eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part12
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X
Xnanotechnology:: /nan'-oh-tek-no`l*-ji/ n. A hypothetical
X fabrication technology in which objects are designed and built with
X the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.
X The first unequivocal nanofabrication experiments are taking place
X now (1990), for example with the deposition of individual xenon
X atoms on a nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain very
X large computer company by two of its physicists. Nanotechnology
X has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture ever since the term
X was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book `Engines of Creation',
X where he predicted that nanotechnology could give rise to
X replicating assemblers, permitting an exponential growth of
X productivity and personal wealth. See also {blue goo}, {gray goo},
X {nanobot}.
X
Xnastygram: n. 1. A protocol packet or item of email (the latter is
X also called a `letterbomb') that takes advantage of misfeatures
X or security holes on the target system to do untoward things.
X 2. Disapproving mail, esp. from a {net.god}, pursuant to a
X violation of {netiquette}. Compare {shitogram}. 3. A status
X report from an unhappy, and probably picky, customer. "What'd the
X Germans say in today's nastygram?" 4. [deprecated] An error reply
X by mail from a {daemon}; in particular, a {bounce message}.
X
XNathan Hale: n. An asterisk (See also {splat}, {{ASCII}}). Oh,
X you want an etymology? Notionally, from "I regret that I have only
X one asterisk for my country!", a misquote of the famous remark
X uttered by Nathan Hale just before he was hanged. Hale was a
X (failed) spy for the rebels in the American War of Independence.
X
Xnature: n. See {has the X nature}.
X
Xneat hack: n. A clever technique. Also, a brilliant practical
X joke, where neatness is correlated with cleverness, harmlessness,
X and surprise value. Example: the Caltech Rose Bowl card display
X switch (see Appendix A). See {hack}.
X
Xneep-neep: /neep neep/ [onomatopoeic, from New York SF fandom] n.
X One who is fascinated by computers. More general than {hacker},
X as it need not imply more skill than is required to boot games on a
X PC. The derived noun `neep-neeping' applies specifically to
X the long conversations about computers that tend to develop in the
X corners at most SF-convention parties. Fandom has a related
X proverb to the effect that "Hacking is a conversational black
X hole!".
X
Xneophilia: /nee`oh-fil'-ee-uh/ n. The trait of being excited and
X pleased by novelty. Common trait of most hackers, SF fans, and
X members of several other connected leading-edge subcultures,
X including the pro-technology `Whole-Earth' wing of the ecology
X movement, space activists, many members of MENSA, and the
X Discordian/neo-pagan underground. All these groups overlap heavily
X and (where evidence is available) seem to share characteristic
X hacker tropisms for science fiction, {{Music}}, and {{Oriental
X Food}}.
X
Xnet.-: /net dot/ pref. [USENET] Prefix used to describe people and
X events related to USENET. From the time before the {Great
X Renaming}, when all non-local newsgroups had names beginning
X `net.'. Includes {net.god}s, `net.goddesses' (various
X charismatic net.women with circles of on-line admirers),
X `net.lurkers', (see {lurker}), `net.person',
X `net.parties' (a synonym for {boink} sense #2 (q.v.)) and
X many similar constructs. See also {net.police}.
X
Xnet.god: /net god/ n. Used to refer to anyone who satisfies some
X combination of the following conditions: has been visible on USENET
X for more than five years, ran one of the original backbone sites,
X moderated an important newsgroup, wrote news software, or knows
X Gene, Mark, Rick, Mel, Henry, Chuq, and Greg personally. See
X {demigod}.
X
Xnet.police: n. (var. `net.cops') Those USENET readers who feel it is
X their responsibility to pounce on and {flame} any posting which
X they regard as offensive, or in violation of their understanding of
X {netiquette}. Generally used sarcastically or pejoratively.
X Also spelled `net police'. See also {net.-}, {code police}.
X
Xnethack: /net'hak/ n. See {hack}, sense #8.
X
Xnetiquette: /net'ee-ket/ or /net'i-ket/ [portmanteau from "network
X etiquette"] n. Conventions of politeness recognized on {USENET},
X such as: avoidance of cross-posting to inappropriate groups, or
X refraining from commercial pluggery on the net.
X
Xnetnews: n. 1. The software that makes {USENET} run. 2. The
X content of USENET. "I read netnews right after my mail most
X mornings".
X
Xnetrock: [IBM] n. A {flame}; used esp. on VNET, IBM's internal
X corporate network.
X
Xnetwork address: n. (also `net address') As used by hackers,
X means an address on `the' network (see {network, the}; this is
X almost always a {bang path} or {{Internet address}}). Such an
X address is essential if one wants to be to be taken seriously by
X hackers; in particular, persons or organizations that claim to
X understand, work with, sell to, or recruit from among hackers but
X *don't* display net addresses are quietly presumed to be
X clueless poseurs and mentally flushed (see {flush}, sense #4).
X Hackers often put their net addresses on their business cards and
X wear them prominently in contexts where they expect to meet other
X hackers face-to-face (see also {{Science-Fiction Fandom}}). This
X is mostly functional, but is also a connotative signal that one
X identifies with hackerdom (like lodge pins among Masons or tie-dyed
X T-shirts among Grateful Dead fans). Net addresses are often used
X in email text as a more concise substitute for personal names;
X indeed, hackers may come to know each other quite well by network
X names without ever learning each others' `legal' monikers. See
X also {sitename}, {domainist}.
X
Xnetwork meltdown: n. A state of complete network overload; the
X network equivalent of {thrash}ing. This may be induced by a
X {Chernobyl packet}, See also {broadcast storm}, {kamikaze
X packet}.
