that the
X trampoline which doesn't bend your brain is not the true
X trampoline.
X
Xtrap: 1. n. A program interrupt, usually used specifically to refer
X to an interrupt caused by some exceptional situation in the user
X program. In most cases, the OS performs some action, then returns
X control to the program. 2. vi. To cause a trap. "These
X instructions trap to the monitor." Also used transitively to
X indicate the cause of the trap. "The monitor traps all
X input/output instructions."
X
X This term is associated with assembler programming (`interrupt'
X is more common among {HLL} programmers) and appears to be fading
X into history among programmers as the role of assembler continues
X to shrink. However, it is still important to computer architects
X and systems hackers (see {system}, sense #1), who use it to
X distinguish deterministically repeatable exceptions from
X timing-dependent ones (such as I/O interrupts).
X
Xtrap door: alt. `trapdoor' n. Syn. {back door}.
X
Xtrash: vt. To destroy the contents of (said of a data structure).
X The most common of the family of near-synonyms including {mung},
X {mangle}, and {scribble}.
X
Xtree-killer: [Sun] n. 1. A printer. 2. A person who wastes paper.
X This should be interpreted in a broad sense; `wasting paper'
X includes the production of {spiffy} but {content-free} documents.
X Thus, most {suit}s are tree-killers.
X
Xtrit: [by analogy with `bit'] n. One base-3 digit; the amount of
X information conveyed by a selection among one of three equally
X likely outcomes (see also {bit}). These arise, for example, in
X the context of a {flag} that should actually be able to assume
X *three* values --- yes, no, or unknown. Trits are sometimes
X jokingly called "three-state bits". A trit may be semi-seriously
X referred to as "a bit and a half" though it is linearly
X equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is,
X log2(3)
X bits).
X
Xtrivial: adj. 1. Too simple to bother detailing. 2. Not worth the
X speaker's time. 3. Complex, but solvable by methods so well-known
X that anyone not utterly {cretinous} would have thought of them
X already. Hackers' notions of triviality may be quite at variance
X with those of non-hackers. See {nontrivial}, {uninteresting}.
X
X
Xtroglodyte: [Commodore] n. 1. A hacker who never leaves his cubicle.
X The term `Gnoll' (from D&D) is also reported. 2. A curmudgeon
X attached to an obsolescent computing environment. The combination
X `ITS troglodyte' got flung around some during the USENET and
X email wringle-wrangle attending the 2.x.x revision of the Jargon
X File; at least one of the people it was intended to describe
X adopted it with pride.
X
Xtroglodyte mode: [Rice University] n. Programming with the lights
X turned off, sunglasses on, and the terminal inverted (black on
X white) because you've been up for so many days straight that your
X eyes hurt (see {raster burn}). Loud music blaring from a stereo
X stacked in the corner is optional but recommended. See {larval
X stage}, {hack mode}.
X
XTrojan horse: [coined by MIT-hacker-turned-NSA-spook Dan Edwards]
X n. A program designed to break security or damage a system that is
X disguised as something else benign, such as a directory lister,
X archiver, or game (in one notorious 1990 case, a Trojan Horse was
X found in an anti-{virus} program for the Mac). See {back
X door}, {virus}, {worm}.
X
Xtrue-hacker: [analogy with `trufan' from SF fandom] n. One who
X exemplifies the primary values of hacker culture, esp. competence
X and helpfulness to other hackers. A high compliment. "He spent
X six hours helping me bring up UUCP and netnews on my FOOBAR 4000
X last week --- manifestly the act of a true-hacker." Compare
X {demigod}, oppose {munchkin}.
X
Xtty: /tee-tee-wie/ [UNIX], /ti'tee/ [ITS, but some UNIX people
X say it this way as well; this pronunciation is not considered to
X have sexual undertones] n. 1. Terminal of the teletype variety,
X characterized by a noisy mechanical printer, a very limited
X character set, and poor print quality. Usage: antiquated (like the
X TTYs themselves). See also {bit-paired keyboard}.
X 2. [especially UNIX] Any terminal at all; sometimes used to refer
X to the particular terminal controlling a given job.
