eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part10
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X since 1980 or so. See also {bang path}, {domainist}. 2. More
X loosely, any network address reachable through Internet; this
X includes {bang path} addresses and some internal corporate and
X government networks.
X
X Reading Internet addresses is something of an art. Here are the
X four most important top-level functional Internet domains followed
X by a selection of geographical domains:
X
X com
X Commercial organizations.
X edu
X Educational institutions.
X gov
X U.S. government civilian sites.
X mil
X U.S. military sites.
X
X Note that most of the sites in the com and edu domains are in the
X U.S. or Canada.
X
X us
X Sites in the U.S. outside the functional domains.
X su
X Sites in the Soviet Union (only one really active one so far!).
X uk
X Sites in the United Kingdom.
X
X Within the `us' domain there are subdomains for the fifty
X states, generally with a name identical to the state's postal
X abbreviation. Within the `uk' domain there is an `ac' subdomain for
X academic sites and a `co' domain for commercial ones. Other
X top-level domains may be divided up in similar ways.
X
Xinterrupt: 1. [techspeak] n. On a computer, an event that
X interrupts normal processing and temporarily diverts
X flow-of-control through an "interrupt handler" routine. See also
X {trap}. 2. interj. A request for attention from a hacker.
X Often explicitly spoken. "Interrupt --- have you seen Joe
X recently?". See {priority interrupt}. 3. Under MS-DOS, the
X term `interrupt' is nearly synonymous with `system call', because
X the OS and BIOS routines are both called using the INT instruction
X (see {{interrupt list, the}}) and because programmers so often have
X to bypass the OS (going directly to a BIOS interrupt) to get
X reasonable performance.
X
Xinterrupt list, the:: [MSDOS] n. The list of all known software
X interrupt calls (both documented and undocumented) for IBM PCs and
X compatibles maintained and made available for free redistribution
X by Ralf Brown (ralf@cs.cmu.edu). As of early 1991, it had grown to
X approximately 1 megabyte in length.
X
Xinterrupts locked out: adj. When someone is ignoring you. In a
X restaurant, after several fruitless attempts to get the waitress's
X attention, a hacker might well observe that "She must have
X interrupts locked out." The synonym `interrupts disabled' is
X also common. Variations of this abound; "to have one's interrupt
X mask bit set" or "interrupts masked out"is also heard. See also
X {spl}.
X
Xiron: n. Hardware, especially older/larger hardware of
X {mainframe} class with big metal cabinets housing relatively
X low-density electronics (but also used of modern supercomputers).
X Often in the phrase {big iron}. Oppose {silicon}. See also
X {dinosaur}.
X
XIron Age: n. In the history of computing, 1961--1971 --- the formative
X era of commercial {mainframe} technology, when {big iron}
X {dinosaur}s ruled the earth (the hackish metaphors for the era
X aren't quite paleontologically correct). These began with the
X delivery of the first PDP-1, coincided with the dominance of
X ferrite {core}, and ended with the introduction of the first
X commercial microprocessor (the Intel 4004) in 1971. See also
X {Stone Age}.
X
Xiron box: [UNIX/Internet] n. A special environment set up to trap a
X {cracker} logging in over remote connections long enough to be
X traced. May include a modified {shell} restricting the hacker's
X movements in unobvious ways, and `bait' files designed to keep him
X interested and logged on. See also {back door}, {firewall
X machine}, {Venus flytrap}, and Clifford Stoll's account in
X `Cuckoo's Egg' of how he made and used one (see Appendix C).
X
Xironmonger: [IBM] n. Derogatory. A hardware specialist. Compare
X {sandbender}, {polygon pusher}.
X
XITS: /ie-tee-ess/ n. 1. Incompatible Time-sharing System, an
X influential but highly idiosyncratic operating system written for
X PDP-10s at MIT and long used at the MIT AI lab; much AI-hacker
X jargon derives from ITS folklore. After about 1982, most actual
X work was shifted to newer machines, with the remaining ITS boxes
X run essentially as a hobby and service to the hacker community.
X The shutdown of the lab's last ITS machine in May 1990 marked the
X end of an era and sent old-time hackers into mourning nationwide
X (see {high moby}). The Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden
X is maintaining one `live' ITS site at its computer museum (right
X next to the only TOPS-10 system still on the Internet), so ITS is
X still alleged to hold the record for OS in longest continuous
X `use'. See Appendix A. 2. A mythical image of operating system
X perfection worshipped by a bizarre, fervent retro-cult of old-time
X hackers and ex-users (see {troglodyte}, sense #2). ITS
X worshippers manage somehow to continue believing that an OS that
X supported only character I/O and monocase 6-character filenames in
X one directory per account remains superior to today's state of
X commercial art (their venom against UNIX is particularly intense).
X See also {holy wars}, {Weenix}.
X
XIWBNI: // [acronym] It Would Be Nice If. Compare {WIBNI}.
X
XIYFEG: // [USENET] Abbreviation for `Insert Your Favorite Ethnic
X Group'. Used as a meta-name when telling racist jokes on the net to
X avoid offending anyone. See {JEDR}.
X
X= J =
X=====
X
XJ. Random: /jay rand'm/ n. [generalized from {J. Random Hacker}]
X Arbitrary; ordinary; any one; `any old'. `J. Random' is often
X prefixed to a noun to make a name out of it. It means roughly
X `some particular' or `any specific one'. "Would you let
X J. Random Loser marry your daughter?". The most common uses are
X `J. Random Hacker', `J. Random Loser' and `J. Random Nerd'
X ("Should J. Random Loser be allowed to {gun} down other
X people?"), but it can be used simply as an elaborate version of
X {random} in any sense.
