eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part05
---- Cut Here and feed the following to sh ----
#!/bin/sh
# this is jargon.05 (part 5 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 "$Scheck" != 5; then
echo Please unpack part "$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 fudging; the term simply acknowledges that some fudging is needed.
X You might talk of liking a movie for its silliness factor.
X Quotient tends to imply that the property is a ratio of two
X opposing factors: "I would have won except for my luck quotient."
X This could also be, "I would have won except for the luck factor",
X but using *quotient* emphasizes that it was bad luck
X overpowering good luck.
X
X `Foo index' and `coefficient of foo' both tend to imply
X that foo is, if not strictly measurable, at least something that
X can be larger or smaller. Thus, you might refer to a paper or
X person as having a `high bogosity index', whereas you would be less
X likely to speak of a `high bogosity factor'. `Foo index' suggests
X that foo is a condensation of many quantities, as in the mundane
X cost-of-living index; `coefficient of foo' suggests that foo is a
X fundamental quantity, as in a coefficient of friction. The choice
X between these terms is often one of personal preference; e.g., some
X people might feel that bogosity is a fundamental attribute and thus
X say "coefficient of bogosity", whereas others might feel it is a
X combination of factors and thus say "bogosity index".
X
Xcokebottle: /kohk'bot-l/ n. Any very unusual character,
X particularly one that isn't on your keyboard so you can't type it.
X MIT people used to complain about the `control-meta-cokebottle'
X commands at SAIL, and SAIL people complained right back about the
X `altmode-altmode-cokebottle' commands at MIT. After the demise of
X the {space-cadet keyboard}, cokebottle faded away as serious
X usage, but was often invoked humorously to describe an
X (unspecified) weird or non-intuitive keystroke command. It may be
X due for a second inning, however. The OSF/Motif window manager,
X mwm, has a reserved keystroke for switching to the default set of
X keybindings and behavior. This keystroke is (believe it or not)
X `control-meta-bang' (see {bang}). Since the exclamation point
X looks a lot like an upside down coke bottle, Motif hackers have
X begun referring to this keystroke as cokebottle. See also
X {quadruple bucky}.
X
XCOME FROM: n. A semi-mythical language construct dual to the `go
X to'; COME FROM <label> would cause the referenced label to act as a
X sort of trapdoor, so that if the program ever reached it control
X would quietly and {automagically} be transferred to the statement
X following the COME FROM. COME FROM was first proposed in a
X {Datamation} article of December 1973 (reprinted in the April
X 1984 issue of Communications of the ACM) that parodied the
X then-raging `structured programming' {holy wars} (see
X {considered harmful}). Mythically, some variants are the
X `assigned come from', and the `computed come from'
X (parodying some nasty control constructs in FORTRAN and some
X extended BASICs). Obviously, multi-tasking (or non-determinism)
X could be implemented by having more than one COME FROM statement
X coming from the same label.
X
X In some ways the FORTRAN DO looks like a COME FROM statement.
X After the terminating label/CONTINUE is reached, control continues
X at the statement following the DO. Some generous FORTRANs would
X allow arbitrary statements (other than CONTINUE) for the
X label, leading to examples like this
X
X DO 10 I=1,LIMIT
X C imagine many lines of code here, leaving the original DO
X C statement lost in the spaghetti...
X WRITE(6,10) I,FROB(I)
X 10 FORMAT(1X,I5,G10.4)
X
X in which the trapdoor is just after the statement labelled 10.
X
X While sufficiently astonishing to the unsuspecting reader, this
X form of COME FROM statement isn't completely general. After all,
X control will eventually pass to the following statement. The
X implementation of the general form was left to Univac FORTRAN,
X ca.1975. The statement `AT 100' would perform a `COME
X FROM 100'. It was intended strictly as a debugging aid, with dire
X consequences promised to anyone so deranged as to use it in
X production code. More horrible things had already been perpetrated
X in production languages, however; doubters need only contemplate
X COBOL's `ALTER' verb.
