eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part08
---- Cut Here and feed the following to sh ----
#!/bin/sh
# this is jargon.08 (part 8 of jargon)
# do not concatenate these parts, unpack them in order with /bin/sh
# file jargon.ascii continued
#
if test ! -r _shar_seq_.tmp; then
echo 'Please unpack part 1 first!'
exit 1
fi
(read Scheck
if test "$Scheck" != 8; then
echo Please unpack part "$Scheck" next!
exit 1
else
exit 0
fi
) < _shar_seq_.tmp || exit 1
if test -f _shar_wnt_.tmp; then
sed 's/^X//' << 'SHAR_EOF' >> 'jargon.ascii' &&
X against changes so it can be released with some hope of stability.
X Carries the strong implication that the item in question will
X `unfreeze' at some future date. "OK, fix that bug and we'll
X freeze for release."
X
XFReq: // [FidoNet] Abbreviation for {File Request}.
X
Xfried: adj. 1. Non-working due to hardware failure; burnt out.
X Especially used of hardware brought down by a `power glitch'
X (see {glitch}), {drop-outs}, a short, or other electrical
X event. (Sometimes this literally happens to electronic circuits!
X In particular, resistors can burn out and transformers can melt
X down, emitting noxious smoke. However, this term is also used
X metaphorically.) Compare {frotzed}. 2. Of people, exhausted.
X Said particularly of those who continue to work in such a state.
X Often used as an explanation or excuse. "Yeah, I know that fix
X destroyed the file system, but I was fried when I put it in."
X
Xfriode: /frie'ohdz/ [TMRC] n. A reversible (that is, fused or
X blown) diodes. Compare {fried}.
X
Xfritterware: n. An excess of capability that serves no productive
X end. The canonical example is font-diddling software on the Mac
X (see {macdink}); the term describes anything that eats huge
X amounts of time for quite marginal gains in function, but seduces
X people into using it anyway.
X
Xfrob: /frob/ 1. n. [MIT] The TMRC definition was `FROB = a
X protruding arm or trunnion', and by metaphoric extension a frob is
X any random small thing; an object that you can comfortably hold in
X one hand; something you can frob. See {frobnitz}. 2. vt.
X Abbreviated form of {frobnicate}. 3. [from the {MUD} world]
X A command on some MUDs that changes a player's experience level
X (this can be used to make wizards); also, to request {wizard}
X privileges on the `professional courtesy' grounds that one is a
X wizard elsewhere.
X
Xfrobnicate: /frob'ni-kayt/ vt. [Poss. derived from {frobnitz}, and
X usually abbreviated to {frob}, but `frobnicate' is recognized
X as the official full form.] To manipulate or adjust, to tweak.
X One frequently frobs bits or other two-state devices. Thus:
X "Please frob the light switch." (that is, flip it), but also
X "Stop frobbing that clasp; you'll break it." One also sees the
X construction `to frob a frob'. See {tweak} and {twiddle}.
X Usage: frob, twiddle, and tweak sometimes connote
X points along a continuum. `Frob' connotes aimless manipulation;
X `twiddle' connotes gross manipulation, often a coarse search for
X a proper setting; `tweak' connotes fine-tuning. If someone is
X turning a knob on an oscilloscope, then if he's carefully adjusting
X it, he is probably tweaking it; if he is just turning it but looking
X at the screen, he is probably twiddling it; but if he's just doing
X it because turning a knob is fun, he's frobbing it. The variant
X `frobnosticate' has been recently reported.
X
Xfrobnitz: /frob'nits/, pl. `frobnitzem' (frob'nit-zm) n. An
X unspecified physical object, a widget. Also refers to electronic
X black boxes. This rare form is usually abbreviated to `frotz',
X or more commonly to {frob}. Also used are `frobnule'
X (/frob'n[y]ool/) and `frobule' (/frob'nool/). Starting perhaps
X in 1979, `frobozz' /fruh-boz'/, plural `frobbotzim'
X /fruh-bot'z*m/ has also become very popular, largely due to its
X exposure as a name via {Zork}. These can also be applied to
X nonphysical objects, such as data structures.
X
Xfrog: alt. `phrog' 1. interj. Term of disgust (we seem to have
X a lot of them). 2. Used as a name for just about anything. See
X {foo}. 3. n. Of things, a crock. 4. n. Of people, somewhere
X in between a turkey and a toad. 5. `froggy': adj. Similar to
X `bagbiting' (see {bagbiter}), but milder. "This froggy
X program is taking forever to run!"
X
Xfront end: n. 1. An intermediary computer that does set-up and
X filtering for another (usually more powerful but less friendly)
X machine (a `back end'). 2. What you're talking to when you
X have a conversation with someone who is making replies without
X paying attention. "Look at the dancing elephants!" "Uh-huh."
X "Do you know what I just said?" "Sorry, you were talking to the
X front end." See also {fepped out}. 3. Software which provides
X an interface to another program `behind' it, which may not be as
X user-friendly. Probably from analogy with hardware front-ends (see
X sense #1) which interfaced with mainframes.
X
Xfrotz: /frotz/ 1. n. See {frobnitz}. 2. `mumble frotz': An
X interjection of very mild disgust.
X
Xfrotzed: /frotzt/ adj. {down} due to hardware problems. Compare
X {fried}. A machine which is merely frotzed may be fixable
X without replacing parts, but a fried machine is more seriously
X damaged.
X
Xfry: 1. vi. To fail. Said especially of smoke-producing hardware
X failures. More generally, to become non-working. Usage: never
X said of software, only of hardware and humans. See {fried}, {magic
X smoke}. 2. vt. To cause to fail; to {roach}, {toast}, or {hose} a
X piece of hardware (never used of software or humans).
X
XFTP: /ef-tee-pee/, *not* /fit'ip/ 1. [techspeak] n. The File
X Transfer Protocol for transmitting files between systems on the
X Internet. 2. vt. To {beam} a file using the File Transfer
X Protocol. 3. Sometimes used as a generic even for file transfers
X not using {FTP}. "Lemme get this copy of `Wuthering
X Heights' ftp'd from uunet."