X
XJ. Random Hacker: [MIT] /jay rand'm hak'r/ n. A mythical figure
X like the Unknown Soldier; the archetypal hacker nerd. See
X {random}, {Suzie COBOL}. This may originally have been
X inspired or influenced by `J. Fred Muggs', a show-biz chimpanzee
X whose name was a household word back in the early days of the MIT
X Model Railroad Club.
X
Xjaggies: /jag'eez/ n. The `stairstep' effect observable when an
X edge (esp. a linear edge of shallow or steep slope) is rendered on
X a pixel device (as opposed to a vector display).
X
XJCL: n. 1. IBM's supremely {rude} `Job Control Language'.
X JCL is the script language used to control the execution of
X programs in IBM's batch systems. JCL has a very {fascist}
X syntax, and some versions will, for example, {barf} if two spaces
X appear where it expects one. Most programmers confronted with JCL
X simply copy a working file (or card deck), changing the file names.
X Someone who actually understands and generates unique JCL is
X regarded with the mixed respect which one gives to someone who
X memorizes the phone book. It is reported that hackers at IBM
X itself sometimes sing "I-B-M, J-C-L, M-o-u-s-e" to the tune of
X the Mickey Mouse Club theme to express their opinion of the beast
X (think about the original lyrics). 2. Any very {rude} software
X that a hacker is expected to use. "That's as bad as JCL." As
X with {COBOL}, JCL is often used as an archetype of ugliness even
X by those who haven't experienced it. See also {IBM}, {fear and
X loathing}.
X
XJEDR: n. Synonymous with {IYFEG}. At one time, the
X rec.humor.funny newsgroup on USENET tended to use `JEDR' instead of
X {IYFEG} or `<ethnic>'; this stemmed from a nearly successful
X attempt to kill the group once made by a loser with initials JEDR
X after he was offended by an ethnic joke posted there (the practice
X was {retcon}ned by the expanding these initials as `Joke
X Ethnic/Denomination/Race'). After much sound and fury JEDR faded
X away; this term appears to be doing likewise.
X
XJFCL: /jif'kl/ or /jaf'kl/ vt., obs. (alt. `jfcl') To
X cancel or annul something. "Why don't you jfcl that out?" The
X fastest do-nothing instruction on older models of the PDP-10
X happened to be JFCL, which stands for "Jump if Flag set and then
X CLear the flag"; this does something useful, but is a very fast
X no-operation if no flag is specified. Geoff Goodfellow, one of the
X jargon-1 co-authors, has long had JFCL on the license plate of his
X BMW. Usage: rare except among old-time PDP-10 hackers.
X
XJRST: /jerst/ [based on the PDP-10 jump instruction] v., obs. To
X suddenly change subjects, with no intention of returning to the
X previous topic.. Usage: rather rare except among PDP-10 diehands, and
X considered silly. See also {AOS}.
X
Xjiffy: n. 1. The duration of one tick of the system clock on the
X computer (see {tick}). Often 1 AC cycle time (1/60 second in the
X U.S. and Canada, 1/50 most other places) but more recently 1/100
X sec has become common. "The swapper runs every 6 jiffies" means
X that the virtual memory management routine is executed once for
X every 6 ticks of the clock, or about 10 times a second.
X 2. Confusingly, the term is sometimes also used for a 1-millisecond
X {wall time} interval. 3. Indeterminate time from a few seconds
X to forever. "I'll do it in a jiffy" means certainly not now and
X possibly never. This is a bit contrary to the more widespread use
X of the word. Oppose {nano}. See also {Real Soon Now}.
X
Xjob security: n. When some piece of code is written in a
X particularly {obscure} fashion, and no good reason (such as time
X or space optimization) can be discovered, it is often said that the
X programmer was attempting to increase his job security (i.e., by
X making himself indispensable for maintenance). This sour joke
X seldom has to be said in full; if two hackers are looking over some
X code together and one points at a section and says `job security',
X the other one may just nod.
X
Xjock: n. 1. Programmer who is characterized by large and somewhat
X brute-force programs. See {brute force}. 2. When modified by
X another noun, describes a specialist in some particular computing
X area. The compounds `compiler jock' and `systems jock' seem to be
X the best established examples of this.
X
Xjoe code: /joh' kohd`/ n. 1. Code that is overly {tense} and
X unmaintainable. "{Perl} may be a handy program, but if you look
X at the source, it's complete joe code." 2. Badly written,
X possibly buggy.
X
X Correspondents wishing to remain anonymous have fingered a
X particular Joe at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and observed
X that usage has drifted slightly; the original sobriquet `Joe code'
X was intended in sense #1.
X
XJR[LN]: /jay ahr en/, /jay ahr el/ n. The names JRN and JRL
X were sometimes used as example names when discussing a kind of user
X ID used under {TOPS-10}; they were understood to be the initials
X of (fictitious) programmers named `J. Random Nerd' and `J. Random
X Loser' (see {J. Random}). For example, if one said "To log
X in, type log one comma jay are en" (that is, "log 1,JRN"), the
X listener would have understood that he should use his own computer
X id in place of `JRN'.
X
Xjuggling eggs: vi. Keeping a lot of {state} in your head while
X modifying a program. "Don't bother me now, I'm juggling eggs",
X meaning an interrupt is likely to result in the program being
X scrambled. See {hack mode}.
X
Xjump off into never-never land: [from J. M. Barrie's `Peter
X Pan'] v. Same as {branch to Fishkill}, but more common in
X technical cultures associated with non-IBM computers that use the
X term `jump' rather than `branch'. Compare {hyperspace}.