X
Xnetwork, the: n. 1. The union of all the major noncommercial,
X academic, and hacker-oriented networks such as Internet, the old
X ARPANET, NSFnet, {BITNET}, and the virtual UUCP and {USENET}
X `networks', plus the corporate in-house networks and commercial
X time-sharing services (such as CompuServe) that gateway to them. A
X site is generally considered `on the network' if it can be reached
X through some combination of Internet-style (@-sign) and UUCP
X (bang-path) addresses. See {bang path}, {{Internet address}},
X {network address}. 2. A fictional conspiracy of libertarian
X hacker-subversives and anti-authoritarian monkeywrenchers described
X in Robert Anton Wilson's novel `Schrodinger's Cat', to which
X many hackers have subsequently decided they belong (this is an
X example of {ha ha only serious}).
X
X In sense #1, `network' is frequently abbreviated to `net'. "Are
X you on the net?" is a frequent question when hackers first meet
X face to face, and "See you on the net!" is a frequent goodbye.
X
XNew Jersey: [primarily Stanford/Silicon Valley] adj. Generically,
X brain-damaged or of poor design. This refers to the allegedly
X wretched quality of such software as C, C++, and UNIX (which
X originated at Bell Labs in New Jersey). "This compiler bites the
X bag, but what can you expect from a compiler designed in New
X Jersey?" See also {UNIX conspiracy}.
X
XNew Testament: n. [C programmers] The second edition of K&R's `The C
X Programming Language' (Prentice-Hall 1988, ISBN 0-13-110362-8),
X describing ANSI Standard C. See {K&R}.
X
Xnewbie: /n[y]oo'bee/ n. [orig. from British public-school &
X military slang contraction of `new boy'] A USENET neophyte.
X This term originated in the {newsgroup} `talk.bizarre' but is
X now in wide use. Criteria for being considered a newbie vary
X wildly; a person can be called a newbie in one newsgroup while
X remaining a respected regular in another. The label `newbie'
X is sometimes applied as a serious insult, to a person who has been
X around USENET for a long time but who carefully hides all evidence
X of having a clue. See {BIFF}.
X
Xnewgroup wars: /n[y]oo'grp wohrz/ [USENET] n. Salvos of dueling
X `newgroup' and `rmgroup' messages sometimes exchanged by
X persons on opposite sides of a dispute over whether a {newsgroup}
X should be created net-wide. These usually settle out within a week
X or two as it becomes clear whether the group has a natural
X constituency (usually, it doesn't). At times, especially in the
X completely anarchic `alt' hierarchy, the names of newsgroups
X themselves become a form of comment or humor; e.g. the spinoff of
X `alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork' from `alt.tv.muppets' in
X early 1990, or any number of specialized abuse groups named after
X particularly notorious {flamer}s, e.g. `alt.weemba'.
X
Xnewline: /n[y]oo'lien/ n. 1. [techspeak, primarily UNIX] The
X ASCII LF character (#b0001010), used under {UNIX} as a text line
X terminator. A Bell-Labs-ism rather than a Berkeleyism;
X interestingly (and unusually for UNIX jargon) it is said originally
X to have been an IBM usage (though the term `newline' appears in
X ASCII standards, it never caught on in the general computing world
X before UNIX). 2. More generally, any magic character, character
X sequence, or operation (like Pascal's writeln procedure) required
X to terminate a text record or separate lines. See {crlf},
X {terpri}.
X
XNeWS: /nee'wis/, /n[y]oo'is/ or /n[y]ooz/ [acronym; the
X Network Window System] n. The road not taken in window systems, an
X elegant PostScript-based environment that would almost certainly
X have won the standards war with {X} if it hadn't been
X {proprietary} to Sun Microsystems. There is a lesson here that
X to many software vendors haven't yet heeded. Many hackers insist
X on the two-syllable pronunciations above as a way of distinguishing
X NeWS from `news' (the {netnews} software).
X
Xnewsfroup: // [USENET] n. Silly synonym for
X {newsgroup}, originated as a typo but now in regular use on
X USENET's talk.bizarre and other lunatic-fringe groups.
X
Xnewsgroup: [USENET] n. One of {USENET}'s huge collection of topic
X groups. Among the best-known are `comp.lang.c' (the C-language
X forum), `comp.unix.wizards', `rec.arts.sf-lovers' (for
X science-fiction fans), and `talk.politics.misc' (miscellaneous
X political discussions and {flamage}).
X
Xnickle: [From `nickel', common name for the US 5-cent coin] n. A
X {nybble} + 1; 5 bits. Reported among developers for Mattel's GI
X 1600 (the Intellivision games processor), a chip with 16-bit-wide
X RAM but 10-bit-wide ROM. See also {deckle}.
X
Xnight mode: n. See {phase} (of people).
X
XNightmare File System: n. Pejorative hackerism for Sun's Network
X File System (NFS). In any nontrivial network of Suns where there
X is a lot of NFS cross-mounting, when one Sun goes down, the others
X often freeze up. Some machine tries to access the down one, and
X (getting no response) repeats indefinitely. This causes it to
X appear dead to some messages. Then another machine tries to reach
X either the down machine or the pseudo-down machine, and itself
X becomes pseudo-down. The first machine to discover the down one is
X now trying both to access the down one and respond to the
X pseudo-down one, so it is even harder to reach. This snowballs
X very fast and soon the entire network of machines is frozen --- the
X user can't even abort the file access that started the problem!
X (ITS partisans are apt to cite this as proof of UNIX's alleged
X bogosity; ITS had a working NFS-like shared file system with none
X of these problems in the early 1970s. Of course, ITS only had
X 6-character filenames and no subdirectories, so it was solving a
X simpler problem.) See also {broadcast storm}.
