eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part13
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X it one of the {languages of choice}. Perl has been described, in
X a parody of a famous remark about `lex(1)', as the "Swiss-army
X 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 hand translation. The
X implication is that the compiler is actually trying to optimize the
X program, but through excessive cleverness is doing the opposite. A
X few pessimizing compilers have been written on purpose, however, as
X pranks or burlesques.
X
Xpeta-: /pe't*/ pref. See {{quantifiers}}.
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
X 193--218, and also added 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 and/or 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.
X 2. `change phase the hard way': to stay awake for a very long
X time in order to get into a different phase. 3. `change phase
X the 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 there was a bug that really did depend
X on the phase of the moon! There is a little subroutine that had
X traditionally been used in various programs at MIT to calculate an
X approximation to the moon's true phase. GLS incorporated this
X routine into a LISP program that, when it wrote out a file, would
X print a `timestamp' line almost 80 characters long. Very
X occasionally the first line of the message would be too long and
X would overflow onto the next line, and when the file was later read
X back in the program would {barf}. The length of the first line
X depended on both the precise date and time and the length of the
X phase specification 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 one of the timestamp lines that exhibited this bug, but
X the typesetter `corrected' it. This has since been described as
X 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']
X pref. 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 should be
X instantly recognizable to any hacker. See also {{quantifiers}},
X {micro-}.
X
Xpig, run like a: v. To run very slowly on given hardware, said of
X software. Distinct from {hog}.
X
Xpilot error: [Sun; from aviation] n. A user's misconfiguration or
X misuse of a piece of software, producing apparently buglike results
X (compare {UBD}). "Joe Luser reported a bug in sendmail that
X causes it to generate bogus headers." "That's not a bug, that's
X pilot error. His sendmail.cf is hosed."
X
Xping: /ping/ [from TCP/IP terminology, prob. originally contrived
X to match the submariners' term for a sonar pulse.] 1. n.
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. vt. To verify the presence of. 3. vt. 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. vt. 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 for an echo,
X and played back the recording on each returned packet. Result? A
X program that caused the machine to repeat, over and over, "Ping
X ... ping ... ping ..." as long as the network was up.
X He turned the volume to maximum, ferreted through the building with
X 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, RSX-11, RSTS/E and OS/8 (derived from a
X utility on the PDP-6) that was used for file copying (and in OS/8
X and RT-11 for just about every other file operation you might want
X to do). It is said that when the program was originated during the
X development of the PDP-6 in 1963 it was called ATLATL (`Anything,
X Lord, to Anything, 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
X 2 meg single-platter removable disk packs used to be called pizzas,
X and the huge drive they were stuck into was referred to as a pizza
X oven. It's an index of progress that in the old days just the disk
X was pizza-sized, while now the entire computer is.
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 location and near-future
X plans, but has been turned almost universally to humorous and
X self-expressive purposes (like a {sig block}). See {Hacking X
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-iridium bar kept in the same place. From
X 1960 to 1984 it was defined to be 1650763.73 wavelengths of the
X orange-red line of krypton-86 propagating in a vacuum, but it is
X now defined as the length of the path traveled by light in a vacuum
X in the time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. The kilogram is
X now the only unit of measure officially defined in terms of a
X unique artifact.) "This garbage-collection algorithm has been
X tested against the platinum-iridium cons cell in Paris." Compare
X {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
X {{Commonwealth Hackish}}, which uses `pling' for `bang' (as in
X {bang path}).
X
Xplokta: /plok'tuh/ [Acronym for "Press Lots Of Keys To Abort"] v.
X To press random keys in an attempt to get some response from the
X system. One might plokta when the abort procedure for a program is
X not known, or after the system hangs to figure out if the system is
X just sluggish or really hung. Plokta can also be used while trying
X to figure out any unknown key sequence for a particular operation.
X When someone goes into `plokta mode' they usualy place both hands
X flat on the keyboard and press down hoping for some useful
X response.