X
X= K =
X=====
X
XK: /kay/ [from {kilo-}] n. A kilobyte. This is used both as a
X spoken word and a written suffix (like {meg} and {gig} for
X megabyte and gigabyte). The formal SI metric prefix for 1000 is
X `k'; some use this strictly, reserving `K' for multiplication by
X 1024 (KB is `kilobytes'). See also {{quantifiers}}.
X
XK&R: [Kernighan and Ritchie] n. Brian Kernighan & Dennis Ritchie's
X `The C Programming Language', esp. the classic and influential
X first edition (Prentice-Hall 1978, ISBN 0-113-110163-3). Syn.
X {White Book}, {Old Testament}. See also {New Testament}.
X
Xkahuna: /k*-hoo'nuh/ [IBM, from the Hawaiian title for a shaman] n.
X Synonym for {wizard}, {guru}.
X
Xkamikaze packet: n. The `official' jargon for what is more commonly
X called a {Christmas tree packet}. RFC1025, `TCP and IP Bake Off'
X says:
X
X 10 points for correctly being able to process a "Kamikaze"
X packet (AKA nastygram, christmas tree packet, lamp test
X segment, et al.). That is, correctly handle a segment with the
X maximum combination of features at once (e.g., a SYN URG PUSH
X FIN segment with options and data).
X
X See also {Chernobyl packet}.
X
Xken: /ken/ n. 1. [UNIX] Ken Thompson, principal inventor of
X UNIX. In the early days he used to hand-cut distribution tapes,
X often with a note that read "Love, ken." Old-timers still use his
X first name (sometimes uncapitalized) in third-person reference; it
X is widely understood (on USENET, in particular) that without a last
X name `Ken' refers only to Ken Thompson. Similarly, Dennis without
X last name means Dennis Ritchie. See also {net.god}, {UNIX}.
X 2. A flaming user. This was originated by the Software Support
X group at Symbolics because the two greatest flamers in the user
X community were both named Ken.
X
Xkgbvax: /kay-jee-bee-vaks/ n. See {kremvax}.
X
Xkill file: [USENET] n. (alt. `KILL file') Per-user file(s) used
X by some {USENET} reading programs (originally Larry Wall's
X `rn(1)') to discard summarily (without presenting for reading)
X articles which match some particularly uninteresting (or unwanted)
X patterns of subject, author, or other header lines. Thus to "add
X a person (or subject) to one's kill file" is to arrange for that
X person to be ignored by one's newsreader in future. By extension,
X it may be used for a decision to ignore the person or subject in
X other media. See also {plonk}.
X
Xkiller micro: [popularized by Eugene Brooks] n. A
X microprocessor-based machine that infringes on mini, mainframe or
X supercomputer performance turf. Often heard in "No one will
X survive the attack of the killer micros!", the battle cry of the
X downsizers. Used esp. of RISC architectures.
X
Xkiller poke: n. A recipe for inducing hardware damage on a machine
X via insertion of invalid values (see {poke}) in a memory-mapped
X control register; used esp. of various fairly well-known tricks on
X MMU-less {bitty box}es like the IBM PC and Commodore PET that can
X overload and trash analog electronics in the monitor. See also
X {HCF}.
X
Xkilo-: pref. See {{quantifiers}}.
X
XKIPS: [acronym, by analogy with {MIPS} using {K}] n. Thousands
X (*not* 1024s) of Instructions Per Second. Usage: rare.
X
XKISS Principle: n. "Keep It Simple, Stupid". A maxim often
X invoked when discussing design to fend off {creeping featurism}
X and control development complexity. Possibly related to the
X {marketroid} maxim on sales presentations, "Keep It Short and
X Simple".
X
Xkit: [USENET] n. A source software distribution that has been
X packaged in such a way that it can (theoretically) be unpacked and
X installed according to a series of steps using only standard UNIX
X tools, and entirely documented by some reasonable chain of
X references from the top-level {README file}. The more general
X term {distribution} may imply that special tools or more
X stringent conditions on the host environment are required.
X
Xkluge: /klooj/ alt. kludge /kluhj/ [from the German `klug',
X clever; /klooj/ is the original pronunciation, more common in the
X US; /kluhj/ is reported more common in England. A plurality of
X hackers pronounce this word /klooj/ but spell it incorrectly as
X `kludge' (compare the pronunciation drift of {mung}). Some
X observers consider this appropriate in view of its meaning.] 1. n.
X A Rube Goldberg (or Heath Robinson) device in hardware or software.
X (A long-ago {Datamation} article by Jackson Granholme said: "An
X ill-assorted collection of poorly matching parts, forming a
X distressing whole.") 2. n. A clever programming trick intended to
X solve a particular nasty case in an expedient, if not clear,
X manner. Often used to repair bugs. Often involves {ad-hockery}
X and verges on being a {crock}. In fact, the TMRC dictionary
X defined `kludge' as "a crock that works'. 3. n. Something that
X works for the wrong reason. 4. vt. To insert a kluge into a
X program. "I've kluged this routine to get around that weird bug,
X but there's probably a better way." 5. [WPI] n. A feature that
X is implemented in a {rude} manner.
X
Xkluge around: vt. To avoid a bug or difficult condition by
X inserting a {kluge}. Compare {workaround}.
X
Xkluge up: vt. To lash together a quick hack to perform a task; this
X is milder than {cruft together} and has some of the connotations
X of {hack up} (note, however, that the construction `kluge on'
X corresponding to {hack on} is never used). "I've kluged up this
X routine to dump the buffer contents to a safe place."
X
XKnights of the Lambda Calculus: n. A semi-mythical organization of
X wizardly LISP and Scheme hackers (the name refers to a mathematical
X formalism invented by Alonzo Church with which LISP is intimately
X connected). There is no enrollment list and the criteria for
X induction are unclear, but one well-known LISPer has been known to
X give out buttons and, in general, the *members* know who they
X are....