X
Xtube: 1. n. A CRT terminal. Never used in the mainstream sense of
X TV; real hackers don't watch TV, except for Loony Toons and Rocky &
X Bullwinkle and Trek Classic and the occasional cheesy old
X swashbuckler (see Appendix B). 2. [IBM] To send a copy of
X something to someone else's terminal. "Tube me that note?"
X
X
Xtube time: n. Time spent at a terminal or console; more inclusive
X than hacking time. Commonly used in discussions of what parts of
X one's environment one uses most heavily. "I find I'm spending too
X much of my tube time reading mail since I started this revision."
X
Xtunafish: n. In hackish lore, refers to the mutated punchline of an
X age-old joke to be found at the bottom of the man pages of
X `tunefs(8)' in the original {BSD} 4.2 distribution. The
X joke was removed in later releases once commercial sites started
X developing in 4.2. Tunefs relates to the `tuning' of file-system
X parameters for optimum performance, and at the bottom of a few
X pages of wizardly inscriptions was a `BUGS' section consisting of
X the line "You can tune a filing system, but you can't tunafish."
X Variants of this can be seen in other BSD versions, though some
X have had it excised by humorless management {droid}s. The
X [nt]roff source for SunOS 4.1.1 contains a comment apparently
X designed to prevent this: "Take this out and a Unix Demon will dog
X your steps from now until the time_t's wrap around."
X
Xtune: [from automotive or musical usage] vt. To optimize a program
X or system for a particular environment, esp. by adjusting numerical
X parameters designed as {hook}s for tuning, e.g. by changing
X #define lines in C. One may `tune for time' (fastest
X execution), `tune for space' (least memory utilization), or
X `tune for configuration' (most efficient use of hardware). See
X {bum}, {hot spot}, {hand-hacking}.
X
Xturbo nerd: n. See {computer geek}.
X
Xturist: n. Var. sp. of {tourist}, q.v. Also in adjectival form,
X `turistic'. Poss. influenced by {luser} and `Turing'?
X
Xtweak: vt. 1. To change slightly, usually in reference to a value.
X Also used synonymously with {twiddle}. If a program is almost
X correct, rather than figuring out the precise problem, you might
X just keep tweaking it until it works. See {frobnicate} and
X {fudge factor}; also see {shotgun debugging}. 2. To {tune}
X or {bum} a program. This is preferred usage in Great Britain.
X
X
XTWENEX: /twe'neks/ n. The TOPS-20 operating system by DEC.
X TOPS-10 was a typically crufty DEC operating system for the PDP-10,
X so TOPS-20 was the obvious name for the DECSYSTEM-20 OS. Bolt,
X Beranek, and Newman (BBN) had developed its own system, called
X *TENEX* (TEN EXecutive), and in creating TOPS-20 DEC copied
X TENEX and adapted it for the '20. The term TWENEX was therefore a
X contraction of `twenty TENEX'. DEC people cringed when they heard
X TOPS-20 referred to as `TWENEX', but the term caught on
X nevertheless. The written abbreviation `20x' was also used.
X TWENEX was successful and very popular; in fact, there was a period
X in the early 1980s when it commanded as fervent a culture of
X partisans as UNIX or ITS --- but DEC's decision to scrap all the
X internal rivals to the VAX architecture and its relatively stodgy
X VMS OS killed the DEC-20 and put a sad end to TWENEX's brief day in
X the sun.
X
Xtwiddle: n. 1. Tilde (ASCII #b1111110, `~'). Also called
X `squiggle', `sqiggle' (sic --- pronounced /skig'l/), and
X `twaddle', but twiddle is the most common term. 2. A small
X and insignificant change to a program. Usually fixes one bug and
X generates several new ones. 3. vt. To change something in a
X small way. Bits, for example, are often twiddled. Twiddling a
X switch or knob implies much less sense of purpose than toggling or
X tweaking it; see {frobnicate}. To speak of twiddling a bit
X connotes aimlessness, and at best doesn't specify what you're doing
X to the bit; by contrast, toggling a bit has a more specific meaning
X (see {bit twiddling}, {toggle}).