X
XFUBAR: n. The Failed UniBus Address Register in the PDP-11
X emulation part of a VAX. A good example of how jargon can
X occasionally be snuck past the {suit}s; see {foobar}.
X
Xfuck me harder: excl. Sometimes uttered in response to egregious
X misbehavior, esp. in software, and esp. of those which seem
X unfairly persistent (as though designed in by the imp of the
X perverse). Often theatrically elaborated: "Aiighhh! Fuck me with
X a piledriver and sixteen feet of curare-tipped wrought-iron fence
X *and no lubricants!*" The phrase is sometimes heard
X abbreviated FMH in polite company.
X
XFUD: /fuhd/ n. Defined by Gene Amdahl after he left IBM to found
X his own company: "FUD is the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that IBM
X sales people instill in the minds of potential customers who might
X be considering [Amdahl] products." The idea, of course, was to
X persuade them to go with safe IBM gear rather than with
X competitors' equipment. This was traditionally done by promising
X that Good Things would happen to people who stuck with IBM, but
X Dark Shadows loomed over the future of competitors' equipment or
X software. See {IBM}.
X
XFUD wars: /fuhd worz/ n. [from {FUD}] Political posturing engaged in
X by hardware and software vendors ostensibly committed to
X standardization but actually willing to fragment the market to
X protect their own shares. The UNIX International vs. OSF conflict,
X for example.
X
Xfudge: 1. vt. To perform in an incomplete but marginally acceptable
X way, particularly with respect to the writing of a program. "I
X didn't feel like going through that pain and suffering, so I fudged
X it --- I'll fix it later." 2. n. The resulting code.
X
Xfudge factor: n. A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way
X to produce the desired result. The terms `tolerance' and
X {slop} are also used, though these usually indicate a one-sided
X leeway, such as a buffer that is made larger than necessary
X because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to be, and it is
X better to waste a little space than to lose completely for not
X having enough. A fudge factor, on the other hand, can often be
X tweaked in more than one direction. A good example is the `fuzz'
X typically allowed in floating-point calculations: two numbers being
X compared for equality must be allowed to differ by a small amount;
X if that amount is too small, a computation may never terminate,
X while if it is too large, results will be needlessly inaccurate.
X Fudge factors are frequently adjusted incorrectly by programmers
X who don't fully understand their import. See also {coefficient
X of x}.
X
Xfuel up: vi. To eat or drink hurriedly in order to get back to
X hacking. "Food-p?" "Yeah, let's fuel up." "Time for a
X {great-wall}!" See also {{Oriental Food}}.
X
Xfuggly: /fuhg'lee/ adj. Emphatic form of {funky}; funky + ugly (or
X possibly a contraction of `fuckin' ugly'). Unusually for hacker
X jargon, this may actually derive from black street-jive. To say it
X properly, the first syllable should be growled rather than spoken.
X Usage: humorous. "Man, the {{ASCII}}-to-{{EBCDIC}} code in that printer
X driver is *fuggly*." See also {wonky}.
X
Xfunky: adj. Said of something that functions, but in a slightly
X strange, klugey way. It does the job and would be difficult to
X change, so its obvious non-optimality is left alone. Often used to
X describe interfaces. The more bugs something has that nobody has
X bothered to fix because workarounds are easier, the funkier it is.
X {TECO} and UUCP are funky. The Intel i860's exception handling is
X extraordinarily funky. Most standards acquire funkiness as they
X age. "The new mailer is installed, but is still somewhat funky;
X if it bounces your mail for no reason, try resubmitting it."
X "This UART is pretty funky. The data ready line is active-high in
X interrupt mode, and active-low in DMA mode." See {fuggly}.
X
Xfunny money: n. 1. Notional `dollar' units of computing time and/or
X storage handed to students at the beginning of a computer course;
X also called `play money' or `purple money' (in implicit
X opposition to real or `green' money). When your funny money
X ran out, your account froze and you needed to go to a professor to
X get more. Fortunately, the plunging cost of timesharing cycles has
X made this less common. The amounts allocated were almost
X invariably too small, even for the non-hackers who wanted to slide
X by with minimum work. In extreme cases, the practice led to
X small-scale black markets in bootlegged computer accounts. 2. By
X extension, phantom money or quantity tickets of any kind used as a
X resource-allocation hack within a system. Antonym: `real
X money'.
X
Xfuzzball: [TCP/IP hackers] n. A DEC LSI-11 running a particular suite
X of homebrewed software by Dave Mills and assorted co-conspirators,
X used in the early 1980s for Internet protocol testbedding and
X experimentation. These were used as NSFnet backbone sites in its
X early 56KB-line days; a few of these are still active on the
X Internet as of early 1990, doing odd jobs such as network time
X service.
X
X= G =
X=====
X
XG: pref. (on units) suff. (on numbers) See {{quantifiers}}.
X
Xgabriel: /gay'bree-*l/ [for Dick Gabriel, SAIL LISP hacker and
X volleyball fanatic] n. An unnecessary (in the opinion of the
X opponent) stalling tactic, e.g., tying one's shoelaces or hair
X repeatedly, asking the time, etc. Also used to refer to the
X perpetrator of such tactics. Also, `pulling a Gabriel',
X `Gabriel mode'.
X
Xgag: vi. Equivalent to {choke}, but connotes more disgust. "Hey,
X this is FORTRAN code. No wonder the C compiler gagged." See also
X {barf}.
X
Xgang bang: n. The use of large numbers of loosely coupled
X programmers in an attempt to wedge a great many features into a
X product in a short time. While there have been memorable gang
X bangs (e.g., that over-the-weekend assembler port mentioned in
X Steven Levy's `Hackers'), most are perpetrated by large
X companies trying to meet deadlines and produce enormous buggy
X masses of code entirely lacking in orthogonality (see
X {orthogonal}). When market-driven managers make a list of all
X the features the competition has and assign one programmer to
X implement each, they often miss the importance of maintaining a
X coherent design. See also {firefighting}, {Mongolian Hordes
X technique}, {Conway's Law}.