X
XKnuth: [Donald E. Knuth's `The Art of Computer Programming']
X n. Mythically, the reference that answers all questions about data
X structures or algorithms. A safe answer when you do not know, as
X in "I think you can find that in Knuth." Contrast {literature,
X the}. See also {bible}.
X
Xkremvax: /krem-vaks/ [from the then large number of {USENET}
X {VAXen} with names of the form `foovax'] n. A fictitious USENET
X site at the Kremlin, announced on April 1, 1984, in a posting
X ostensibly originated there by Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko.
X The posting was actually forged by Piet Beertema as an April Fool's
X joke. Other sites mentioned in the hoax were moskvax and
X {kgbvax}, which now seems to be the one by which it is
X remembered. This was probably the funniest of the many April
X Fool's forgeries perpetrated on USENET (which has negligible
X security against them), because the notion that USENET might ever
X penetrate the Iron Curtain seemed so totally absurd at the time.
X
X In fact, it was only 6 years later that the first genuine site in
X Moscow, demos.su, joined USENET. Some readers needed convincing
X that it wasn't another prank. Vadim Antonov (avg@hq.demos.su),
X the major poster from Moscow up to at least the end of 1990, was
X quite aware of all this, referred to it frequently in his own
X postings, and at one point twitted some credulous readers by
X blandly admitting that he *was* a hoax! [Mr. Antonov also
X contributed the Russian-language material for this File --- ESR]
X
X= L =
X=====
X
Xlace card: n. obs. A {{punched card}} with all holes punched (also
X called a `whoopee card'). Card readers jammed when they got to
X one of these, as the resulting card had too little structural
X strength to avoid buckling inside the mechanism. Card punches
X could also jam trying to produce these things due to power-supply
X problems. When some practical joker fed a lace card through the
X reader, you needed to clear the jam with a `card knife' ---
X which you used on the joker first.
X
Xlanguage lawyer: n. A person, usually an experienced or senior
X software engineer, who is intimately familiar with many or most of
X the numerous restrictions and features (both useful and esoteric)
X applicable to one or more computer programming languages. A
X language lawyer is distinguished by the ability to show you the
X five sentences scattered throughout a 200-plus page manual which
X together imply the answer to your question "if only you had
X thought to look there". Compare {wizard}, {legal},
X {legalese}.
X
Xlanguages of choice: n. {C} and {LISP}. Essentially all hackers
X know one of these and most good ones are fluent in both. Smalltalk
X and Prolog are also popular in small but influential communities.
X
X There is also a rapidly dwindling category of older hackers with
X FORTRAN, or even assembler, as their language of choice. They
X often prefer to be known as <real programmer>s, and other hackers
X consider them a bit odd (see `The Story of Mel, a Real Programmer'
X in Appendix A). Assembler is generally no longer considered
X interesting or appropriate for anything but HLL implementation,
X glue, and a few time-critical and hardware-specific uses in systems
X programs. FORTRAN occupies a shrinking niche in scientific
X programming.
X
X Most hackers tend to frown at languages like {{Pascal}} and
X {{Ada}} which don't give them the near-total freedom considered
X necessary for hacking (see {bondage-and-discipline language}), and
X to regard everything that's even remotely connected with {COBOL}
X or other traditional {card walloper} languages as a total
X {loss}.
X
Xlarval stage: n. Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration
X on coding apparently passed through by all fledgling hackers.
X Common symptoms include: the perpetration of more than one 36-hour
X {hacking run} in a given week, neglect of all other activities
X including usual basics like food, sleep, and personal hygiene, and
X a chronic case of advanced bleary-eye. Can last from six months to
X two years, with the apparent median being around eighteen months.
X A few so afflicted never resume a more `normal' life, but the
X ordeal seems to be necessary to produce really wizardly (as opposed
X to merely competent) programmers. See also {wannabee}. A less
X protracted and intense version of larval stage (typically lasting
X about a month) may recur when learning a new {OS} or programming
X language.
X
Xlase: /layz/ vt. To print a given document via a laser printer.
X "OK, let's lase that sucker and see if all those graphics-macro
X calls did the right things."
X
Xlaser chicken: n. Kung Pao Chicken, a standard Chinese dish
X containing chicken, peanuts, and hot red peppers in a spicy
X pepper-oil sauce. Many hackers call it `laser chicken' for
X two reasons; it can {zap} you just like a laser, and the
X sauce has a red color reminiscent of some laser beams.
X
X In a variation on this theme, it is reported that one group of
X Australian hackers have redesignated the common dish `lemon
X chicken' as `Chernobyl Chicken'. The name is derived from the
X color of the sauce, which is considered bright enough to glow in
X the dark (mythically, like some of the inhabitants of Chernobyl).
X
Xlaundromat: n. Syn. {disk farm}; see {washing machine}.
X
XLDB: /l*'d*b/ [from the PDP-10 instruction set] vt. To extract
X from the middle. "LDB me a slice of cake, please" This usage has
X been kept alive by Common LISP's function of the same name. See
X also {DPB}.
X
Xleaf site: n. A machine that merely originates and reads USENET
X news or mail, and does not relay any third-party traffic. Often
X uttered in a critical tone; when the ratio of leaf sites to
X backbone, rib, and other relay sites gets too high, the network
X tends to develop bottlenecks. Compare {backbone site}, {rib
X site}.
X
Xleak: n. With qualifier, one of a class of resource-management bugs
X that occur when resources are not freed properly after operations
X on them are finished, leading to eventual exhaustion as new
X allocation requests come in. {memory leak} and {fd leak} have
X their own entries; one might also refer, say, to a `window handle
X leak' in a window system.