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. v. (from `preventive maintenance') To bring
X down a machine for inspection or test purposes; see {scratch
X monkey}. 2. n. Abbrev. for `Presentation Manager', an
X {elephantine} OS/2 graphical user interface. See also
X {provocative maintenance}.
X
Xpod: [allegedly from acronym POD for `Prince Of Darkness'] n. A
X Diablo 630 (or, latterly, any letter-quality impact 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. [techspeak] The action of checking the status of
X an input line, sensor, or memory location to see if a particular
X external event has been registered. 2. To repeatedly call or
X check with someone, e.g., "I keep polling him, but he's not
X answering his phone; he must be swapped out." 3. To ask.
X "Lunch? I poll for a takeout order daily."
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/ [from the operation that removes the top of a stack,
X and the fact that procedure return addresses are saved on the
X stack] (also capitalized `POP') 1. vt. To remove something from a
X {stack} or {pdl}. If a person says he has popped something
X from his stack, he means he has finally finished working on it and
X can now remove it from the list of things hanging over his head.
X 2. When a discussion gets to too deep a level of detail such that
X the main point of the discussion is being lost, someone will shout
X "Pop!" meaning "Get back up to a higher level!". The shout is
X frequently accompanied by an upthrust arm with a finger pointing to
X the ceiling.
X
XPOPJ: /pop'jay/ [from a {PDP-10} return-from-subroutine
X instruction] n.v. To return from a digression. By verb doubling,
X "Popj, popj" means roughly, "Now let's see, where were we?"
X 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 {post} can be nouned). Distinguished from a `letter' or ordinary
X {email} message by the fact that it's broadcast rather than
X point-to-point. It is unclear whether messages sent to a small
X mailing list are postings or email; perhaps the best dividing line
X 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 at 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' address that is aliased to this person.
X
Xpound on: vt. Syn. {bang on}.
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 `>>' (for this
X reason, experienced C programmers deliberately forget the
X language's {baroque} precedence hierarchy and parenthesize
X defensively). Can always be avoided by suitable use of
X parentheses. {LISP} fans enjoy pointing out that this can't
X happen in *their* favorite language, which eschews precedence
X entirely, requiring one to use explicit parentheses everywhere.
X See {aliasing bug}, {memory leak}, {smash the stack},
X {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
X verb) the direct object is always the thing being added and not the
X original word (character string, etc). No, this is *not*
X standard 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 sensible relationship to the system the program is
X intended to model. Good for showing to {management}.
X
Xprettyprint: /prit'ee-print/ (alt. `pretty-print') v. 1. To
X generate `pretty' human-readable output from a {hairy} internal
X representation; esp. used for the process of {grind}ing (sense
X #2) LISP code. 2. To format in some particularly slick and
X 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.
X 2. [techspeak] A report on the amounts of time spent in each
X routine of a program, used to find and {tune} away the {hot
X spot}s in it. This sense is often verbed. Some profiling modes
X report units other than time (such as call counts) and/or at
X granularities other than per-routine, but the idea is similar.
X
Xproglet: [Britain] n. A short extempore program written to
X meet an immediate, transient need. Often written in BASIC,
X rarely more than a dozen lines long, and contains no subroutines.
X The largest amount of code that can be written off the top of one's
X head that does not need any editing and that runs correctly the
X first time. Compare {toy program}, {one-liner wars}.
X
Xprogram: n. 1. A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to
X turn one's input into error messages. 2. An exercise in
X experimental epistemology. 3. A form of art, ostensibly intended
X for the instruction of computers, which is nevertheless almost
X inevitably a failure if other programmers can't understand it.
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. 1. In folklore, this was classically defined as
X "the art of debugging a blank sheet of paper". Following the
X rise of on-line editing this should probably be recast as "The art
X of debugging an empty source file." 2. n. A pastime similar to
X banging one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities for
X reward. 3. n. The most fun you can have with your clothes on
X (although clothes are not mandatory).
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. So for example, it does include niceties about the
X proper form for addressing packets on a network or the order in
X which one should use the forks in the Dining Philosophers Problem.