X
Xgarbage collect: vi. (also `garbage collection', n.) See {GC}.
X
Xgarply: /gar'plee/ [Stanford] n. Another meta-syntactic variable (see
X {foo}); formerly popular among SAIL hackers.
X
Xgas: [as in `gas chamber'] 1. interj. A term of disgust and
X hatred, implying that gas should be dispensed in generous
X quantities, thereby exterminating the source of irritation. "Some
X loser just reloaded the system for no reason! Gas!" 2. interj. A
X suggestion that someone or something ought to be flushed out of
X mercy. "The system's wedging every few minutes. Gas!" 3. vt.
X To {flush} (sense #1). "You should gas that old crufty
X software." 4. [IBM] n. Dead space in nonsequentially organized
X files that was occupied by data that has been deleted; the
X compression operation that removes it is called `degassing' (by
X analogy, perhaps, with the use of the same term in vacuum
X technology).
X
Xgaseous: adj. Deserving of being {gas}sed. Disseminated by Geoff
X Goodfellow while at SRI; became particularly popular after the
X Moscone/Milk murders in San Francisco, when it was learned that the
X defendant Dan White (a politician who had who supported Proposition
X 7) would get the gas chamber under Proposition 7 if convicted. He
X was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity.
X
XGC: /jee-see/ [from LISP terminology; `Garbage Collect']
X 1. vt. To clean up and throw away useless things. "I think I'll
X GC the top of my desk today." When said of files, this is
X equivalent to {GFR}. 2. vt. To recycle, reclaim, or put to
X another use. 3. n. An instantiation of the garbage collector
X process.
X
X `Garbage collection' is computer science jargon for a particular
X class of strategies for dynamically reallocating computer memory.
X One such strategy involves periodically scanning all the data in
X memory and determining what is no longer accessible; useless data
X items are then discarded so that the memory they occupy can be
X recycled and used for another purpose. Implementations of the LISP
X language usually use garbage collection.
X
X In jargon, the full phrase is sometimes heard but the {abbrev} is
X more frequently used because it's shorter. Note that there is an
X ambiguity in usage that has to be resolved by context: "I'm going
X to garbage-collect my desk" usually means to clean out the
X drawers, but it could also mean to throw away or recycle the desk
X itself.
X
XGCOS: n. A {quick and dirty} {clone} of System/360 DOS that emerged
X from GE about 1970; originally called GECOS (the General Electric
X Comprehensive Operating System). Later kluged to support
X primitive timesharing and transaction processing. After the buyout
X of GE's computer division by Honeywell, the name was changed to
X General Comprehensive Operating System (GCOS). Other OS groups at
X Honeywell began referring to it as `God's Chosen Operating System',
X allegedly in reaction to the GCOS crowd's uninformed and snotty
X attitude about the superiority of their product. All this might be
X of zero interest, except for two facts: (1) the GCOS people won the
X political war, resulting in the orphaning and eventual death of
X Honeywell {Multics}, and (2) GECOS/GCOS left one permanent mark
X on UNIX. Some early UNIX systems at Bell Labs were used as front
X ends to GCOS machines; the field added to /etc/passwd to carry GCOS
X ID information was called the `GECOS field' and survives today as
X the pw_gecos member used for the user's full name and other
X human-id information. GCOS later played a major role in keeping
X Honeywell a dismal also-ran in the mainframe market, and was itself
X ditched for UNIX in the late 1980s when Honeywell retired its aging
X {big iron} designs.
X
XGECOS: n. See GCOS.
X
Xgedanken: /g*-dahn'kn/ adj. Ungrounded; impractical; not
X well-thought-out; untried; untested. `Gedanken' is a German word
X for `thought'. A thought experiment is one you carry out in your
X head. In physics, the term `gedanken experiment' is used to
X refer to an experiment that is impractical to carry out, but useful
X to consider because you can reason about it theoretically. (A
X classic gedanken experiment of relativity theory involves thinking
X about a man in an elevator accelerating through space.) Gedanken
X experiments are very useful in physics, but you have to be careful.
X It was a gedanken experiment that led Aristotle to conclude that
X heavy things always fall faster than light things (he thought about
X a rock and a feather); this was accepted until Galileo proved
X otherwise.
X
X Among hackers, however, the word has a pejorative connotation. It
X is said of a project, especially one in artificial intelligence
X research, which is written up in grand detail (typically as a Ph.D.
X thesis) without ever being implemented to any great extent. Such a
X project is usually perpetrated by people who aren't very good
X hackers or find programming distasteful or are just in a hurry. A
X gedanken thesis is usually marked by an obvious lack of intuition
X about what is programmable and what is not, and about what does and
X does not constitute a clear specification of an algorithm. See
X also {DWIM}.
X
Xh{geef} v. [ostensibly from `gefingerpoken'] vt. Syn. {mung}. See
X also {blinkenlights}.
X
Xgeek out: vi. To temporarily enter techno-nerd mode while in a
X non-hackish context, for example at parties held near computer
X equipment. Especially used when you need to do something highly
X technical and don't have time to explain: "Pardon me while I geek
X out for a moment."
X
Xgen: /jen/ n.,v. Short for {generate}, used frequently in both spoken
X and written contexts.
X
Xgender mender: n., A cable connector shell with either two male or
X two female connectors on it, used to correct the mismatches that
X result when some {loser} didn't understand the RS232C
X specification and the distinction between DTE and DCE. Used esp.
X for RS-232C parts in either the original D-25 or the IBM PC's bogus
X D-9 format. Also called a `gender bender', `gender
X blender', `sex changer', and even `homosexual adaptor';
X there appears to be some confusion as to whether a `male homosexual
X adapter' has pins on both sides (is male) or sockets on both sides
X (connects two males).