X
Xleaky heap: [Cambridge] n. Syn. {memory leak}.
X
Xlegal: adj. Loosely used to mean `in accordance with all the
X relevant rules', esp. in connection with some set of constraints
X defined by software. Thus one very frequently hears constructions
X like `legal syntax', `legal input', etc. Hackers often model their
X work as a sort of game played with the environment in which the
X objective is to maneuver through the thicket of `natural laws' to
X achieve a desired objective. Their use of `legal' is flavored as
X much by this game-playing sense as by the more conventional one
X having to do with courts and lawyers. Compare {language lawyer},
X {legalese}.
X
Xlegalese: n. Dense, pedantic verbiage in a language description,
X product specification, or interface standard; text that seems
X designed to obfuscate and requires a {language lawyer} to
X {parse} it. While hackers are not afraid of high information
X density and complexity in language (indeed, they rather enjoy
X both), they share a deep and abiding loathing for legalese; they
X associate it with deception, {suit}s, and situations in which
X hackers generally get the short end of the stick.
X
XLER: /el-ee-ar/ [TMRC] n. A light emitting resistor (that is one in
X the process of burning up). Ohm's law was broken.
X
XLERP: /lerp/ vi.,n. Quasi-acronym for Linear Interpolation, used as a
X verb or noun for the operation. E.g., Bresenham's algorithm lerps
X incrementally between the two endpoints of the line.
X
Xlet the smoke out: v. To fry hardware (see {fried}). See
X {magic smoke} for the mythology behind this.
X
Xlexer: /lek'sr/ n. Common hacker shorthand for `lexical
X analyzer', the input-tokenizing stage in the parser for a language
X (the part that breaks it into word-like pieces). "Some C lexers
X get confused by the old-style compound ops like `=-'".
X
Xlife: n. 1. A cellular-automata game invented by John Horton Conway
X and first introduced publicly by Martin Gardner (Scientific
X American, October 1970). Many hackers pass through a stage of
X fascination with it, and hackers at various places contributed
X heavily to the mathematical analysis of this game (most notably
X Bill Gosper at MIT; see {Gosperism}). When a hacker mentions
X `life', he is much more likely to mean this game than the
X magazine, the breakfast cereal, or the human state of existence.
X 2. The opposite of {USENET}. As in {Get a life!}.
X
Xlight pipe: n. Fiber optic cable. Oppose {copper}.
X
Xlike kicking dead whales down the beach: adj. A slow, difficult,
X and disgusting process. First popularized by a famous quote about
X the difficulty of getting work done under one of IBM's mainframe
X OSes. "Well, you *could* write a C compiler in COBOL, but it
X would be like kicking dead whales down the beach." See also
X {fear and loathing}
X
Xlike nailing jelly to a tree: adj. Used to describe a task thought
X to be impossible, esp. one in which the difficulty arises from poor
X specification or inherent slipperiness in the problem domain.
X
Xline eater, the: [USENET] n. 1. A bug in some now-obsolete
X versions of the netnews software that used to eat up to BUFSIZ
X bytes of the article text. The bug was triggered by having the
X text of the article start with a space or tab. This bug was
X quickly personified as a mythical creature called the `line
X eater', and postings often included a dummy line of `line eater
X food'. Ironically, line eater food not preceded by whitespace
X wasn't actually eaten, since the bug was avoided; but if there
X *was* whitespace before it, then the line eater would eat the
X food *and* the beginning of the text which it was supposed to
X be protecting. The practice of `sacrificing to the line eater'
X continued for some time after the bug had been {nailed to the
X wall}, and is still humorously referred to. The bug itself is
X still (in mid-1991) occasionally reported to be lurking in some
X mail-to-netnews gateways. 2. See {NSA line eater}.
X
Xline starve: [MIT] 1. vi. To feed paper through a printer the
X wrong way by one line (most printers can't do this). On a display
X terminal, to move the cursor up to the previous line of the screen.
X Example: "To print `X squared', you just output `X', line starve,
X `2', line feed." (The line starve causes the `2' to appear on the
X line above the X, and the line feed gets back to the original
X line.) 2. n. A character (or character sequence) that causes a
X terminal to perform this action. Unlike `line feed', `line starve'
X is *not* standard {{ASCII}} terminology. Even among hackers
X it is considered a bit silly. 3. [proposed] A sequence like \c
X (used in System V echo, as well as nroff/troff) that suppresses a
X {newline} or other character(s) that would normally implicitly be
X emitted.
X
Xlink farm: [UNIX] n. A directory tree that contains many links to
X files in another, master directory tree of files. Link farms save
X space when (for example) one is maintaining several nearly
X identical copies of the same source tree, e.g. when the only
X difference is architecture-dependent object files. Example use:
X "Let's freeze the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3 and
X FROBOZZ-4 link farms." Link farms may also be used to get around
X restrictions on the number of -I (include directory) arguments on
X older C preprocessors.
X
Xlink-dead: [MUD] adj. Said of a {MUD} character who has frozen in
X place due to a dropped Internet connection.
X
Xlint: [from UNIX's `lint(1)', named perhaps for the bits of
X fluff it picks from programs] 1. vt. To examine a program closely
X for style, language usage, and portability problems, esp. if in C,
X esp. if via use of automated analysis tools, most esp. if the
X UNIX utility `lint(1)' is used. This term used to be
X restricted to use of `lint(1)' itself but (judging by
X references on USENET) has become a shorthand for {desk check} at
X some non-UNIX shops, even in languages other than C. See also
X {delint}. 2. n. Excess verbiage in a document, as in "this
X draft has too much lint".