X
XNIL: [from LISP terminology for `false'] No. Usage: used in reply
X to a question, particularly one asked using the `-P' convention.
X See {T}.
X
XNMI: n. Non-Maskable Interrupt. An IRQ 7 on the PDP-11 or
X 680[01234]0; the NMI line on an 80{88|[1234]86}. Unlike a
X {priority interrupt} (which might be ignored, although unlikely),
X an NMI is *never* ignored.
X
Xno-op: /noh-op/ alt. NOP (nop) [no operation] n. 1. (also v.) A
X machine instruction that does nothing (sometimes used in
X assembler-level programming as filler for data or patch areas, or
X to overwrite code to be removed in binaries). See also {JFCL}.
X 2. A person who contributes nothing to a project, or has nothing
X going on upstairs, or both. As in "He's a no-op." 3. Any
X operation or sequence of operations with no effect, such as
X circling the block without finding a parking space, or putting
X money into a vending machine and having it fall immediately into
X the coin-return box, or asking someone for help and being told to
X go away. "Oh well, that was a no-op."
X
Xnoddy: [Great Britain; from the children's books] adj. 1. Small
X and unuseful, but demonstrating a point. Noddy programs are often
X written when learning a new language or system. The archetypal
X noddy program is {hello, world}. Noddy code may be used to
X demonstrate a feature or bug of a compiler. May be used of real
X hardware or software to imply that it isn't worth using. "This
X editor's a bit noddy." 2. A program that is more or less
X instant to produce. In this use, the term does not necessarily
X connote uselessness, but describes a {hack} sufficiently trivial
X that it can be written and debugged while carrying on (and during
X the space of) a normal conversation. "I'll just throw
X together a noddy {awk} script to convert {crlf}s into
X {newline}s." See {toy program}.
X
XNOMEX underwear: [USENET] n. Syn. {asbestos longjohns}, used
X mostly in auto-related mailing lists and newsgroups. NOMEX
X underwear is an actual product available on the racing equipment
X market, used as a fire resistance measure and required in some
X racing series.
X
Xnon-optimal solution: n. (also `sub-optimal solution') An
X astoundingly stupid way to do something. This term is generally
X used in deadpan sarcasm, as its impact is greatest when the person
X speaking looks completely serious. Compare {stunning}. See also
X {Bad Thing}.
X
Xnonlinear: adj. [scientific computation] 1. Behaving in an erratic and
X unpredictable fashion. When used to describe the behavior of a
X machine or program, it suggests that said machine or program is
X being forced to run far outside of design specifications. This
X behavior may be induced by unreasonable inputs, or may be triggered
X when a more mundane bug sends the computation far off from its
X expected course. 2. When describing the behavior of a person,
X suggests a tantrum or a {flame}. "When you talk to Bob, don't
X mention the drug problem or he'll go nonlinear for hours." In
X this context, `go nonlinear' connotes `blow up out of proportion'
X (proportion connotes linearity).
X
Xnontrivial: adj. Requiring real thought or significant computing
X power. Often used as an understated way of saying that a problem
X is quite difficult or impractical, or even entirely unsolvable
X ("Proving P=NP is nontrivial."). The preferred emphatic form is
X `decidedly nontrivial'. See {trivial}, {uninteresting},
X {interesting}.
X
Xnotwork: n. A network, when it's acting {flaky} or is {down}.
X Compare {nyetwork}. Orig. referred to a particular period of
X flakiness on IBM's VNET corporate network, ca.1988.
X
XNP-: /en pee/ pref. Extremely. Used to modify adjectives
X describing a level or quality of difficulty; the connotation is
X often `more so than it should be' (NP-complete problems all seem to
X be very hard, but so far no one has found a good a-priori reason
X that they should be.) "Getting this algorithm to perform
X correctly in every case is NP-annoying." This is generalized from
X the computer science terms `NP-hard' and `NP-complete'. NP
X is the set of Nondeterministic-Polynomial algorithms, those that
X can be completed by a nondeterministic finite state machine in an
X amount of time that is a polynomial function of the size of the
X input.
X
XNSA line eater: n. The NSA (National Security Agency) trawling
X program sometimes assumed to be reading {USENET} for the U.S.
X Government's spooks. Most hackers describe it as a mythical beast,
X but some believe it actually exists, more aren't sure, and many
X believe in acting as though it exists just in case. Some netters
X put loaded phrases like `Uzi', `nuclear materials', `Palestine',
X `cocaine', and `assassination' in their {sig block}s in an
X attempt to confuse and overload the creature. The {GNU} version
X of {EMACS} actually has a command that randomly inserts a bunch
X of insidious anarcho-verbiage into your edited text.
X
X There's a mainstream variant of this myth involving a `Trunk Line
X Monitor', which supposedly used speech recognition to extract words
X from telephone trunks. This one was making the rounds in the late
X 1970s, spread by people who had no idea of then-current technology
X or the storage, signal-processing, or speech recognition needs of
X such a project. On the basis of mass-storage costs alone it would
X have been cheaper to hire 50 high-school students and just let them
X listen in. Speech recognition technology can't do this job even
X now (1991), and almost certainly won't in this millennium, either.
X The peak of silliness came with a letter to an alternative paper in
X New Haven, laying out the factoids of this Big Brotherly affair.
X The letter writer then revealed his actual agenda by offering ---
X at an amazing low price, just this once, we take VISA and
X MasterCard --- a scrambler, guaranteed to daunt the Trunk Trawler,
X and presumably allowing the would-be Baader-Meinhof gangs of the
X world to get on with their business.