X
Xtwink: /twink/ [UCSC] n. Equivalent to {read-only user}.
X
Xtwo pi: quant. The number of years it takes to finish one's thesis.
X Occurs in stories in the form: "He started on his thesis; two pi
X years later...".
X
Xtwo-to-the-n: quant. An amount much larger than {N}, but smaller
X than {infinity}. "I have two-to-the-N things to do before I can
X go out for lunch." means you probably won't show up.
X
Xtwonkie: n. The software equivalent of a Twinkie; a useless
X `feature' added to look sexy and placate a {marketroid}. This
X may be related to the `The Twonky', title menace of a classic
X SF short story by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner & C. L. Moore),
X first published in the September 1942 `Astounding Science
X Fiction' and subsequently much anthologized.
X
X= U =
X=====
X
XUBD: /yoo-bee-dee/ [abbreviation for `User Brain Damage'] An
X abbreviation used to close out trouble reports obviously due to
X utter cluelessness on the user's part. Compare {pilot error};
X oppose {PBD}; see also {brain-damaged}.
X
XUN*X: n. Used to refer to the UNIX operating system (a trademark of
X AT&T) in writing, but avoiding the need for the ugly
X {(TM)} typography.
X Also used to refer to any or all varieties of Unixoid operating
X systems. Ironically, lawyers now say (1990) that the requirement
X for the tm-postfix has no legal force, but the asterisk usage is
X entrenched anyhow. It has been suggested that there may be a
X psychological connection to practice in certain religions
X (especially Judaism) where the name of the deity is never written
X out in full, e.g., YHWH or G-d is used. See also {glob}.
X
Xundefined external reference: excl. [UNIX] A message from UNIX's
X linker. Used in speech to {flag} loose ends or dangling
X references in an argument or discussion.
X
Xunder the hood: prep. [hot-rodder talk] 1. Used to introduce the
X underlying implementation of a product (hardware, software, or
X idea). Implies that the implementation is not intuitively obvious
X from the appearance, but the speaker is about to enable the
X listener to {grok} it. "Let's now look under the hood to see
X how ...." 2. Can also imply that the implementation is much
X simpler than the appearance would indicate, as in "Under the hood,
X we are just fork/execling the shell." 3. Inside a chassis, as in
X "Under the hood, this baby has a 40MHz 68030!"
X
Xundocumented feature: n. See {feature}.
X
Xuninteresting: adj. 1. Said of a problem that, while
X {nontrivial}, can be solved simply by throwing sufficient
X resources at it. 2. Also said of problems for which a solution
X would neither advance the state of the art nor be fun to design and
X code.
X
X Hackers regard uninteresting problems as an intolerable waste of
X time, to be solved (if at all) by lesser mortals. *Real*
X hackers (see {toolsmith}) generalize uninteresting problems
X enough to make them interesting and solve them --- thus solving the
X original problem as a special case. See {WOMBAT}, {SMOP};
X compare {toy problem}, oppose {interesting}.
X
XUNIX: /yoo'niks/ [In the authors' words, "A weak pun on
X Multics"] n. (also `Unix') A popular interactive time-sharing
X system originally invented in 1969 by Ken Thompson after Bell Labs
X left the Multics project, mostly so he could play {SPACEWAR} on
X his scavenged PDP-7. Dennis Ritchie, the inventor of C, is
X considered a co-author of the system. The turning point in UNIX's
X history came when it was reimplemented almost entirely in C during
X 1972--1974, making it the first source-portable OS. In 1991, UNIX
X is the most widely used multiuser general-purpose operating system
X in the world. Many people consider this the single most important
X victory yet of hackerdom over industry opposition (but see {UNIX
X weenie} for an opposing point of view). See {Version 7},
X {BSD}, {USG UNIX}.
X
X{UNIX brain damage} n. Something that has to be done to {break} a
X network program (typically a mailer) on a non-UNIX system so that
X it will interoperate with UNIX systems, often over the vehement
X objections of its author, who points out that the program conforms
X to published standards and the UNIX program in question does not.