X
Xlion food: [IBM] n. Middle management or HQ staff (by extension,
X administrative drones in general). From an old joke about two
X lions who, escaping from the zoo, split up to increase their
X chances but agreed to meet after two months. When they finally
X meet, one is skinny and the other overweight. The thin one says
X "How did you manage? I ate a human just once and they turned out
X a small army to chase me --- guns, nets, it was terrible. Since
X then I've been reduced to eating mice, insects, even grass." The
X fat one replies "Well, *I* hid near an IBM office and ate a
X manager a day. And nobody even noticed!"
X
XLISP: [from `LISt Processing language', but mythically from
X `Lots of Irritating Superfluous Parentheses'] n. The name of
X AI's mother tongue, a language based on the ideas of (a)
X variable-length lists and trees as fundamental data types, and (b)
X the interpretation of code as data and vice-versa. Invented by
X John McCarthy at MIT in the late 1950s, it is actually older
X than any other {HLL} still in use except FORTRAN. Accordingly,
X it has undergone considerable adaptive radiation over the years;
X modern variants are quite different in detail from the original
X LISP 1.5. The hands-down favorite of a plurality of hackers until
X the early 1980s, LISP now shares the throne with {C}. See
X {languages of choice}.
X
X All LISP functions and programs are expressions that return
X values; this, together with the high memory utilization of LISPs,
X gave rise to Alan Perlis's famous quip (itself a take on an Oscar
X Wilde quote) that "LISP programmers know the value of everything
X and the cost of nothing."
X
Xliterature, the: n. Computer science journals and other
X publications vaguely gestured at to answer a question that the
X speaker believes is {trivial}. Thus, one might answer an
X annoying question "It's in the literature." Oppose {Knuth},
X which has no connotation of triviality.
X
Xlittle-endian: adj. Describes a computer architecture in which,
X within a given 16- or 32-bit word, bytes at lower addresses have
X lower significance (the word is stored `little-end-first'). The
X PDP-11 and VAX families of computers and Intel microprocessors and
X a lot of communications and networking hardware are little-endian.
X See {big-endian}, {middle-endian}, {NUXI problem}. The term
X is sometimes used to describe the ordering of units other than
X bytes; most frequently these are bits within a byte.
X
Xlive data: n. 1. Data which is written to be interpreted and takes
X over program flow when triggered by some un-obvious operation, such
X as viewing it. One particular use of such hacks is to break
X security. For example, some smart terminals have commands that
X allow one to download strings to program keys; this can be used to
X write `live data' which, when listed to the terminal, infects it
X with a security-breaking `virus' that is triggered the next time a
X hapless user strikes that key. For another, there are some
X well-known bugs in vi which allow certain texts to send arbitrary
X commands back to the machine when they are simply viewed. 2. In C
X code, data which includes pointers to function {hook}s. 3. An
X object such as a {trampoline} which is constructed on the fly by
X a program and intended to be executed as code.
X
XLive Free Or Die!: imp. 1. The state motto of New Hampshire, which
X used to be on its car license plates. 2. A slogan associated with
X UNIX in the romantic days when UNIX aficionados saw themselves as a
X tiny, beleaguered underground tilting against the windmills of
X industry. The "free" referred specifically to freedom from the
X {fascist} design philosophies and crufty misfeatures common on
X commercial operating systems. Armando Stettner, one of the early
X UNIX developers, used to give out fake license plates bearing this
X motto under a large UNIX, all in New Hampshire colors of green and
X white. These are now valued collector's items.
X
Xlivelock: n. A situation in which some critical stage of a task is
X unable to finish because its clients perpetually create more work
X for it to do after they've been serviced but before it can clear.
X Differs from {deadlock} in that the process is not blocked or
X waiting for anything, but has a virtually infinite amount of work
X to do and accomplishes nothing.
X
Xliveware: n. Synonym for {wetware}. Less common.
X
Xlobotomy: n. 1. What a hacker subjected to formal management
X training is said to have undergone. At IBM and elsewhere this term
X is used by both hackers and low-level management; the latter
X doubtless intend it as a joke. 2. The act of removing the
X processor from a microcomputer in order to replace or upgrade it.
X Some very cheap {clone} systems are sold in `lobotomized' form
X --- everything but the brain.
X
Xlocked and loaded: [from military slang for an M-16 with magazine
X inserted and prepared for firing] adj. Said of a removable disk
X volume properly prepared for use --- that is, locked into the drive
X and with the heads loaded. Ironically, because their heads are
X `loaded' whenever the power is up, this description is never used
X of {{Winchester}} drives (which are named after a rifle).
X
Xlocked up: adj. Syn. for {hung}, {wedged}.
X
Xlogic bomb: n. Code surreptitiously inserted in an application or OS
X which causes it to perform some destructive or
X security-compromising activity whenever specified conditions are
X met. Compare {back door}.
X
Xlogical: [from the technical term `logical device', wherein a
X physical device is referred to by an arbitrary `logical' name] adj.
X Having the role of. If a person (say, Les Earnest at SAIL) who has
X long held a certain post left and was replaced, the replacement
X would for a while be known as the `logical' Les Earnest (this
X does not imply any judgement on the replacement). Compare
X {virtual}.
X
X At Stanford, `logical' compass directions denote a coordinate
X system in which `logical north' is toward San Francisco,
X `logical west' is toward the ocean, etc., even though logical
X north varies between physical (true) north near San Francisco and
X physical west near San Jose. (The best rule of thumb here is that,
X by definition, El Camino Real always runs logical north-and-south.)