X
Xnuke: vt. 1. To intentionally delete the entire contents of a
X given directory or storage volume. "On UNIX, `rm -r /usr'
X will nuke everything in the usr filesystem." Never used for
X accidental deletion. Oppose {blow away}. 2. Syn. for
X {dike}, applied to smaller things such as files, features, or
X code sections. Often used to express a final verdict. "What do
X you want me to do with that 80-meg {wallpaper} file?" "Nuke
X it." 3. Used of processes as well as files; nuke is a frequent
X verbal alias for `kill -9' on UNIX. 4. On IBM PCs, a bug
X that results in {fandango on core} can trash the operating
X system, including the FAT (the in-core copy of the disk block
X chaining information). This can utterly scramble attached disks,
X which are then said to have been `nuked'. This term is also
X used of analogous lossages on Macintoshes and other micros without
X memory protection.
X
Xnull device: [techspeak] n. A {logical} input/output device
X connected to the {bit bucket}; when you write to it nothing
X happens, when you read from it you see an end-of-file condition.
X Useful for discarding unwanted output or using interactive programs
X in a {batch} mode. See {/dev/null}.
X
Xnumber-crunching: n. Computations of a numerical nature, esp.
X those that make extensive use of floating-point numbers. The only
X thing {Fortrash} is good for. This term is in widespread
X informal use outside hackerom and even in mainstream slang, but is
X cited here to record some additional hackish connotations: namely,
X that the computations are mindless and involve massive use of
X {brute force}. This is not always {evil}, esp. if it involves
X ray tracing or fractals or some other use that makes {pretty
X pictures}, esp. if such pictures can be used as {wallpaper}. See
X also {crunch}.
X
Xnumbers: [scientific computation] n. Output of a computation that
X may not be significant results, but at least indicate that the
X program is running. May be used to placate management, grant
X sponsors, etc. `Making numbers' means running a program
X because output --- any output, not necessarily meaningful output
X --- is needed as a demonstration of progress. See {pretty
X pictures}, {math-out}, {social science number}.
X
XNUXI problem: /nuk'see pro'blm/ n. This refers to the problem of
X transferring data between machines with differing byte-order. The
X string `UNIX' might look like `NUXI' on a machine with a
X different `byte sex' (e.g. when transferring data from a
X {little-endian} to a {big-endian}, or vice-versa). See also
X {middle-endian}, {swab}, and {bytesexual}.
X
Xnybble: /nib'l/ (alt. `nibble') [from v. `nibble' by
X analogy with `bite' => `byte'] n. Four bits; one
X {hex} digit; a half-byte. Though `byte' is now accepted
X technical jargon found in dictionaries, this useful relative is
X still jargon. Compare {{byte}}, {crumb}, {tayste},
X {dynner}, see also {bit}, {nickle}, {deckle}. Apparently
X this spelling is uncommon in Commonwealth Hackish, as British
X orthography suggests the pronunciation /nie'bl/.
X
Xnyetwork: [from Russian `nyet' = no] n. A network, when it's
X acting {flaky} or is {down}. Compare {notwork}.
X
X= O =
X=====
X
XOb-: /ob/ pref. Obligatory. A piece of {netiquette} that
X acknowledges the author has been straying from the newsgroup's
X charter topic. For example, if a posting in alt.sex has nothing
X particularly to do with sex, the author may append `ObSex' (or
X `Obsex') and toss off a question or vignette about some unusual
X erotic act. It is a sign of great winnitude when your Obs are more
X interesting than most other peoples' whole postings.
X
XObfuscated C Contest: n. Annual contest run since 1984 over USENET
X by Landon Curt Noll and friends. The overall winner is whoever
X produces the most unreadable, creative, and bizarre (but working) C
X program; various other prizes are awarded at the judges' whim.
X Given C's terse syntax and macro-preprocessor facilities, this
X gives contestants a lot of maneuvering room. The winning programs
X often manage to be simultaneously (a) funny, (b) breathtaking works
X of art, and (c) horrible examples of how *not* to code in C.
X
X This relatively short and sweet entry might help convey the flavor
X of obfuscated C:
X
X /*
X * HELLO WORLD program
X * by Jack Applin and Robert Heckendorn, 1985
X */
X main(v,c)char**c;{for(v[c++]="Hello, world!\n)";
X (!!c)[*c]&&(v--||--c&&execlp(*c,*c,c[!!c]+!!c,!c));
X **c=!c)write(!!*c,*c,!!**c);}
X
X Here's another good one:
X
X /*
X * Program to compute an approximation of pi
X * by Brian Westley, 1988
X */
X
X #define _ -F<00||--F-OO--;
X int F=00,OO=00;
X main(){F_OO();printf("%1.3f\n",4.*-F/OO/OO);}F_OO()
X {
X _-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
X _-_-_-_
X }
X
X See also {hello, world}.
X
XObjectionable-C: n. Hackish take on "Objective-C", the name of an
X object-oriented dialect of C in competition with the more
X well-known C++ (it is used to write native applications on the NeXT
X machine). Objectionable-C uses a Smalltalk-like syntax, but lacks
X the flexibility of Smalltalk method calls, and (like many such
X efforts) comes frustratingly close to attaining the {Right Thing}
X without actually doing so.
X
Xobscure: adj. Used in an exaggeration of its normal meaning, to
X imply total incomprehensibility. "The reason for that last crash
X is obscure." "The `find(1)' command's syntax is obscure!"
X The phrase `moderately obscure' implies that it could be
X figured out but probably isn't worth the trouble. The construction
X `obscure in the extreme' is the preferred emphatic form.
X
Xoctal forty: /ok'tl for'tee/ n. Hackish way of saying "I'm drawing
X a blank." Octal 40 is the {{ASCII}} space character, #b0100000; by
X an odd coincidence, {hex} 40 (#b01000000) is the {{EBCDIC}} space
X character. See {wall}.