X
XGeneral Public Virus: n. Pejorative name for some versions of the
X {GNU} project {copyleft} or General Public License (GPL), which
X requires that any tools or {app}s incorporating copylefted code
X must be source-distributed on the same counter-commercial terms as
X GNU stuff. Thus it is alleged that the copyleft `infects' software
X generated with GNU tools, which may in turn infect other software
X that reuses any of its code. The Free Software Foundation's
X official position as of January 1991 is that copyright law limits
X the scope of the GPL to "programs textually incorporating
X significant amounts of GNU code", and that the `infection' is not
X passed on to third parties unless actual GNU source is transmitted
X (as in, for example, use of the Bison parser skeleton).
X Nevertheless, widespread suspicion that the {copyleft} language
X is `boobytrapped' has caused many developers to avoid using GNU
X tools and the GPL.
X
Xgenerate: vt. To produce something according to an algorithm or
X program or set of rules, or as a (possibly unintended) side effect
X of the execution of an algorithm or program. The opposite of
X {parse}. This term retains its mechanistic connotations (though
X often humorously) when used of human behavior. "The guy is
X rational most of the time, but mention nuclear energy around him
X and he'll generate {infinite} flamage."
X
Xgensym: [from MacLisp for `generated symbol'] 1. v. To invent a new
X name for something temporary, in such a way that the name is almost
X certainly not already in conflict with one already in use. 2. n.
X The resulting name. The canonical form of a gensym is `Gnnnn'
X where nnnn represents a number; any LISP hacker would recognize
X G0093 (for example) as a gensym. 3. A freshly generated data
X structure with a gensymmed name. These are useful for storing or
X uniquely identifying crufties (see {cruft}).
X
XGet a life!: imp. Hacker-standard way of suggesting that the person
X to whom you are speaking has succumbed to terminal geekdom (see
X {computer geek}). Often heard on {USENET}, esp. as a way of
X suggesting that the target is taking some obscure issue of
X {theology} too seriously. This exhortation was popularized by
X William Shatner on a Saturday Night Live episode in a speech which
X ended "Get a *life*!", but some respondents believe it to
X have been in use before then.
X
XGet a real computer!: imp. Typical hacker response to news that
X somebody is having trouble getting work done on a system that (a)
X is single-tasking, (b) has no hard disk, or (c) has an address
X space smaller than 4 megabytes. This is as of mid-1991; note that
X the threshold for `real computer' rises with time, and it may well
X be (for example) that machines with character-only displays will be
X generally considered `unreal' in a few years (GLS points out that
X they already are in some circles). See {essentials}, {bitty
X box} and {toy}.
X
XGFR: /jee eff ar/ vt. [acronym, ITS] From "Grim File Reaper", an
X ITS utility. To remove a file or files according to some
X program-automated or semi-automatic manual procedure, especially
X one designed to reclaim mass storage space or reduce namespace
X clutter. Often generalized to pieces of data below file level.
X "I used to have his phone number but I guess I {GFR}ed it." See
X also {prowler}, {reaper}. Compare {GC}, which discards only
X provably worthless stuff.
X
Xgig: /jig/ or /gig/ n. See {{quantifiers}}.
X
Xgiga-: /ji'ga/ or /gi'ga/ pref. See {{quantifiers}}.
X
XGIGO: /gie'goh/ [acronym] 1. Garbage In, Garbage out --- usually said
X in response to {luser}s who complain that a program didn't complain
X about faulty data. Also commonly used to describe failures in
X human decision making due to faulty, incomplete, or imprecise data.
X 2. Garbage In, Gospel Out --- this more recent expansion is a
X sardonic comment on the tendency human beings have to put excessive
X trust in "computerized" data.
X
Xgillion: /jill'y*n/ n. 10 ^ 9. [From {giga-}, following
X construction of mega/million and notional tera/trillion] Same as an
X American billion or a British `milliard'.
X
XGIPS: /gips/ or /jips/ [analogy with {MIPS}] n. Giga-Instructions
X per Second (also possibly `Gillions of Instructions per Second; see
X {gillion}). How one pronounces this depends on whether one
X speaks {giga-} with hard or soft `g'. In 1991 this is used of
X only a handful of highly parallel machines, but this is expected to
X change. Compare {KIPS}.
X
Xglark: /glark/ vt. To figure something out from context. "The
X System III manuals are pretty poor, but you can generally glark the
X meaning from context." Interestingly, the word was originally
X `glork'; the context was: "This gubblick contains many nonsklarkish
X English flutzpahs, but the overall pluggandisp can be glorked [sic]
X from context", by David Moser, quoted by Douglas Hofstadter in his
X `Metamagical Themas' column in the January 1981 Scientific
X American. It is conjectured that hackish usage mutated the verb to
X `glark' because {glork} was already an established jargon term.
X
Xglass: [IBM] n. Synonym for {silicon}.
X
Xglass tty: /glas tee-tee-wie/ or /glas ti'tee/ n. A terminal which
X has a display screen but which, because of hardware or software
X limitations, behaves like a teletype or other printing terminal,
X thereby combining the disadvantages of both: like a printing
X terminal, it can't do fancy display hacks, and like a display
X terminal, it doesn't produce hard copy. An example is the early
X `dumb' version of Lear-Siegler ADM-3 (without cursor control). See
X {tube}, {tty}. See Appendix A for an interesting true story
X about a glass tty.
X
Xglassfet: /glas'fet/ [by analogy with MOSFET the acronym for
X Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor] n. Syn.
X {firebottle}, a humorous way to refer to a vacuum tube.
X
Xglitch: /glich/ [from German `glitschen' to slip, via Yiddish
X `glitshen', to slide or skid] 1. n. A sudden interruption in
X electric service, sanity, continuity, or program function.