X It implies that there's some common message format and accepted set
X of 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 {daemon} 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 forward to
X publicly admit the deed.
X
Xpseudoprime: n. A backgammon prime (six consecutive occupied
X points) with one point missing. This term is an esoteric pun
X derived from a mathematical method which, rather than determining
X precisely whether a number is prime (has no divisors), uses a
X statistical technique to decide whether the number is `probably'
X prime. A number that passes this test is called a pseudoprime.
X The hacker backgammon usage stems from the idea that a pseudoprime
X is almost as good as a prime: it does the job of a prime until
X proven otherwise, 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. It's his
X funeral.... See also {lobotomy}.
X
Xpsychedelicware: /sie`k*-del'-ik-weir/ [Great Britain] n. Syn.
X {display hack}. See also {smoking clover}.
X
Xpsyton: [TMRC] n. Elementary particle carrying the sinister force.
X The probability of a process losing is proportional to the number
X of psytons falling on it. [This term appears to have been largely
X superseded by {bogon} -- ESR]
X
Xpubic directory: [NYU] (also `pube directory' /pyoob/) n. The
X `pub' (public) directory on a machine that allows {FTP}
X access. So called because it is the default location for {SEX}
X (sense #1). "I'll have the source in the /pyoob/ directory by
X Friday."
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 is usually
X packaged with 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,
X typically without any intention of retrying. "Let's punt the
X movie tonight." "I was going to hack all night to get this
X feature in, but I decided to punt." may mean that you've decided
X not to stay up all night, and may also mean you're not ever even
X going to put in the feature. 2. More specifically, to give up on
X figuring out what the {Right Thing} is and resort to an
X inefficient hack. 3. A design decision to defer solving a
X problem, typically because one cannot define what is desirable
X sufficiently well to frame an algorithmic solution. "No way to
X know what the right form to to dump the graph in is --- we'll punt
X that for now." 4. To hand a tricky implementation problem off
X to some other section of the design. "It's too hard to get the
X compiler to do that; let's punt to the runtime system."
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: [from the operation that puts the current information on a
X stack, and the fact that procedure return addresses are saved on
X the stack] Also PUSH or PUSHJ /push-jay/ (the latter based on the
X PDP-10 procedure call instruction). 1. To put something onto a
X {stack} or {pdl}. If a person says something has been pushed
X onto his stack, it means the Damoclean list lof things hanging over
X his head has grown longer and heavier yet. This may also imply
X that he will deal with it *before* other pending items;
X otherwise he might say the thing was "added to his queue".
X 2. vi. To enter upon a digression, to save the current discussion
X for later. Antonym of {pop}; see also {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
X nose.
X
X Quadruple-bucky combinations were very seldom used in practice,
X because when one invented a new command one usually assigned it to
X some character that was easier to type. If you want to imply that
X a program has ridiculously many commands or features, you can say
X something like "Oh, the command that makes it spin the tapes while
X whistling Beethoven's 5th Symphony is quadruple-bucky-cokebottle."
X See {double bucky}, {bucky bits}, {cokebottle}.
X
Xquantifiers:: n. In techspeak and jargon, the standard metric
X prefixes used in scientific measurement have dual uses. With units
X of time or things that come in powers of 10, such as money, they
X retain their usual meanings of multiplication by powers of
X `1000 = 10 ^ 3'. But when used with bytes or other things
X that naturally come in powers of 2, they usually denote
X multiplication by powers of `1024 = 2 ^ 10'. Here are the
X magnifying prefixes in jargon use:
X
X prefix decimal binary
X kilo- 1000^1 1024^1 = 2^10 = 1,024
X mega- 1000^2 1024^2 = 2^20 = 1,048,576
X giga- 1000^3 1024^3 = 2^30 = 1,073,741,824
X tera- 1000^4 1024^4 = 2^40 = 1,099,511,627,776
X peta- 1000^5 1024^5 = 2^50 = 1,125,899,906,842,624
X exa- 1000^6 1024^6 = 2^60 = 1,152,921,504,606,846,976
X
X Here are the fractional prefixes:
X
X {prefix decimal jargon usage}
X milli- 1000^-1 (not used in jargon)
X micro- 1000^-2 small or human-scale (see {micro-})
X nano- 1000^-3 even smaller (see {nano-})
X pico- 1000^-4 even smaller yet (see {pico-})
X femto- 1000^-5 (not used in jargon -- yet)
X femto- 1000^-6 (not used in jargon -- yet)
X
X The binary peta- and exa- loadings are not yet in common use, and
X the prefix milli- denoting multiplication by `1000^-1' has
X always been rare. See the entries on {micro-}, {pico-}, and
X {nano-} for more information on connotative jargon use of these
X terms. The remaining standard quantifiers are `femto'
X (`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}).