X UNIX brain damage happens because it's much easier for other
X (minority) systems to change their ways to match non-conforming
X behavior than it is to change all the hundreds of thousands of UNIX
X systems out there.
X
X An example of UNIX brain damage is a {kludge} in a mail server to
X recognize bare line feed (the UNIX newline) as an equivalent form
X to the Internet standard newline, which is a carriage return
X followed by a line feed. Such things can make even a hardened
X {jock} weep.
X
XUNIX conspiracy: [ITS] n. According to a conspiracy theory long
X popular among {ITS} and {TOPS-20} fans, UNIX's growth is the
X result of a plot hatched during the 1970s at Bell Labs, whose
X intent was to hobble AT&T's competitors by making them dependent
X upon a system whose future evolution was to be under AT&T control.
X This would be accomplished by disseminating an operating system
X that is seemingly inexpensive and easily portable, but relatively
X unreliable and insecure. This theory was lent a substantial
X impetus in 1984 by the paper referenced in the {back door} entry.
X
X In this view, UNIX was designed to be one of the first computer
X viruses (see {virus}), but a virus spread to computers indirectly
X by people and market forces, rather than directly through disks and
X networks. Adherents of this `UNIX virus' theory like to cite the
X fact that the well-known quotation "UNIX is snake oil" was
X uttered by DEC president Kenneth Olsen shortly before DEC began
X actively promoting its own family of UNIX workstations (Olsen now
X claims to have been misquoted).
X
XUNIX weenie: [ITS] n. 1. A derogatory play on `UNIX wizard', common
X among hackers who use UNIX by necessity but would prefer
X alternatives. The implication is that while the person in question
X may consider mastery of UNIX arcana to be a wizardly skill, the
X only real skill involved is the ability to tolerate (and the bad
X taste to wallow in) the incoherence and needless complexity that is
X alleged to infest many UNIX programs. "This shell script tries to
X parse its arguments in 69 bletcherous ways. It must have been
X written by a real UNIX weenie." 2. A derogatory term for anyone
X who engages in uncritical praise of UNIX. Often appearing in the
X context "stupid UNIX weenie". See {Weenix}, {UNIX
X conspiracy}. See also {weenie}.
X
Xunixism: n. A piece of code or coding technique that depends on the
X protected multi-tasking environment with relatively low
X process-spawn overhead that exists on virtual-memory UNIX systems.
X Common {unixism}s include: gratuitous use of `fork(2)'; the
X assumption that certain undocumented but well-known features of
X UNIX libraries like `stdio(3)' are supported elsewhere;
X reliance on {obscure} side-effects of system calls (use of
X `sleep(2)' with a zero argument to clue the scheduler that
X you're willing to give up your time-slice, for example); the
X assumption that freshly allocated memory is zeroed; the assumption
X that fragmentation problems won't arise from never free()ing memory
X memory; etc. Compare {vaxocentrism}; see {New Jersey}.
X
Xunwind the stack: vi. 1. During the execution of a procedural
X language one is said to `unwind the stack' from a called
X procedure up to a caller when one discards the stack frame and any
X number of frames above it, popping back up to the level of the
X given caller. In C this is done with longjmp/setjmp, in LISP with
X THROW/CATCH. See also {smash the stack}. 2. People can unwind
X the stack as well, by quickly dealing with a bunch of problems:
X "Oh heck, let's do lunch. Just a second while I unwind my
X stack."
X
Xunwind-protect: [MIT, from the name of a LISP operator] n. A task you
X must remember to perform before you leave a place or finish a
X project. "I have an unwind-protect to call my advisor."
X
Xup: adj. 1. Working, in order. "The down escalator is up."
X Oppose {down}. 2. `bring up': vt. To create a working
X version and start it. "They brought up a down system."
X
Xupload: /uhp'lohd/ v. 1. To transfer programs or data over a
X digital communications link from a smaller or peripheral `client'
X system to a larger or central `host' one. A transfer in the other
X direction is, of course, called a `download'.
X 2. [speculatively] To move the essential patterns and algorithms
X which make up one's mind from one's brain into a computer. Only
X those who are convinced that such patterns and algorithms capture
X the complete essence of the self view this prospect with gusto.