X
Xoff the trolley: adj. Describes the behavior of a program that
X malfunctions and goes catatonic, but doesn't actually {crash} or
X abort. See {glitch}, {bug}, {deep space}.
X
Xoff-by-one error: n. Exceedingly common error induced in many ways,
X such as by starting at 0 when you should have started at 1 or vice
X versa, or by writing < N instead of <= N or vice-versa. Also
X applied to giving something to the person next to the one who
X should have gotten it. Often confounded with {fencepost error},
X which is properly a particular subtype of it.
X
Xoffline: adv. Not now or not here. Example: "Let's take this
X discussion offline." Specifically used on {USENET} to suggest
X that a discussion be taken off a public newsgroup to email.
X
Xold fart: n. Tribal elder. A title self-assumed with remarkable
X frequency by (esp.) USENETters who have been programming for more
X than about 25 years; frequently appears in {sig block}s attached
X to Jargon File contributions of great archeological significance.
X This is a term of insult in second or third person but pride in
X first person.
X
XOld Testament: n. [C programmers] The first edition of {K&R}, the
X sacred text describing {Classic C}.
X
Xone bell system (it works): This was the output from the old UNIX
X V6 `1' command. The `1' command then did a random number roll that
X gave it a one-in-ten chance of recursively executing itself.
X
Xone-line fix: n. Used (often sarcastically) of a change to a
X program that is thought to be trivial or insignificant right up to
X the moment it crashes the system. Usually `cured' by another
X one-line fix. See also {I didn't change anything!}.
X
Xone-liner wars: n. Popular game among hackers who code in the
X language APL (see {write-only language}). The objective is to
X see who can code the most interesting and/or useful routine in one
X line of operators chosen from APL's exceedingly {hairy} primitive
X set. A similar amusement was practiced among {TECO} hackers.
X
X Ken Iverson, the inventor of APL, has been credited with the
X following one-liner: given a number N, it produces a list of the
X prime numbers from 1 to N. It looks like this:
X
X (2 = 0 +.= T o.| T) / T <- iN
X
X where `o' is the APL null character, the assignment arrow is a
X single character, and `i' represents the APL iota.
X
Xooblick: /oo'blik/ [from Dr. Seuss's `Bartholomew and the
X Oobleck'] n. A bizarre semi-liquid sludge made from cornstarch and
X water. Enjoyed among hackers who make batches during playtime at
X parties for its amusing and extremely non-Newtonian behavior; it
X pours and splatters, but resists rapid motion like a solid and will
X even crack when hit by a hammer. Often found near lasers.
X
X Here's a field-tested ooblick recipe contributed by GLS:
X
X 1 cup cornstarch
X 1 cup baking soda
X 3/4 cup water
X N drops of food coloring
X
X This recipe isn't quite as non-Newtonian as a pure cornstarch
X ooblick, but has an appropriately slimy feel.
X
Xopen: n. Abbreviation for `open (or left) parenthesis' --- used when
X necessary to eliminate oral ambiguity. To read aloud the LISP form
X (DEFUN FOO (X) (PLUS X 1)) one might say: "Open defun foo, open
X eks close, open, plus eks one, close close."
X
Xopen switch: [IBM, prob. from railroading] n. An unresolved
X question, issue, or problem.
X
Xoperating system:: [techspeak] n. (Often abbreviated `OS') The
X foundation software of a machine, of course; that which schedules
X tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the
X user between applications. The facilities an operating system
X provides and its general design philosophy exert an extremely
X strong influence on programming style and the technical cultures
X that grows up around its host machines. Hacker folklore has been
X shaped primarily by the UNIX, ITS, TOPS-10, TOPS-20/TWENEX, WAITS,
X CP/M, MS-DOS, and Multics operating systems (most importantly by
X ITS and UNIX). Each of these has its own entry, which see.
X
XOrange Book: n. The U.S. Government's standards document (Trusted
X Computer System Evaluation Criteria, DOD standard 5200.28-STD,
X December, 1985) characterizing secure computing architectures,
X defining levels A1 (most secure) through D (least). Stock UNIXes
X are roughly C2. See also {{book titles}}.
X
XOriental Food:: n. Hackers display an intense tropism towards
X Oriental cuisine, especially Chinese, and especially of the spicier
X varieties such as Szechuan and Hunan. This phenomenon (which has
X also been observed in subcultures which overlap heavily with
X hackerdom, most notably science-fiction fandom) has never been
X satisfactorily explained, but is sufficiently intense that one can
X assume the target of a hackish dinner expedition to be the best
X local Chinese place and be right at least 3 times out of 4. See
X also {ravs}, {great-wall}, {stir-fried random}, {laser
X chicken}, {Yu-Shiang Whole Fish}. Thai, Indian, Korean, and
X Vietnamese cuisines are also quite popular.
X
Xorphan: [UNIX] n. A process whose parent has died; one inherited by
X `init(1)'. Compare {zombie}.
X
Xorthogonal: [from mathematics] adj. Mutually independent; well
X separated; sometimes, irrelevant to. Used in a generalization of
X its mathematical meaning to describe sets of primitives or
X capabilities which, like a vector basis in geometry, span the
X entire `capability space' of the system and are in some sense
X non-overlapping or mutually independent. For example, in
X architectures such as the PDP-11 or VAX where all or nearly all
X registers can be used interchangeably in any role with respect to
X any instruction, the register set is said to be orthogonal. Or, in
X logic, the set of operators `not' and `or' is orthogonal,
X but the set `nand', `or', and `not' is not (because any
X one of these can be expressed in terms of the others). Also used
X in comments on human discourse: "This may be orthogonal to the
X discussion, but...".