X
X There are, of course, some standard unit prefixes for powers of ten. In
X the following table, the `decimal prefix' column is the
X international standard suffix for the appropriate power of ten; the
X second column lists jargon abbreviations and words for the
X corresponding power of 2. The B-suffixed forms are commonly used
X for byte quantities; the words `meg' and `gig' are nouns which may
X (but do not always) pluralize with `s'.
X
X
X prefix decimal binary suffixes & words pronunciation
X kilo- k K, KB, /kay/
X mega- M M, MB, meg /meg/
X giga- G G, GB, gig /gig/,/jig/
X
X Confusingly, hackers often use K as though it were a suffix or
X numeric multiplier rather than a prefix; thus "2K dollars".
X
X K, M, and G used alone refer to quantities of bytes; thus, 64G is
X 64 gigabytes and `a K' is a kilobyte (compare mainstream use of `a
X G' as short for `a grand', that is $1000). Whether one pronounces
X `gig' with hard or soft `g' depends on what one thinks the proper
X pronunciation of `giga-' is.
X
X Confusion of 1000 and 1024 (or other powers of 2 and 10 close in
X magnitude), for example, describing memory in units of 500K or 524K
X instead of 512K, is a sure sign of the {marketroid}.
X
Xquantum bogodynamics: /kwon'tm boh`goh-die-nam'iks/ n. A theory
X that characterizes the universe in terms of bogon sources (such as
X politicians, used-car salesmen, TV evangelists, and {suit}s in
X general), bogon sinks (such as taxpayers and computers), and
X bogosity potential fields. Bogon absorption, of course, causes
X human beings to behave mindlessly and machines to fail (and may
X also cause them to emit secondary bogons); however, the precise
X mechanics of the bogon-computron interaction are not yet understood
X and remain to be elucidated. Quantum bogodynamics is most
X frequently invoked to explain the sharp increase in hardware and
X software failures in the presence of suits; the latter emit bogons
X which the former absorb. See {bogon}, {computron}, {suit}.
X
Xquarter: n. Two bits. This in turn comes from the `pieces of
X eight' famed in pirate movies --- Spanish gold pieces that could be
X broken into eight pie-slice-shaped `bits' to make change. Early in
X the U.S.'s history the coin was considered equal to a dollar, so
X each of these `bits' was considered worth 12.5 cents. Syn.
X {tayste}, {crumb}, {quad}. Usage: rare. See also
X {nickle}, {nybble}, {{byte}}, {dynner}.
X
Xques: /kwess/ 1. n. The question mark character (`?', ASCII
X #b0111111). 2. interj. What? Also frequently verb-doubled as
X "Ques ques?" See {wall}.
X
Xquick and dirty: adj. Describes a {crock} put together under time
X or user pressure. Used esp. when you want to convey that you think
X the fast way might lead to trouble further down the road. "I can
X have a quick-and-dirty fix in place tonight, but I'll have to
X rewrite the whole module to solve the underlying design problem."
X See also {kluge}.
X
Xquote chapter and verse: [by analogy with the mainstream phrase] v.
X To reproduce a relevant excerpt from an appropriate {bible}.
X "I don't care if rn gets it wrong; `Followup-To: poster' is
X explicitly permitted by RFC1036. I'll quote chapter and
X verse if you don't believe me."