X
Xupthread: adv. Earlier in the discussion (see {thread}), i.e.
X `above'. "As Joe pointed out upthread...." See also
X {followup}.
X
Xurchin: n. See {munchkin}.
X
XUSENET: /yoos'net/ or /yooz'net/ [from `Users' Network'] n.
X A distributed {bboard} (bulletin board) system supported mainly
X by UNIX machines, international in scope and probably the largest
X anarchic information utility in existence. As of early 1991, it
X hosts well over 700 {newsgroup}s and an average of 16 megabytes
X (the equivalent of several thousand paper pages) of new technical
X articles, news, discussion, chatter, and {flamage} every day.
X
X
Xuser: n. 1. Someone doing `real work' with the computer, who uses a
X computer as a means rather than an end. Someone who pays to use a
X computer. See {real user}. 2. A programmer who will believe
X anything you tell him. One who asks silly questions. [GLS
X observes: This is slightly unfair. It is true that users ask
X questions (of necessity). Sometimes they are thoughtful or deep.
X Very often they are annoying or downright stupid, apparently
X because the user failed to think for two seconds or look in the
X documentation before bothering the maintainer.] See {luser}.
X 3. Someone who uses a program from the outside, however skillfully,
X without getting into the internals of the program. One who reports
X bugs instead of just going ahead and fixing them.
X
X The general theory behind this term is that there are two classes
X of people who work with a program: there are implementors (hackers)
X and {luser}s. The users are looked down on by hackers to a mild
X degree because they don't understand the full ramifications of the
X system in all its glory. (The few users who do are known as
X `real winner's.) The term is a relative one: a skilled hacker
X may be a user with respect to some program he himself does not
X hack. A LISP hacker might be one who maintains LISP or one who
X uses LISP (but with the skill of a hacker). A LISP user is one who
X uses LISP, whether skillfully or not. Thus there is some overlap
X between the two terms; the subtle distinctions must be resolved by
X context.
X
Xuser-friendly: adj. Programmer-hostile. Generally used by hackers in
X a critical tone, to describe systems which hold the user's hand so
X obsessively that they make it painful for the more experienced and
X knowledgeable to get any work done. See {menuitis}, {drool-proof
X paper}, {Macintrash}, {user-obsequious}.
X
Xuser-obsequious: adj. Emphatic form of {user-friendly}. Connotes
X a system so verbose, inflexible, and determinedly simple-minded
X that it is nearly unusable. "Design a system any fool can use and
X only a fool will want to use it." See {WIMP environment},
X {Macintrash}.
X
XUSG UNIX: /yoo-ess-jee yoo'niks/ n. Refers to AT&T UNIX commercial
X versions after {Version 7}, especially System III and System V
X releases 1, 2, and 3. So called because at that time AT&T's support
X crew was called the `UNIX Support Group'. See {BSD}, {UNIX}.
X
XUUCPNET: n. The store-and-forward network consisting of all the
X world's connected UNIX machines (and others running some clone of
X the UUCP (UNIX-to-UNIX CoPy) software). Any machine reachable via
X a {bang path} is on UUCPNET. See {network address}.
X
X= V =
X=====
X
Xvadding: /vad'ing/ [from VAD, a permutation of ADV (i.e.
X {ADVENT}), used to avoid a particular {admin}'s continual
X search-and-destroy sweeps for the game] n. A leisure-time activity
X of certain hackers involving the covert exploration of the `secret'
X parts of large buildings --- basements, roofs, freight elevators,
X maintenance crawlways, steam tunnels, and the like. A few go so
X far as to learn locksmithing in order to synthesize vadding keys.
X The verb is `to vad' (compare {phreaking}).
X
X The most extreme and dangerous form of vadding is `elevator
X rodeo', aka `elevator surfing', a sport played by wrasslin'
X down a thousand-pound elevator car with a three-foot piece of
X string, and then exploiting this mastery in various stimulating
X ways (such as elevator hopping, shaft exploration, rat-racing, and
X the ever-popular drop experiments). Kids, don't try this at home!
X See also {hobbit} (sense #2).