X
XOS: /oh ess/ 1. [Operating System] n. Acronym heavily used in email,
X occasionally in speech. 2. n. obs. On ITS, an output spy. See
X Appendix A.
X
XOS/2: /oh ess too/ n. The anointed successor to MS-DOS for
X Intel-286 and 386-based micros; proof that IBM/Microsoft couldn't
X get it right the second time, either. Cited here because
X mentioning it is usually good for a cheap laugh among hackers ---
X the design was so {baroque}, and the implementation of 1.x so
X bad, that three years after introduction you could still count the
X major {app}s shipping for it on the fingers of two hands --- in
X unary. Often called `Half-an-OS'. On 28 January 1991, Microsoft
X announced that it was dropping its OS/2 development to concentrate
X on Windows, leaving the OS entirely in the hands of IBM; on 29
X January they claimed the media had got the story wrong, but were
X vague about how. It looks as though OS/2 is dead. See
X {vaporware}, {monstrosity}, {cretinous}, {second-system
X effect}.
X
Xout-of-band: [from telecommunications and network theory] adj. In
X software, describes values of a function which are not in its
X `natural' range of return values, but are rather signals that some
X kind of exception has occurred. Many C functions, for example,
X return either a nonnegative integral value or an out-of-band `-1' to
X indicate failure. Compare {hidden flag}.
X
Xoverflow bit: n. 1. [techspeak] On some processors, an attempt to
X calculate a result too large for a register to hold causes a
X particular {flag} called an {overflow bit} to be set.
X 2. Hackers use the term of human thought too. "Well, the {{Ada}}
X description was {baroque} all right, but I could hack it OK until
X they got to the exception handling...that set my overflow bit."
X 3. The hypothetical bit that will be set if a hacker doesn't get to
X make a trip to the Room Of Porcelain Fixtures: "I'd better process
X an internal interrupt before the overflow bit gets set".
X
Xoverrun: n. 1. [techspeak] Term for a frequent consequence of data
X arriving faster than it can be consumed, esp. in serial line
X communications. For example, at 9600 baud there is almost exactly
X one character per millisecond, so if your {silo} can hold only
X two characters and the machine takes longer than 2 ms to get to
X service the interrupt at least one character will be lost. 2. Also
X applied to non-serial-I/O communications. "I forgot to pay my
X electric bill due to mail overrun." "Sorry, I got four phone
X calls in three minutes last night and lost your message to
X overrun." When {thrash}ing at tasks, the next person to make a
X request might be told "Overrun!" 3. More loosely, may refer to a
X {buffer overflow} not necessarily related to processing time (as
X in {overrun screw}).
X
Xoverrun screw: [C programming] n. A variety of {fandango on core}
X produced by scribbling past the end of an array (C has no checks
X for this). This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the array
X is static; if it is auto, the result may be to {smash the stack}
X --- often resulting in {heisenbug}s of the most diabolical
X subtlety. The term `overrun screw' is used esp. of scribbles
X beyond the end of arrays allocated with `malloc(3)'; this
X typically trashes the allocation header for the next block in the
X {arena}, producing massive lossage within malloc and often
X a core dump on the next operation to use `stdio(3)' or
X `malloc(3)' itself. See {spam}, {overrun}; see also
X {memory leak}, {aliasing bug}, {precedence lossage},
X {fandango on core}, {secondary damage}.
X
X= P =
X=====
X
XP.O.D.: /pee-oh-dee/ Acronym for `Piece Of Data' (as opposed to a
X code section). Usage: pedantic and rare. See also {pod}.
X
Xpadded cell: n. Where you put {luser}s so they can't hurt anything.
X A program that limits a luser to a carefully restricted subset
X of the capabilities of the host system (for example, the
X `rsh(1)' utility on UNIX). Note that this is different from
X an {iron box} because it's overt and not aimed at enforcing
X security so much as protecting others (and the luser him/herself!)
X from the consequences of the luser's boundless naivete (see
X {naive}). Also `padded cell environment'.
X
Xpage in: [MIT] vi. 1. To become aware of one's surroundings again after
X having paged out (see {page out}). Usually confined to the sarcastic
X comment, "So-and-so pages in. Film at 11." See {film at 11}.
X 2. Syn. `swap in'; see {swap}.
X
Xpage out: [MIT] vi. 1. To become unaware of one's surroundings
X temporarily, due to daydreaming or preoccupation. "Can you repeat
X that? I paged out for a minute." See {page in}. Compare
X {glitch}, {thinko}. 2. Syn. `swap out'; see {swap}.
X
Xpain in the net: n. A {flamer}.
X
Xpaper-net: n. Hackish way of referring to the postal service,
X analogizing it to a very slow, low-reliability network. USENET
X {sig block}s not uncommonly include a "Paper-Net:" header just
X before the sender's postal address; common variants of this are
X "Papernet" and "P-Net". Compare {voice-net}, {snail-mail}.
X
Xparam: /p*-ram'/ n. Shorthand for `parameter'. See also
X {parm}; Compare {arg}, {var}.
X
Xparent message: n. See {followup}.
X
Xparity errors: pl.n. Those little lapses of attention or (in more
X severe cases) consciousness, usually brought on by having spent all
X night and most of the next day hacking. "I need to go home and
X crash; I'm starting to get a lot of parity errors." Derives from a
X relatively common but nearly always correctable transient error in
X RAM hardware.