X
Xquux: /kwuhks/ Mythically, from the Latin semi-deponent verb quuxo,
X quuxare, quuxandum iri; noun form variously `quux' (plural
X `quuces', anglicized to `quuxes') and `quuxu' (genitive plural is
X `quuxuum', for four u-letters out of seven total, using up all the
X `u' letters in Scrabble in one swell foop).] 1. Originally, a
X metasyntactic variable like {foo} and {foobar}. Invented by
X Guy Steele for precisely this purpose when he was young and naive
X and not yet interacting with the real computing community. Many
X people invent such words; this one seems simply to have been lucky
X enough to have spread a little. In an eloquent display of poetic
X justice, it has returned to the originator in the form of a
X nickname. 2. interj. See {foo}; however, denotes very little
X disgust, and is uttered mostly for the sake of the sound of it.
X 3. Guy Steele in his persona as `The Great Quux', which is
X somewhat infamous for light verse and for the `Crunchly' cartoons.
X 4. In some circles, quux is used as a punning opposite of `crux'.
X "Ah, that's the quux of the matter!" implies that the point is
X *not* crucial (compare {tip of the ice-cube}). 5. quuxy:
X adj. Of or pertaining to a quux.
X
Xqux: /kwuhks/ The fourth of the standard metasyntactic variables,
X after {baz} and before the quu(u...)x series. See {foo},
X {bar}, {baz}, {quux}. Note that this appears to be a recent
X mutation from {quux}, and that many versions of the standard
X series just run {foo}, {bar}, {baz}, {quux}, ....
X
XQWERTY: /kwer'tee/ [from the keycaps at the upper left] adj.
X Pertaining to a standard English-language typewriter keyboard
X (sometimes called the Sholes keyboard after its inventor), as
X opposed to Dvorak or foreign-language layouts or a {space-cadet
X keyboard} or APL keyboard.
X
X Historical note: the QWERTY layout was designed to be deliberately
X slow, because fast typing jammed up early mechanical typewriters.
X
X= R =
X=====
X
Xrain dance: n. 1. Any ceremonial action taken to correct a hardware
X problem, with the expectation that nothing will be accomplished.
X This especially applies to reseating printed circuit boards,
X reconnecting cables, etc. "I can't boot up the machine. We'll
X have to wait for Greg to do his rain dance." 2. Any arcane
X sequence of actions performed with computers or software in order
X to achieve some goal; the term is usually restricted to rituals
X that include both an {incantation} or two and physical activity
X or motion. Compare {magic}, {voodoo programming}, {black
X art}.
X
Xrandom: adj. 1. Unpredictable (closest to mathematical definition);
X weird. "The system's been behaving pretty randomly."
X 2. Assorted; undistinguished. "Who was at the conference?"
X "Just a bunch of random business types." 3. (pejorative)
X Frivolous; unproductive; undirected. "He's just a random loser."
X 4. Incoherent or inelegant; not well organized. "The program has
X a random set of misfeatures." "That's a random name for that
X function." "Well, all the names were chosen pretty randomly."
X 5. In no particular order, though deterministic. "The I/O
X channels are in a pool, and when a file is opened one is chosen
X randomly." 6. Arbitrary. "It generates a random name for the
X scratch file." 7. Gratuitously wrong, i.e., poorly done and for
X no good apparent reason. For example, a program that handles file
X name defaulting in a particularly useless way, or an assembler
X routine that could easily have been coded using only three
X registers, but redundantly uses seven for values with
X non-overlapping lifetimes, so that no one else can invoke it
X without first saving four extra registers. What {randomness}!
X 8. n. A random hacker; used particularly of high school students
X who soak up computer time and generally get in the way. 9. n.
X Anyone who is not a hacker (or, sometimes, anyone not known to the
X hacker speaking); the noun form of sense #2. "I went to the talk,
X but the audience was full of randoms asking bogus questions".
X 10. n. (occasional MIT usage) One who lives at Random Hall. See
X also {J. Random}, {some random X}.