X Sometimes recoverable. An interruption in electric service is
X specifically called a `power glitch'. This is of grave concern
X because it usually crashes all the computers. More common in
X jargon, though, a hacker who got to the middle of a sentence and
X then forgot how he or she intended to complete it might say,
X "Sorry, I just glitched". 2. vi. To commit a glitch. See
X {gritch}. 3. vt. [Stanford] To scroll a display screen several
X lines at a time. This derives from some oddities in the terminal
X behavior under {WAITS}. 4. obs. Same as {magic cookie},
X sense #2.
X
X All these uses of `glitch' derive from the specific technical
X meaning the term has to hardware people. If the inputs of a
X circuit change, and the outputs change to some {random} value for
X some very brief time before they settle down to the correct value,
X then that is called a glitch. This may or may not be harmful,
X depending on what the circuit is connected to. This term is found
X in electronic texts.
X
Xglob: /glob/, *not* /glohb/ [UNIX] vt.,n. To expand special
X characters in a wildcarded name, or the act of so doing (the action
X is also called `globbing'). The UNIX conventions for filename
X wildcarding have become sufficiently pervasive that many hackers
X use some of them in written English, especially in email or news on
X technical topics. Those commonly encountered include:
X
X * wildcard for any string (see also {UN*X}).
X ? wildcard for any character (generally only read this way
X at the beginning or in the middle of a word).
X [] delimits a wildcard matching any of the enclosed characters.
X {} alternation of comma-separated alternatives. Thus,
X `foo{baz,qux}' would be read as `foobaz' or `fooqux'.
X
X Some examples: "He said his name was [KC]arl" (expresses
X ambiguity). "That got posted to talk.politics.*" (all the
X talk.politics subgroups on {USENET}). Other examples are given
X under the entry for {X}. Compare {regexp}.
X
X Historical note: the jargon usage derives from `glob', the
X name of a subprogram that expanded wildcards in archaic Bourne
X Shell versions; this was necessary because early UNIX machines had
X so little memory that the glob routine and the rest of the shell
X could not be co-resident within 64K of code plus data.
X
Xglork: /glork/ 1. interj. Term of mild surprise, usually tinged with
X outrage, as when one attempts to save the results of two hours of
X editing and finds that the system has just crashed. 2. Used as a
X name for just about anything. See {foo}. 3. vt. Similar to
X {glitch}, but usually used reflexively. "My program just glorked
X itself."
X
Xglue: n. Generic term for any interface logic or protocol that
X connects between two component blocks. For example, the {Blue
X Glue} is IBM's SNA protocol, and hardware designers call anything
X used to connect large VLSI's or circuit blocks "glue logic".
X
Xgnarly: adj. Both {obscure} and {hairy} in the sense of complex.
X "Yeech --- the tuned assembler implementation of BitBlt is really
X gnarly!" From a similar but less specific usage in surfer slang.
X
XGNU: /gnoo/, *not* /noo/ 1. [acronym, `GNU's Not UNIX!',
X see {{recursive acronyms}}] A UNIX-workalike development effort of
X the Free Software Foundation headed by Richard Stallman
X (rms@mole.ai.mit.edu). GNU EMACS and the GNU C compiler, two
X tools designed for this project, have become very popular in
X hackerdom and elsewhere. The GNU project was designed partly to
X proselytize for RMS's position that information is community
X property and all software source should be shared. One of its
X slogans is "Help stamp out software hoarding!" Though this
X remains controversial (because it implicitly denies any right of
X designers to own, assign, and sell the results of their labors),
X many hackers who disagree with him have nevertheless cooperated to
X produce large amounts of high-quality software available for free
X redistribution under the Free Software Foundation imprimatur. See
X {EMACS}, {copyleft}, {General Public Virus}. 2. Noted UNIX
X hacker John Gilmore (gnu@toad.com), founder of USENET's anarchic
X alt.* hierarchy.
X
XGNUMACS: /gnoo'maks/ [contraction of `GNU EMACS'] Often-heard
X abbreviated name for the {GNU} project's flagship tool, {EMACS}.
X Used esp. in contrast with {GOSMACS}.
X
Xgo flatline: [from cyberpunk SF, refers to flattening of EEG traces
X upon brain-death] vi., also adjectival `flatlined'. 1. To die,
X terminate, or fail, esp. irreversibly. In hacker parlance, this is
X used of machines only, human death being considered somewhat too
X serious a matter to employ jargon-jokes about. 2. To go completely
X quiescent; said of machines undergoing controlled shutdown. "You
X can suffer file damage if you shut down UNIX but power off before
X the system has gone flatline." 3. Of a video tube, to fail by
X losing vertical scan, so all one sees is a bright horizontal line
X bisecting the screen.
X
Xgo root: [UNIX] vi. To temporarily enter {root mode} in order to
X perform a privileged operation. This use is deprecated in
X Australia, where v. `root' is roughly synonymous with `fuck'.
X
Xgobble: vt. To consume or to obtain. The phrase `gobble up' tends to
X imply `consume', while `gobble down' tends to imply `obtain'.
X "The output spy gobbles characters out of a {tty} output buffer."
X "I guess I'll gobble down a copy of the documentation tomorrow."
X See also {snarf}.
X
X{Godzillagram} n. [from Japan's national hero] 1. A network packet
X that in theory is a broadcast to every machine in the universe.
X The typical case of this is an IP datagram whose destination IP
X address is [255.255.255.255]. Fortunately, few gateways are
X foolish enough to attempt to implement this! 2. A network packet
X of maximum size. An IP Godzillagram has 65,536 octets.
X
Xgolden: adj. [perh. from folklore's `golden egg'] When used to
X describe a magnetic medium (e.g. `golden disk', `golden tape'),
X describes one containing a tested, up-to-spec, ready-to-ship
X software version. Compare {platinum-iridium}.
X
Xgolf-ball printer: n. A slow but letter-quality printing device and
X terminal (the IBM 2741) based on the IBM Selectric typewriter. The
X `golf ball' was a round object bearing mirror-image embossed images
X of 88 different characters (arranged on four lines of latitude);
X one could change the font by swapping in a different golf ball.