X
Xparse: [from linguistic terminology] vt. 1. To determine the
X syntactic structure of a sentence or other utterance (close to the
X standard English meaning). Example: "That was the one I saw
X you." "I can't parse that." 2. More generally, to understand
X or comprehend. "It's very simple; you just kretch the glims and
X then aos the zotz." "I can't parse that." 3. Of fish, to
X have to remove the bones yourself (usually at a Chinese
X restaurant). "I object to parsing fish", means "I don't want to
X get a whole fish, but a sliced one is okay." A `parsed fish'
X has been deboned. There is some controversy over whether
X `unparsed' should mean `bony', or also mean `deboned'.
X
XParkinson's Law of Data: prov. "Data expands to fill the space
X available for storage"; buying more memory encourages the use of
X more memory-intensive techniques. It has been observed over the
X last ten years that the memory usage of evolving systems tends to
X double roughly once every 18 months. Fortunately, memory density
X available for constant dollars tends to double about once every
X twelve months (see {Moore's Law}); unfortunately, the laws of
X physics guarantee that this cannot be expected to continue
X indefinitely.
X
Xparm: /parm/ n. Further-compressed form of {param}. This term
X is an IBMism, and written use is almost unknown outside IBM shops;
X spoken /parm/ is more widely distributed, but the synonym {arg}
X is favored among hackers. Compare {arg}, {var}.
X
XPascal:: n. An Algol-descended language designed by Niklaus Wirth on
X the CDC 6600 around 1967--68 as an instructional tool for elementary
X programming. This language, designed primarily to keep students
X from shooting themselves in the foot and thus extremely restrictive
X from a general-purpose-programming point of view, was later
X promoted as a general-purpose tool and, in fact, became the ancestor
X of a large family of languages including Modula-2 and {{Ada}} (see also
X {bondage-and-discipline language}). The hackish point of view on
X Pascal was perhaps best summed up by a devastating (and, in its
X deadpan way, screamingly funny) 1981 paper by Brian Kernighan (of
X {K&R} fame) entitled `Why Pascal is Not My Favorite
X Programming Language'. Part of his discussion is worth repeating
X here, because its criticisms are still apposite to Pascal itself
X after ten years of improvement and could also stand as an
X indictment of many other bondage-and-discipline languages. At
X the end of a summary of the case against Pascal, he wrote:
X
X 9. There is no escape
X
X This last point is perhaps the most important. The language is
X inadequate but circumscribed, because there is no way to escape its
X limitations. There are no casts to disable the type-checking when
X necessary. There is no way to replace the defective run-time
X environment with a sensible one, unless one controls the compiler that
X defines the "standard procedures". The language is closed.
X
X People who use Pascal for serious programming fall into a fatal trap.
X Because the language is impotent, it must be extended. But each group
X extends Pascal in its own direction, to make it look like whatever
X language they really want. Extensions for separate compilation,
X Fortran-like COMMON, string data types, internal static variables,
X initialization, octal numbers, bit operators, etc., all add to the
X utility of the language for one group but destroy its portability to
X others.
X
X I feel that it is a mistake to use Pascal for anything much beyond its
X original target. In its pure form, Pascal is a toy language, suitable
X for teaching but not for real programming.
X
X Pascal has since been almost entirely displaced (by {C}) from the
X niches it had acquired in serious applications and systems
X programming, but retains some popularity as a hobbyist language in
X the MS-DOS and Macintosh worlds.
X
Xpatch: 1. n. A temporary addition to a piece of code, usually as
X a {quick and dirty} remedy to an existing bug or misfeature. A
X patch may or may not work, and may or may not eventually be
X incorporated permanently into the program. Compare {one-line
X fix}. 2. vt. To insert a patch into a piece of code. 3. [in
X the UNIX world] n. A {diff} (sense #2). 4. A set of
X modifications to binaries to be applied by a patching program. IBM
X operating systems often receive updates to the operating system in
X the form of absolute hexadecimal patches. If you have modified
X your OS, you have to disassemble these back to the source. The
X patches might later be corrected by other patches on top of them
X (it was said that the patches "grow scar tissue"). The result
X was often a convoluted {patch space} and headaches galore.
X
X There is a classic story of a {tiger team} penetrating a secure
X military computer which illustrates the danger inherent in binary
X patches (or, indeed, any that you can't inspect and examine
X beforehand). They couldn't find any trapdoors or way to penetrate
X security of IBM's OS, so they made a site visit to an IBM office
X (remember, these were official military types who were purportedly
X on official business), swiped some IBM stationery, and created a
X fake patch. The patch was actually the trapdoor they needed. The
X patch was distributed at about the right time for an IBM patch, had
X official stationery and all accompanying documentation, and was
X dutifully installed. The installation manager very shortly
X thereafter learned something about proper procedures....
X
Xpatch space: n. An unused block of bits left in a binary so that it
X can later be modified by insertion of machine-language instructions
X there (typically, the superseded code is replaced by a jump or call
X to the patched area). In 1991, widening use of HLLs has made this
X term rare and now primarily historical outside IBM shops. See
X {patch} (sense #4), {zap} (sense #4).
X
Xpath: n. 1. A {bang path} or explicitly routed {{Internet
X address}}; a node-by-node specification of a link between two
X machines. 2. [UNIX] A filename, fully specified relative to the
X root directory (as opposed to relative to the current directory;
X the latter is sometimes called a `relative path'). This is also
X called a `pathname'. 3. [UNIX & MS-DOS] The `search
X path', an environment variable specifying the directories in which
X the {shell} (COMMAND.COM, under MS-DOS) should look for commands.
X Other, similar constructs abound under UNIX (for example, the C
X preprocessor has a `search path' it uses in looking for
X `#include' files.
X
Xpathological: adj. 1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set
X that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, esp. one which
X exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An
X algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be
X useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice.