X
Xrandom numbers:: n. When one wishes to specify a large but random
X number of things, and the context is inappropriate for {N}, certain
X numbers are preferred by hacker tradition (that is, easily
X recognized as placeholders). These include
X
X 17
X Long described at MIT as `the least random number', see 23.
X 23
X Sacred number of Eris, Goddess of Discord (along with 17 and 5).
X 42
X The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and
X Everything. (Note that this answer is completely fortuitous.)
X 69
X From the sexual act. This one was favored in MIT's ITS culture.
X 105
X 69 hex = 105 decimal, and 69 decimal = 105 octal.
X 666
X The Number of the Beast.
X
X For further enlightenment, consult the `Principia Discordia',
X `The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy', `The Joy of Sex',
X and the Christian Bible's `Book Of Revelations' (chapter 13,
X verse 18). See also {Discordianism} or consult your pineal
X gland.
X
X One common rhetorical maneuver uses any of the canonical random
X numbers as placeholders for variables. One might hear "The max
X function takes 42 arguments, for arbitrary values of 42." or
X "There are 69 ways to leave your lover, for 69 = 50." This is
X especially likely when the speaker has uttered a random number and
X realizes that it was not recognized as such, but even `non-random'
X numbers are occasionally used in this fashion. A related joke is
X that "Pi equals 3 --- for small values of pi and large values of
X 3."
X
Xrandomness: n. An unexplainable misfeature; gratuitous inelegance.
X Also, a {hack} or {crock} which depends on a complex combination of
X coincidences (or possibly, the combination upon which the crock
X depends for its accidental failure to malfunction). "This hack
X can output characters 40--57 by putting the character in the
X accumulator field of an XCT and then extracting 6 bits --- the low
X two bits of the XCT opcode are the right thing." "What
X randomness!"
X
Xrape: vt. 1. To {screw} someone or something, violently; in
X particular, to destroy a program or information irrecoverably.
X Usage: often used in describing file-system damage. "So-and-so
X was running a program that did absolute disk I/O and ended up
X raping the master directory." 2. To strip a piece of hardware
X for parts.
X
Xrare: [UNIX] adj. CBREAK mode (character-by-character with
X interrupts enabled). Distinguished from {raw mode} and
X `cooked mode'; the phrase "a sort of half-cooked (rare?)
X mode" is used in the V7/BSD manuals to describe the mode. Usage:
X rare.
X
Xraster blaster: n. [Cambridge] Specialized hardware for {bitblt}
X operations (a {blitter}). Allegedly inspired by analogy with
X `Rasta Blasta', British slang for the sort of portable
X stereo/radio/tapedeck Americans call a `boom box' or `ghetto
X blaster'.
X
Xraster burn: n. Eyestrain brought on by too many hours of looking at
X low-res, poorly tuned, or glare-ridden monitors, esp. graphics
X monitors. See {terminal illness}.
X
Xrat belt: n. A cable tie, esp. the sawtoothed, self-locking plastic
X kind that you can only remove by cutting (as opposed to a random
X twist of wire or a baggie tie or one of those humongous metal clip
X frobs). Small cable ties are `mouse belts'.
X
Xrave: [WPI] vi. 1. To persist in discussing a specific subject.
X 2. To speak authoritatively on a subject about which one knows
X very little. 3. To complain to a person who is not in a position
X to correct the difficulty. 4. To purposely annoy another person
X verbally. 5. To evangelize. See {flame}. 6. Also used to
X describe a less negative form of blather, such as friendly
X bullshitting. `Rave' differs slightly from {flame} in that
X `rave' implies that it is the persistence or obliviousness of the
X person speaking that is annoying, while {flame} implies somewhat
X more strongly that the tone is offensive as well.
X
Xrave on!: imp. Sarcastic invitation to continue a {rave}, often by
X someone who wishes the raver would get a clue but realizes this is
X unlikely.