X In giving directions, one might say, "To get to Rincon Tarasco
X restaurant, get onto {El Camino Bignum} going logical north." Using
X the word `logical' helps to prevent the recipient from worrying
X about that the fact that the sun is setting almost directly in
X front of him. The concept is reinforced by North American highways
X which are almost, but not quite, consistently labelled with logical
X rather than physical directions. A similar situation exists at
X MIT. Route 128 (famous for the electronics industry that has
X grown up along it) is a three-quarters circle surrounding Boston at
X a radius of ten miles, terminating at the coastline at each end.
X It would be most precise to describe the two directions along this
X highway as being `clockwise' and `counterclockwise', but the road
X signs all say `north' and `south', respectively. A hacker might
X describe these directions as `logical north' and `logical south',
X to indicate that they are conventional directions not corresponding
X to the usual denotation for those words. (If you went logical
X south along the entire length of route 128, you would start out
X going northwest, curve around to the south, and finish headed due
X east!)
X
Xloop through: vt. To process each element of a list of things.
X "Hold on, I've got to loop through my paper mail." Derives from
X the computer-language notion of an iterative loop; compare `cdr
X down' (under {cdr}) which is less common among C and UNIX
X programmers. ITS hackers used to say `IRP over' after an
X obscure pseudo-op in the MIDAS PDP-10 assembler.
X
Xlord high fixer: [primarily British, prob. from Gilbert & Sullivan's
X `lord high executioner'] n. The person in an organization who
X knows the most about some aspect of a system. See {wizard}.
X
Xlose: [MIT] vi. 1. To fail. A program loses when it encounters
X an exceptional condition or fails to work in the expected manner.
X 2. To be exceptionally unesthetic or crocky. 3. Of people, to
X be obnoxious or unusually stupid (as opposed to ignorant). See
X also {deserves to lose}. 4. n. Refers to something which is
X {losing}, especially in the phrases "That's a lose!" or "What
X a lose!".
X
Xlose lose: interj. A reply to or comment on an undesirable
X situation. "I accidentally deleted all my files!" "Lose,
X lose."
X
Xloser: n. An unexpectedly bad situation, program, programmer, or
X person. Someone who habitually loses (even winners can lose
X occasionally). Someone who knows not and knows not that he knows
X not. Emphatic forms are `real loser', `total loser', and
X `complete loser' (but not `moby loser', which would be a
X contradiction in terms). See {luser}.
X
Xlosing: adj. Said of anything which is or causes a {lose} or
X {lossage}.
X
Xloss: n. Something (not a person) which loses; a situation in which
X something is losing. Emphatic forms include `moby loss',
X `total loss', `complete loss'. Common interjections are
X "What a loss!" and "What a moby loss!" Note that `moby loss'
X is OK even though `moby loser' is not used; applied to an abstract
X noun, moby is simply a magnifier, whereas when applied to a person
X it implies substance and has positive connotations. Compare
X {lossage}.
X
Xlossage: /los'*j/ n. The result of a bug or malfunction. This is
X a mass or collective noun. "What a loss!" and "What lossage!"
X are nearly synonymous remarks. The former is slightly more
X particular to the speaker's present circumstances while the latter
X implies a continuing lose of which the speaker is presently victim.
X Thus (for example) a temporary hardware failure is a loss, but bugs
X in an important tool (like a compiler) are serious lossage.
X
Xlost in the noise: adj. Syn. {lost in the underflow}. This term
X is from signal processing, where signals of very small amplitude
X cannot be separated from low-intensity noise in the system. Though
X popular among hackers, it is not confined to hackerdom; physicists,
X engineers, astronomers, and statisticians all use it.
X
Xlost in the underflow: adj. Too small to be worth considering;
X more specifically, small beyond the limits of accuracy or
X measurement. This is a reference to a condition called
X `floating underflow' that can occur when a floating-point
X arithmetic processor tries to handle quantities smaller than its
X limit of magnitude. It is also a pun on `undertow' (a kind of fast,
X cold current that sometimes runs just outshore of a beach and can
X be dangerous to swimmers). "Well, sure, photon pressure from the
X stadium lights alters the path of a thrown baseball, but that
X effect gets lost in the underflow." See also {overflow bit}.
X
Xlots of MIPS but no I/O: adj. Used to describe a person who is
X technically brilliant but can't seem to communicate with human
X beings effectively. Technically it describes a machine that has
X lots of processing power but is bottlenecked on I/O.
X
Xlow-bandwidth: [from communication theory] adj. Used to indicate a
X talk that although not {content-free} was not terribly
X informative. "That was a low-bandwidth talk, but what can you
X expect for an audience of {suit}s." Compare {zero-content},
X {bandwidth}, {math-out}.
X
XLPT: /lip'it/ [MIT, via DEC] n. Line printer, of course. Rare
X under UNIX, commoner in hackers with MS-DOS or CP/M background.
X The printer device is called `LPT:' on those systems which,
X like ITS, were strongly influenced by early DEC conventions.
X
Xlunatic fringe: [IBM] n. Customers who can be relied upon to accept
X release 1 versions of software.
X
Xlurker: n. One of the `silent majority' in a electronic forum; one
X who posts occasionally or not at all but is known to read the group
X regularly. This term is not pejorative and indeed is casually used
X reflexively: "Oh, I'm just lurking." Often used in `the
X lurkers', the hypothetical audience for the group's
X {flamage}-emitting regulars.
X
Xluser: /loo'zr/ n. A {user}; esp. one who is also a {loser}.
X ({luser} and {loser} are pronounced identically.) This word
X was coined about 1975 at MIT. Under ITS, when you first walked up
X to a terminal at MIT and typed Control-Z to get the computer's
X attention, it prints out some status information, including how
X many people are already using the computer; it might print "14
X users", for example. Someone thought it would be a great joke to
X patch the system to print "14 losers" instead. There ensued a
X great controversy, as some of the users didn't particularly want to
X be called losers to their faces every time they used the computer.