X 2. When used of test input, implies that it was purposefully
X engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that
X the data is spectacularly ill-conditioned or that someone had to
X explicitly set out to break the algorithm in order to come up with
X such a crazy example. 2. Also said of an unlikely collection of
X circumstances. "If the network is down and comes up halfway
X through the execution of that command by root, the system might
X just crash." "Yes, but that's a pathological case." Often used
X to dismiss the case from discussion, with the implication that the
X consequences are acceptable given they will happen so infrequently
X (or not at all) that their is no justification for going to extra
X work to handle that case (see sense #1).
X
Xpayware: n. Commercial software. Oppose {shareware} or
X {freeware}.
X
XPBD: [abbrev. of `Programmer Brain Damage'] n. Applied to bug reports
X revealing places where the program was obviously broken due to an
X incompetent or short-sighted programmer. Compare {UBD}; see also
X {brain-damaged}.
X
XPC-ism: n. A piece of code or coding technique that takes advantage
X of the unprotected single-tasking environment in IBM PCs and the
X like, e.g., by busy-waiting on a hardware register, direct diddling
X of screen memory, or using hard timing loops. Compare
X {ill-behaved}, {vaxism}, {unixism}. Also, `pc-ware' n., a program
X full of PC-isms on a machine with a more capable operating system.
X Pejorative.
X
XPD: /pee-dee/ adj. Common abbreviation for "public domain", applied
X to software distributed over {USENET} and from Internet archive
X sites. Much of this software is not in fact "public domain" in
X the legal sense but travels under various copyrights granting
X reproduction and use rights to anyone who can {snarf} a copy. See
X {copyleft}.
X
Xpdl: /pid'l/ or /puhd'l/ [acronym for Push Down List] 1. In ITS
X days, the preferred MITism for {stack}. 2. Dave Lebling, one
X of the co-authors of {Zork}; (his {network address} on the ITS
X machines was at one time pdl@dms). 3. Program Design Language.
X Any of a large class of formal and profoundly useless
X pseudo-languages in which {management} forces one to design
X programs. {Management} often expects it to be maintained in
X parallel with the code. See also {{flowchart}}.
X
XPDP-10: [Programmed Data Processor model 10] n. The machine that
X made timesharing real. Looms large in hacker folklore due to early
X adoption in the mid-1970s by many university computing facilities and
X research labs including the MIT AI lab, Stanford, and CMU. Some
X aspects of the instruction set (most notably the bit-field
X instructions) are still considered unsurpassed. Later editions
X were labelled `DECsystem-10' as a way of differentiating them from
X the PDP-11. The '10 was eventually eclipsed by the VAX machines
X (descendants of the PDP-11) and dropped from DEC's line in the
X early 1980s, and in mid-1991 to have cut one's teeth on one is
X considered something of a badge of honorable old-timerhood among
X hackers. See {TOPS-10}, {ITS}, {AOS}, {BLT}, {DDT},
X {DPB}, {EXCH}, {HAKMEM}, {JFCL}, {LDB}, {pop},
X {push}, Appendix A.
X
Xpeek: n.,vt. (and {poke}) The commands in most microcomputer
X BASICs for directly accessing memory contents at an absolute
X address; often extended to mean the corresponding constructs in any
X {HLL}. Much hacking on small, non-MMU micros consists of
X {peek}ing around memory, more or less at random, to find the
X location where the system keeps interesting stuff. Long (and
X variably accurate) lists of such addresses for various computers
X circulate (see {{interrupt list, the}}). The results of {poke}s
X at these addresses may be highly useful, mildly amusing, useless
X but neat, or (most likely) total {lossage} (see {killer poke}).
X
Xpencil and paper: n. An archaic information-storage and
X transmission device that works by depositing smears of graphite on
X bleached wood pulp. More recent developments in paper-based
X technology include improved `write-once' update devices which use
X tiny rolling heads similar to mouse balls to deposit colored
X pigment. These devices require an operator skilled at so-called
X `handwriting' technique. These technologies are ubiquitous outside
X hackerdom, but nearly forgotten inside it. Most hackers had
X terrible handwriting to begin with, and years of keyboarding tend
X if anything to have encouraged it to degrade further. Perhaps for
X this reason hackers deprecate pencil and paper technology and
X often resist using it in any but the most trivial contexts. See
X also Appendix B.
X
Xpeon: n. A person with no special ({root} or {wheel})
X privileges on a computer system. "I can't create an account on
X foovax for you; I'm only a peon there."
X
Xpercent-s: /per-sent' ess/ [From "%s", the formatting sequence in
X C's `printf(3)' library function used to insert an arbitrary
X string argument] n. An unspecified person or object. "I was just
X talking to some percent-s in administration." Compare {random}.
X
Xperf: /perf/ n. See {chad} (sense #1). The term `perfory'
X /per'f*-ree/ is also heard.
X
Xperfect programmer syndrome: n. Arrogance; the egotistical
X conviction that one is above normal human error. Most frequently
X found among programmers of some native ability but relatively
X little experience (especially new graduates; their perceptions may
X be distorted by a history of excellent performance bashing toy
X problems). "Of course my program is correct, there is no need to
X test it." Or "Yes, I can see there may be a problem here, but
X *I'll* never type `rm -r /' while in {root}."
X
XPerl: [Practical Extraction and Report Language, aka Pathologically
X Eclectic Rubbish Lister] n. An interpreted language developed by
X Larry Wall (lwall@jpl.nasa.gov, author of `patch(1)' and
X `rn(1)') and distributed over USENET. Superficially resembles
X `awk(1)', but is much hairier (see {awk}). UNIX sysadmins,
X who are almost always incorrigible hackers, increasingly consider
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 12, continue with part 13'
echo 13 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0