X
Xravs: /ravz/, also `Chinese ravs' n. Jiao-zi (steamed or
X boiled) or Guo-tie (pan-fried). A Chinese appetizer, known
X variously in the plural as dumplings, pot stickers (the literal
X translation of guo-tie), and (around Boston) `Peking Ravioli'. The
X term `rav' is short for `ravioli', which among hackers always
X means the Chinese kind rather than the Italian kind. Both consist
X of a filling in a pasta shell, but the Chinese kind includes no
X cheese, uses a thinner pasta, a pork-vegetable filling (good ones
X include Chinese chives), and is cooked differently, either by
X steaming or frying. A rav or dumpling can be cooked any way, but a
X potsticker is always the fried kind (so called because it sticks to
X the frying pot and has to be scraped off). "Let's get
X hot-and-sour soup and three orders of ravs." See also
X {{Oriental Food}}.
X
Xraw mode: n. A mode that allows a program to transfer bits directly
X to or from an I/O device without any processing, abstraction, or
X interpretation by the operating system. Compare {rare}. This is
X techspeak under UNIX, jargon elsewhere.
X
XRE: /ar-ee/ n. Common spoken and written shorthand for {regexp}.
X
Xread-only user: n. Describes a {luser} who uses computers almost
X exclusively for reading USENET, bulletin boards, and/or email, as
X opposed to writing code or purveying useful information. See
X {twink}, {terminal junkie}, {lurker}.
X
XREADME file: n. By convention, the top-level directory of a UNIX
X source distribution always contains a file named `README' (or
X READ.ME, or (rarely) ReadMe or some other variant) which is a
X hacker's-eye introduction containing a pointer to more detailed
X documentation, credits, miscellaneous revision history notes, etc.
X When asked, hackers invariably relate this to the famous scene in
X Lewis Carroll's `Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' in which
X Alice confronts magic munchies labelled "Eat Me" and "Drink
X Me".
X
Xreal estate: n. May be used for any critical resource measured in
X units of area. Most frequently used of `chip real estate', the
X area available for logic on the surface of an integrated circuit
X (see also {nanoacre}). May also be used of floor space in a
X {dinosaur pen} or even space on a crowded desktop (whether
X physical or electronic).
X
Xreal hack: n. A {crock}. This is sometimes used affectionately;
X see {hack}.
X
Xreal operating system: n. An OS sharing characteristics of
X whichever one a given user is accustomed to, and subject to wild
X variation. People from the academic community are likely to issue
X comments like "System V? Why don't you use a *real*
X operating system?", people from the commercial/industrial UNIX
X sector are known to complain, "BSD? Why don't you use a
X *real* operating system?", and people from IBM probably
X think, "UNIX? Why don't you use a *real* operating system?"
X See {holy wars}, {religious issues}, {proprietary}, {Get a
X real computer!}.
X
Xreal programmer: [indirectly, from the book `Real Men Don't
X Eat Quiche'] n. A particular sub-variety of hacker, one possessed
X of a flippant attitude towards complexity that is arrogant even
X when justified by experience. The archetypal `real programmer'
X likes to program on the {bare metal} and is very good at same,
X remembers the binary opcodes for every machine he's ever
X programmed, thinks that HLLs are sissy, and uses a debugger to edit
X his code because full-screen editors are for wimps. Real
X Programmers aren't satisfied with code that hasn't been {bum}med
X into a state of {tense}ness just short of rupture. Real
X Programmers never use comments or write documentation: "If it was
X hard to write", says the Real Programmer, "it should be hard to
X understand." Real Programmers can make machines do things that
X were never in their spec sheets; in fact, they're seldom really
X happy unless doing so. A Real Programmer's code can awe with its
X fiendish brilliance, even as its crockishness appalls. Real
X Programmers live on junk food and coffee, hang line-printer art on
X their walls, and terrify the crap out of other programmers ---
X because someday, somebody else might have to try to understand
X their code in order to change it. Their successors generally
X consider it a {Good Thing} that there aren't many Real
X Programmers around any more. For a famous (and somewhat more
X positive) portrait of a Real Programmer, see `The Story of
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 13, continue with part 14'
echo 14 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0