X
Xvanilla: [from the default flavor of ice cream in the U.S.] adj.
X Ordinary {flavor}, standard. When used of food, very often does
X not mean that the food is flavored with vanilla extract! For
X example, `vanilla wonton soup' means ordinary wonton soup, as
X opposed to hot and sour wonton soup. Applied to hardware and
X software, as in "Vanilla Version 7 UNIX can't run on a vanilla
X 11/34." Also used to orthogonalize chip nomenclature; for
X instance, a 74V00 means what TI calls a 7400, as distinct from a
X 74LS00, etc. This word differs from {canonical} in that the
X latter means `default', whereas vanilla simply means `ordinary'.
X For example, when hackers go on a {great-wall}, hot-and-sour
X wonton soup is the {canonical} wonton soup to get (because that
X is what most of them usually order) even though it isn't the
X vanilla wonton soup.
X
Xvannevar: /van'*-var/ n. A bogus technological prediction or
X foredoomed engineering concept, esp. one which fails by
X implicitly assuming that technologies develop linearly,
X incrementally, and in isolation from one another when in fact the
X learning curve tends to be highly nonlinear, revolutions are
X common, and competition is the rule. The prototype was Vannevar
X Bush's prediction of `electronic brains' the size of the Empire
X State Building with a Niagara-Falls-equivalent cooling system for
X their tubes and relays, at a time when the semiconductor effect had
X already been demonstrated. Other famous vannevars have included
X magnetic-bubble memory, LISP machines, videotex, and a paper from
X the late 1970s that computed a purported ultimate limit on areal
X density for ICs which was in fact less than the routine densities
X of five years later.
X
Xvaporware: n. Products announced far in advance of any release
X (which may or may not actually take place).
X
Xvar: /veir/ or /vahr/ n. Short for `variable'. Compare {arg},
X {param}.
X
XVAX: /vaks/ n. 1. [from Virtual Address eXtension] The most
X successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly
X excepting its immediate ancestor, the PDP-11. Between its release
X in 1978 and eclipse by {killer micro}s after about 1986 the VAX
X was probably the favorite hacker machine of them all, esp. after
X the 1982 release of 4.2BSD UNIX (see {BSD}). Esp. noted for its
X large, assembler-programmer-friendly instruction set --- an asset
X that became a liability after the RISC revolution. 2. A major
X brand of vacuum cleaner in Britain. Cited here because its alleged
X sales pitch, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a sort of
X battle-cry of RISC partisans. Ironically, the slogan was actually
X that of a rival brand called Electrolux (as in "Nothing sucks like
X an...). It is claimed, however, that DEC actually entered a
X cross-licensing deal with the vacuum-VAX people which allowed them
X to market VAX computers in the UK in return for not challenging the
X VAXuum cleaner trademark in the U.S.
X
XVAXectomy: /vak-sek't*-mee/ [by analogy with `vasectomy'] n. A
X VAX removal. DEC's Microvaxen, especially, are much slower than
X newer RISC-based workstations like the SPARC. Thus, if one knows
X one has a replacement coming, VAX removal can be cause for
X celebration.
X
XVAXen: /vak'sn/ [from `oxen', perhaps influenced by `vixen'] n.
X (alt. `vaxen') The plural canonically used among hackers for the
X DEC VAX computers. "Our installation has four PDP-10s and twenty
X vaxen." See {boxen}.
X
Xvaxism: n. A piece of code that exhibits {vaxocentrism} in critical
X areas. Compare {PC-ism}, {unixism}.
X
Xvaxocentrism: /vak`soh-sen'trizm/ [analogy with
X `ethnocentrism'] n. A notional disease said to afflict C
X programmers who persist in coding according to certain assumptions
X valid (esp. under UNIX) on {VAXen}, but false elsewhere. Among
X these are:
X
X 1. The assumption that dereferencing a null pointer is safe because it
X is all bits zero, and location 0 is readable and zero. Problem:
X this may instead cause an illegal-address trap on non-VAXen, and
X even on VAXen under OSes other than BSD UNIX.