X This was the technology that enabled APL to use a non-EBCDIC,
X non-ASCII, and in fact completely non-standard character set; this
X put it ten years ahead of its time --- where it stayed, firmly
X rooted, for the next twenty, until character displays gave way to
X programmable bit-mapped devices with the flexibility to support
X other character sets.
X
Xgonk: /gonk/ vt.,n. 1. To prevaricate or to embellish the truth
X beyond any reasonable recognition. It is alleged that in German
X the term is (fictively) `gonken', in Spanish the verb becomes
X `gonkar'. "You're gonking me. That story you just told me is a
X bunch of gonk." In German, for example, "Du gonkst mir" (You're
X pulling my leg). See also {gonkulator}. 2. [British] To grab some
X sleep at an odd time; compare {gronk} (sense #4).
X
Xgonkulator: /gon'kyoo-lay-tr/ [from the old `Hogan's Heroes' TV
X series] n. A pretentious piece of equipment that actually serves no
X useful purpose. Usually used to describe one's least favorite
X piece of computer hardware. See {gonk}.
X
Xgonzo: /gon'zo/ [from Hunter S. Thompson] adj. Overwhelming;
X outrageous; over the top; very large, esp. used of collections of
X source code, source files or individual functions. Has some of the
X connotations of {moby} and {hairy}.
X
XGood Thing: n.,adj. Often capitalized; always pronounced as if
X capitalized. 1. Self-evidently wonderful to anyone in a position
X to notice: "The Trailblazer's 19.2Kbaud PEP mode with on-the-fly
X Lempel-Ziv compression is a Good Thing for sites relaying
X netnews." 2. Something that can't possibly have any ill
X side-effects and may save considerable grief later: "Removing the
X self-modifying code from that shared library would be a Good
X Thing." 3. When said of software tools or libraries, as in "YACC
X is a Good Thing", specifically connotes that the thing has
X drastically reduced a programmer's work load. Oppose {Bad
X Thing}.
X
Xgorilla arm: n. The side-effect that destroyed touch-screens as a
X mainstream input technology despite a promising start in the early
X eighties. It seems the designers of all those {spiffy}
X touch-menu systems failed to notice that humans aren't designed to
X hold their arms in front of their faces making small motions.
X After more than a very few selections, the arm begins to feel sore,
X cramped, and oversized, hence `gorilla arm'. This is now
X considered a classic cautionary tale to human-factors designers;
X "Remember the gorilla arm!" is shorthand for "How's this gonna
X fly in *real* use?".
X
Xgorp: /gorp/ [CMU, perhaps from the canonical hiker's food, Good
X Old Raisins and Peanuts] Another metasyntactic variable, like
X {foo} and {bar}.
X
XGOSMACS: /goz'maks/ [contraction of `Gosling EMACS'] n. The first
X {EMACS}-in-C implementation, predating but now largely eclipsed by
X {GNUMACS}. Originally freeware; a commercial version is now
X modestly popular as `UniPress EMACS'. The author (James Gosling)
X went on to invent {NeWS}.
X
XGosperism: /gos'p*r-iz-m/ A hack, invention, or saying by
X arch-hacker R. William (Bill) Gosper. This notion merits its own
X term because there are so many of them. Many of the entries in
X {HAKMEM} are Gosperisms; see also {life}.
X
Xgotcha: n. A {misfeature} of a system, especially a programming
X language or environment, that tends to breed bugs or mistakes
X because it behaves in an unexpected way. For example, a classic
X gotcha in {C} is the fact that `if (a=b) {code;}' is
X syntactically valid and sometimes even correct. It puts the value
X of b into a and then executes `code' if a is non-zero. What
X the programmer probably meant was `if (a==b) {code;}' which
X executes `code' if a and b are equal.
X
XGPL: n. Abbrev. for `General Public License' in widespread use; see
X {copyleft}.
X
XGPV: n. Abbrev. for {General Public Virus} in widespread use.
X
Xgrault: /grawlt/ n. Yet another meta-syntactic variable, invented by
X Mike Gallaher and propagated by the {GOSMACS} documentation. See
X {corge}.
X
Xgray goo: n. A hypothetical substance composed of {sagan}s of
X sub-micron-sized self-replicating robots programmed to make copies
X of themselves out of whatever is available. The image that goes
X with the term is one of the entire biosphere of Earth being
X eventually converted to robot goo. This is the simplest of the
X {{nanotechnology}} disaster scenarios, easily refuted by arguments
X from energy requirements and elemental abundances. Compare {blue
X goo}.
X
XGreat Renaming: n. The {flag day} on which all of the groups on the
X {USENET} had their names changed from the net.- format to the
X current multiple-hierarchies scheme.
X
XGreat Runes: n. Uppercase-only text or display messages. Some
X archaic operating systems still emit these. See also {runes},
X {smash case}, {fold case}.
X
Xgreat-wall: [from SF fandom] vi.,n. A mass expedition to an
X Oriental restaurant, esp. one where food is served family-style
X and shared. There is a common heuristic about the amount of food
X to order, expressed as "Get `N - 1' entrees"; the value of
X N, which is the number of people in the group, can be inferred from
X context (see {N}). See {{Oriental Food}}, {ravs},
X {stir-fried random}.
X
XGreen Book: n. 1. One of the three standard PostScript references
X (`PostScript Language Program Design', Adobe Systems,
X Addison-Wesley 1988, QA76.73.P67P66 ISBN 0-201-14396-8); see also
X {Red Book}, {Blue Book}). 2. Informal name for one of the three
X standard references on SmallTalk: `Smalltalk-80: Bits of
X History, Words of Advice', Glenn Krasner, Addison-Wesley 1983,
X QA76.8.S635S58, ISBN 0-201-11669-3 (this, too, is associated with
X blue and red books). 3. The `X/Open Compatibility Guide'.