X For a while several hackers struggled covertly, each changing the
X message behind the back of the others; any time you logged into the
X computer it was even money whether it would say "users" or
X "losers". Finally, someone tried the compromise `lusers', and it
X stuck. Later one of the ITS machines supported `luser' as a
X request-for-help command. ITS died the death in mid-1990, except
X as a museum piece; the usage lives on, however, and the term
X `luser' is often seen in program comments.
X
X= M =
X=====
X
XM: pref. (on units) suff. (on numbers) See {{quantifiers}}.
X
Xmacdink: /mak'dink/ [from the Apple Macintosh, which is said to
X encourage such behavior] vt. To make many incremental and
X unnecessary cosmetic changes to a program or file. Frequently the
X subject of the macdinking would be better off without them. Ex:
X "When I left at 11pm last night, he was still macdinking the
X slides for his presentation." See also {fritterware}.
X
Xmachinable: adj. Machine-readable. Having the {softcopy} nature.
X
Xmachoflops: /mach'oh-flops/ [pun on `megaflops', a coinage for
X `millions of floating-point operations per second'] n. Refers to
X artificially inflated performance figures often quoted by computer
X manufacturers. Real applications are lucky to get half the quoted
X speed. See {Your mileage may vary}, {benchmark}.
X
XMacintoy: /mak'in-toy/ n. The Apple Macintosh, considered as a
X {toy}. Less pejorative than {Macintrash}.
X
XMacintrash: /mak'in-trash`/ n. The Apple Macintosh, as described
X by a hacker who doesn't appreciate being kept away from the
X *real computer* by the interface. The term `maggotbox'
X has been reported in regular use in the Research Triangle
X (Raleigh/Durham, NC). Compare {Macintoy}. See also {WIMP
X environment}, {drool-proof paper}, {user-friendly}.
X
Xmacro: /mak'roh/ [techspeak] n. A name (possibly followed by a
X formal {arg} list) that is equated to a text or symbolic
X expression to which it is to be expanded (possibly with the
X substitution of actual arguments) by a macro expander. This
X definition can be found in any technical dictionary; what those
X won't tell you is how the hackish connotations of the term have
X changed over time.
X
X The term `macro' originated in early assemblers, which encouraged
X the use of macros as a structuring and information-hiding device.
X During the early 1970s, macro assemblers became ubiquitous and
X sometimes quite as powerful and expensive as HLLs, only to fall
X from favor as improving compiler technology marginalized assembler
X programming (see {languages of choice}). Nowadays the term is
X most often used in connection with the C preprocessor, LISP, or one
X of several special-purpose languages built around a macro-expansion
X facility (such as TeX or UNIX's [nt]roff suite).
X
X Indeed, the meaning has drifted enough that the collective `macros'
X is now sometimes used for code in any special-purpose application
X control language (whether or not the language is actually
X translated by text expansion) as well as other `expansions' such as
X the `keyboard macros' supported in some text editors (and PC TSR
X or Macintosh INIT/CDEV keyboard enhancers).
X
Xmacro-: pref. Large. Opposite of {micro-}. In the mainstream
X and among other technical cultures (for example, medical people)
X this competes with the prefix {mega-}, but hackers tend to
X restrict the latter to quantification.
X
Xmacrology: /mak-ro'l*-jee/ n. 1. Set of usually complex or crufty
X macros, e.g., as part of a large system written in {LISP},
X {TECO}, or (less commonly) assembler. 2. The art and science
X involved in comprehending a macrology in sense #1. Sometimes
X studying the macrology of a system is not unlike archeology,
X ecology, or {theology}, hence the sound-alike construction. See
X also {boxology}.
X
Xmacrotape: /ma'kroh-tayp/ n. An industry standard reel of tape, as
X opposed to a {microtape}.
X
Xmaggotbox: n. See {Macintrash}. This is even more derogatory.
X
Xmagic: adj. 1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain;
X compare {automagically} and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law: "Any
X sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
X "TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits."
X "This routine magically computes the parity of an eight-bit byte
X in three instructions." 2. Characteristic of something that
X works but no one really understands why (this is especially called
X {black magic}). 3. [Stanford] A feature not generally
X publicized that allows something otherwise impossible, or a feature
X formerly in that category but now unveiled. Example: The keyboard
X commands which override the screen-hiding features. Compare
X {black magic}, {wizardly}, {deep magic}, {heavy wizardry}.
X
X For more about hackish `magic', see Appendix A.
X
Xmagic cookie: [UNIX] n. 1. Something passed between routines or
X programs that enables the receiver to perform some operation; a
X capability ticket or opaque identifier. Especially used of small
X data objects which contain data encoded in a strange or
X intrinsically machine-dependent way. E.g., on non-UNIX OSes with a
X non-byte-stream model of files, the result of `ftell(3)' may
X be a magic cookie rather than a byte offset; it can be passed to
X `fseek(3)', but not operated on in any meaningful way. The
X phrase `it hands you a magic cookie' means it returns a result
X whose contents are not defined but which can be passed back to the
X same or some other program later. 2. An in-band code for
X changing graphic rendition (e.g., inverse video or underlining) or
X performing other control functions. Some older terminals would
X leave a blank on the screen corresponding to mode-change magic
X cookies; this was also called a {glitch}. See also {cookie}.
X
Xmagic number: [UNIX/C] n. 1. In source code, some non-obvious
X constant whose value is significant to the operation of a program
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 10, continue with part 11'
echo 11 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0