X
X 2. The assumption that pointer and integer types are the same size,
X and that pointers can be stuffed into integer variables (and
X vice-versa) and drawn back out without being truncated or
X mangled.
X Problem: fails on segmented architectures or word-oriented machines
X with funny pointer formats.
X
X 3. The assumption that a data type of any size may begin at any byte
X address in memory (for example, that you can freely construct and
X dereference a pointer to a word- or greater-sized object at an odd
X char address). Problem: on many (esp. RISC) architectures better
X optimized for {HLL} execution speed this is invalid and can cause
X an illegal address fault or bus error.
X
X 4. The (related) assumption that there is no `padding' at the end
X of types and that in an array you can thus step right from the last
X byte of a previous component to the first byte of the next one. This
X is not only machine- but compiler-dependent.
X
X 5. The assumption that memory address space is globally flat and that
X the array reference foo[-1] is necessarily valid. Problem: this fails
X at 0, or other places on segment-addressed machines like Intel chips
X (yes, segmentation is universally considered a {brain-damaged}
X way to design machines, but that is a separate issue).
X
X 6. The assumption that objects can be arbitrarily large with no
X special considerations. Problem: this fails on segmented
X architectures and under non-virtual-addressing environments.
X
X 7. The assumption that the stack can be as large as memory. Problem:
X fails on segmented architectures or almost anything else without
X virtual addressing and a paged stack.
X
X 8. The assumption that the parameters of a routine are stored in
X memory, contiguously, and in strictly ascending or descending order
X Problem: this fails on many RISC architectures.
X
X 9. The assumption that bits and addressable units within an object
X are ordered in the same way and that this order is a constant of
X nature. Problem: this fails on {big-endian} machines).
X
X 10. The assumption that it is meaningful to compare pointers to
X different objects not located within the same array, or to objects
X of different types. Problem: the former fails on segmented
X architectures, the latter on word-oriented machines or others with
X multiple pointer formats.
X
X 11. The assumption that a pointer to any one type can freely be cast
X into a pointer to any other type. Problem: fails on word-oriented
X machines or others with multiple pointer formats.
X
X 12. The assumption that all pointers are the same size and format,
X which means you don't have to worry about getting the types correct
X in calls. Problem: fails on word-oriented machines or others with
X multiple pointer formats).
X
X 13. The assumption that an `int' is 32 bits, or (nearly
X equivalently) the assumption that `sizeof(int) ==
X sizeof(long)'. Problem: this fails on 286-based systems and even
X on 386 and 68000 systems under some compilers.
X
X 14. The assumption that argv[] is writable. Problem: this fails in
X some embedded-systems C environments.
X
X 15. The assumption that characters are signed.
X
X Note that a programmer can be validly be accused of vaxocentrism
X even if he/she has never seen a VAX. The terms `vaxocentricity'
X and `all-the-world's-a-VAX syndrome' have been used synonymously.
X
Xvdiff: /vee'dif/ v.,n. Visual diff. The operation of finding
X differences between two files by {eyeball search}. See {diff}.
X
Xveeblefester: /vee'b*l-fes`tr/ [from the `Born Loser' comix via
X Commodore; prob. originally from Mad Magazine's `Veeblefetzer' ca.
X 1960] n. Any obnoxious person engaged in the alleged professions
X of marketing or management. Antonym of {hacker}. Compare {suit},
X {marketroid}.
X
XVenus flytrap: [after the insect-eating plant] n. See {firewall
X machine}.
X
Xverbage: /ver'b*j/ n. Deliberate misspelling/mispronunciation of
X {verbiage} that assimilates it to the word `garbage'. Compare
X {content-free}. More pejorative than `verbiage'.
X
Xverbiage: n. When the context involves a software or hardware
X system, this refers to {{documentation}}. This term borrows the
X connotations of mainstream `verbiage' to suggest that the
X documentation is of marginal utility, and that the motives from
X which it is produced have little to do with the ostensible subject.
X
XVersion 7: alt. V7 /vee se'vn/ n. The 1978 unsupported release of
X {UNIX} ancestral to all current commercial versions. Before
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 16, continue with part 17'
echo 17 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0