X Defines an international standard {UNIX} environment that is a
X proper superset of POSIX/SVID; also includes descriptions of a
X standard utility toolkit, systems administrations features, and the
X like. This grimoire is taken with particular seriousness in
X Europe. See {Purple Book}. 4. The IEEE 1003.1 POSIX Operating
X Systems Interface standard has been dubbed "The Ugly Green Book".
X 5. Any of the 1992 standards which will be issued by the CCITT 10th
X plenary assembly. Until now, these have changed color each review
X cycle (1984 was {Red Book}, 1988 {Blue Book}); however, it is
X rumored that this convention is going to be dropped before 1992.
X These include, among other things, the X.400 email spec and the
X Group 1 through 4 fax standards. See also {{book titles}}.
X
Xgreen bytes: n. 1. Meta-information embedded in a file such as the
X length of the file or its name; as opposed to keeping such
X information in a separate description file or record. The term
X comes from an IBM user's group meeting ca.1962 where these two
X approaches were being debated and the diagram of the file on the
X blackboard had the `green bytes' drawn in green. 2. By extension,
X the non-data bits in any self-describing format. "A GIF file
X contains, among other things, green bytes describing the packing
X method for the image."
X
Xgreen card: n. [after the `IBM System/360 Reference Data'
X card] This is used for any summary of an assembly language, even if
X the color is not green. Less frequently used now because of the
X decrease in the use of assembly language. "I'll go get my green
X card so I can check the addressing mode for that instruction."
X Some green cards are actually booklets.
X
X The original green card became a yellow card when the System/370
X was introduced, and later a yellow booklet. An anecdote from IBM
X refers to a scene that took place in a programmers' terminal room
X at Yorktown in 1978. A luser overheard one of the programmers ask
X another "Do you have a green card?" The other grunted and
X passed the first a thick yellow booklet. At this point the luser
X turned a delicate shade of olive and rapidly left the room, never
X to return. See also {card}.
X
Xgreen lightning: [IBM] n. 1. Apparently random flashing streaks on
X the face of 3278-9 terminals while a new symbol set is being
X downloaded. This hardware bug was left deliberately unfixed, as
X some genius within IBM suggested it would let the user know that
X `something is happening'. That, it certainly does. Later
X microprocessor-driven IBM color graphics displays were actually
X *programmed* to produce green lightning! 2. [proposed] Any
X bug perverted into an alleged feature by adroit rationalization or
X marketing. E.g., "Motorola calls the CISC cruft in the 88000
X architecture `compatibility logic', but I call it green
X lightning". See also {feature}.
X
Xgreen machine: n. A computer or peripheral device that has been
X designed and built to military specifications for field equipment
X (that is, to withstand mechanical shock, extremes of temperature
X and humidity, and so forth). Comes from the olive-drab `uniform'
X paint used for military equipment.
X
XGreen's Theorem: [TMRC] prov. For any story, in any group of people
X there will be at least one person who has not heard the story.
X
Xgrep: /grep/ [from the qed/ed editor idiom g/re/p , where
X re stands for a regular expression, to Globally search for the
X Regular Expression and Print the lines containing matches to it,
X via {UNIX} `grep(1)'] vt. To rapidly scan a file or file set
X looking for a particular string or pattern. By extension, to look
X for something by pattern. "Grep the bulletin board for the system
X backup schedule, would you?" See also {vgrep}.
X
Xgrind: vt. 1. [MIT and Berkeley] To format code, especially LISP
X code, by indenting lines so that it looks pretty. This usage was
X associated with the MacLISP community and is now rare;
X {prettyprint} was and is the generic term for such operations.
X 2. [UNIX] To generate the formatted version of a document from the
X nroff, troff, TeX, or Scribe source. The BSD program
X `vgrind(1)' grinds code for printing on a Versatec bitmapped
X printer. 3. To run seemingly interminably, esp. (but not
X necessarily) if performing some tedious and inherently useless
X task. Similar to {crunch} or {grovel}. Grinding has a
X connotation of using a lot of CPU time, but it is possible to grind
X a disk, network, etc. See also {hog}. 4. To make the whole
X system slow, e.g. "Troff really grinds a PDP-11". 5. `grind
X grind' excl. Roughly, "Isn't the machine slow today!"
X
Xgrind crank: n. A mythical accessory to a terminal. A crank on the
X side of a monitor, which when operated makes a zizzing noise and
X causes the computer to run faster. Usually one does not refer to a
X grind crank out loud, but merely makes the appropriate gesture and
X noise. See {grind}, and {wugga wugga}.
X
X Historical note: At least one real machine actually had a grind
X crank --- the R1, a research machine built towards the the end of
X the days of the great vacuum tube computers in 1959. R1 (also
X known as `The Rice Institute Computer' (TRIC) and later as `The
X Rice University Computer' (TRUC)) had a single-step/free-run switch
X for use when debugging programs. Since single-stepping through a
X large program was rather tedious, there was also a crank with a cam
X and gear arrangement that repeatedly pushed the single-step button.
X This allowed one to `crank' through a lot of code, then slow down
X to single-step a bit when you got near the code of interest, poke
X at some registers using the console typewriter, and then keep on
X cranking.
X
Xgritch: /grich/ 1. n. A complaint (often caused by a {glitch}).
X 2. vi. To complain. Often verb-doubled: "Gritch gritch". 3. A
X synonym for {glitch} (as verb or noun).
X
Xgrok: /grok/, var. /grohk/ [from the novel `Stranger in a
X Strange Land', by Robert Heinlein, where it is a Martian word
X meaning literally `to drink' and metaphorically `to be one
X with'] vt. 1. To understand, usually in a global sense. Connotes
X intimate and exhaustive knowledge. Contrast {zen}, similar
X supernal understanding as a single brief flash. 2. Used of
X programs, may connote merely sufficient understanding, e.g.,
X "Almost all C compilers grok void these days."
X
Xgronk: /gronk/ [popularized by the comic strip `B.C.' by Johnny
X Hart, but the word apparently predates that] vt. 1. To clear the
X state of a wedged device and restart it. More severe than "to
X {frob}". 2. [TMRC] To cut, sever, smash, or similarly
X disable. 3. The sound made by many 3.5-inch diskette drives. In
X particular, the microfloppies on a Commodore Amiga go "grink,
X gronk".
X
Xgronked: adj. 1. Broken. "The teletype scanner was gronked, so
X we took the system down." 2. Of people, the condition of
X feeling very tired or sick. Compare {broken}, which means about
X the same as {gronk} used of hardware but connotes depression or
X mental/emotional problems in people.
X
Xgronk out: vi. To cease functioning. Of people, to go home and go
X to sleep. "I guess I'll gronk out now; see you all tomorrow."
X
Xgrovel: vi. 1. To work interminably and without apparent progress.
X Often used transitively with `over' or `through'. "The file
X scavenger has been grovelling through the file directories for ten
X minutes now." Compare {grind} and {crunch}. Emphatic form:
X `grovel obscenely'. 2. To examine minutely or in complete detail.
X "The compiler grovels over the entire source program before
X beginning to translate it." "I grovelled through all the
X documentation, but I still couldn't find the command I wanted."
X
Xgrunge: /gruhnj/ n. 1. That which is grungy, or that which
X makes it so. 2. [Cambridge] Code which is `dead' (can never be
X accessed) due to changes in other parts of the program. The
X preferred term in North America is {dead code}.
X
Xgubbish: /guh'bish/ [a portmanteau of "garbage" and "rubbish"?]
X n. Garbage; crap; nonsense. "What is all this gubbish?" The
X opposite portmanteau "rubbage" is also reported.
X
Xguiltware: n. 1. {freeware} decorated with a message telling one how
X long and hard the author worked on this program and intimating that
X one is a no-good freeloader if one does not immediately send the
X poor suffering martyr gobs of money. 2. {Shareware} that works.
X
Xgumby: /guhm'bee/ [from a class of Monty Python characters, poss.
X themselves named after the 1960s claymation character] n. An act of
X minor but conspicuous stupidity, often in `gumby maneuver' or
X `pull a gumby'.
X
Xgun: [from the :GUN command on ITS] vt. To forcibly terminate a
X program or job (computer, not career). "Some idiot left a
X background process running soaking up half the cycles, so I gunned
X it." Compare {can}.
X
Xgunch: [TMRC] vt. To push, prod, or poke at a device which has
X almost produced the desired result. Implies a threat to {mung}.
X
Xgurfle: /ger'fl/ interj. An expression of shocked disbelief. "He
X said we have to recode this thing in FORTRAN by next week.
X Gurfle!" Compare {weeble}.
X
Xguru: n. 1. [UNIX] An expert. Implies not only {wizard} skill but a
X history of being a knowledge resource for others. Less often, used
X (with a qualifier) for other experts on other systems, as in `VMS
X guru'. 2. Amiga equivalent of "panic" in UNIX. When the system
X crashes, a cryptic message "GURU MEDITATION #XXXXXXXX.YYYYYYYY"
X appears, indicating what the problem was. An Amiga guru can figure
X things out from the numbers. Generally a {guru} event must be
X followed by a {vulcan nerve pinch}.
X
X= H =
X=====
X
Xh: [from SF fandom] infix. A method of `marking' common words,
X i.e. calling attention to the fact that they are being used in a
X nonstandard, ironic, or humorous way. Orig. in the fannish
X catchphrase "Bheer is the One True Ghod!" from decades ago.
X H-infix marking of `Ghod' and other words spread into the Sixties
X counterculture via underground comix, and into early hackerdom
X either from the counterculture or SF fandom (all three overlapped
X heavily at the time). More recently, the h infix has become an
X expected feature of benchmark names, e.g. Dhrystone, Rhealstone,
X etc.; this is prob. patterning on the original Whetstone (the name
X of a laboratory) but influenced by the fannish/counterculture H
X infix.
X
Xha ha only serious: [from SF fandom, orig. as mutation of HHOK,
X "Ha Ha Only Kidding"] A phrase that aptly captures the flavor of
X much hacker discourse (often seen abbreviated as HHOS). Applied
X especially to parodies, absurdities, and ironic jokes that are both
X intended and perceived to contain a possibly disquieting amount of
X truth, or truths which are constructed on in-joke and self-parody.
X This lexicon contains many examples of ha-ha-only-serious in
X both form and content. Indeed, the entirety of hacker culture is
X often perceived as ha-ha-only-serious by hackers themselves; to
X take it either too lightly or too seriously marks a person as an
X outsider, a {wannabee}, or in {larval stage}. For further
X enlightenment on this subject, consult any Zen master. See also
X {{Humor, Hacker}} and {AI koans}.
X
Xhack: 1. n. Originally a quick job that produces what is needed,
X but not well. 2. n. An incredibly good, and perhaps very
X time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed.
X 3. vt. To bear emotionally or physically. "I can't hack this
X heat!" 4. vt. To work on something (typically a program). In
X specific sense: "What are you doing?" "I'm hacking TECO." In
X general sense: "What do you do around here?" "I hack TECO."
X (The former is time-immediate, the latter time-extended.) More
X generally, "I hack `foo'" is roughly equivalent to
X "`foo' is my major interest (or project)". "I hack
X solid-state physics." 5. vt. To pull a prank on. See sense #2
X and {hacker} (sense #5). 6. vi. To interact with a computer in
X a playful and exploratory, rather than goal-directed way.
X "Whatcha up to?" "Oh, just hacking." 7. n. Short for
X {hacker}, which see. 8. [UNIX] n. A dungeon game similar to
X {rogue} but more elaborate, distributed in C source over
X {USENET} and very popular at UNIX sites and on PC-class machines.
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 8, continue with part 9'
echo 9 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0