X
X COME FROM was supported under its own name for the first time
X fifteen years later, in C-INTERCAL (see {INTERCAL},
X {retrocomputing}); knowledgeable observers are still reeling from
X shock.
X
Xcomm mode: /kom mohd/ [from the ITS feature supporting on-line
X chat, spelled with one or two Ms] Syn. for {talk mode}.
X
Xcommand key: [Mac users] n. The Macintosh key with the cloverleaf
X graphic on its keytop; sometimes referred to as `flower',
X `clover', `propeller', or `beanie' (an apparent reference to the
X propeller on a beanie). The Mac's equivalent to an {ALT} key.
X
Xcomment out: vt. To surround a section of code with comment
X delimiters or to prefix every line in the section with a comment
X marker; this prevents it from being compiled or interpreted. Often
X done when the code is redundant or obsolete, but you want to leave
X it in the source to make the intent of the active code clearer;
X also when the code in that section is broken and you want to bypass
X it in order to debug some other part of the code. Compare
X {condition out}, usually the preferred technique in languages
X (like {C}) that make it possible.
X
XCommonwealth Hackish:: n. Hacker jargon as spoken outside the
X U.S., esp. in the British Commonwealth. It is reported that
X Commonwealth speakers are more likely to pronounce `char', `soc',
X etc. as spelled (/char/, /sok/) as opposed to American /keir/ or
X /sohsh/. Dots in {newsgroup} names tend to be pronounced more
X often (so soc.wibble is /sok dot wi'bble/ rather than /sohsh
X wib'ble/). The prefix {meta} may be pronounced /mee't*-/;
X similarly, Greek letter beta is often /bee't*/, zeta is often
X /zee't*/ and so forth. Preferred metasyntactic variables include
X EEK, OOK, FRODO, and BILBO; WIBBLE, WOBBLE, and in emergencies
X WUBBLE; BANANA, WOMBAT, FROG, {fish}, and so on and on (see
X {foo}, sense #4).
X
X Alternatives to verb doubling include suffixes `-o-rama',
X `frenzy' (as in feeding frenzy) and `city' (as in "barf
X city!" "hack-o-rama!" "core dump frenzy!"). Finally, note
X that the American terms `parens', `brackets', and `braces' for (),
X [], and {} are uncommon; Commonwealth hackish prefers
X `brackets', `square brackets', and `curly brackets'. Also, the
X use of `pling' for {bang} is common outside the United States.
X
X See also {attoparsec}, {calculator}, {chemist}, {console
X jockey}, {fish}, {grunge}, {hakspek}, {heavy metal},
X {leaky heap}, {lord high fixer}, {noddy},
X {psychedelicware}, {plingnet}, {raster blaster}, {seggie},
X {terminal junkie}, {tick-list features}, {weeble},
X {weasel}, {YABA}, and notes or definitions under {Bad Thing},
X {barf}, {bogus}, {bum}, {chase pointers}, {cosmic rays},
X {crippleware}, {crunch}, {dodgy}, {gonk}, {mess-dos},
X {nybble}, {proglet}, {root}, {tweak}, and {xyzzy}.
X
Xcompact: adj. Of a design, describes the valuable property that it
X can all be apprehended at once in one's head. This generally means
X the thing created from the design can be used with greater facility
X and fewer errors than an equivalent tool that is not compact. Note
X that compactness does not imply triviality or lack of power; for
X example, C is compact and FORTRAN is not, but C is more powerful
X than FORTRAN. Designs become non-compact through accreting
X {feature}s and {cruft} that don't merge cleanly into the overall
X design scheme.
X
Xcompress: [UNIX] vt. When used without a qualifier, generally
X refers to {crunch}ing of a file using a particular C
X implementation of Lempel-Ziv compression by James A. Woods et al. and
X widely circulated via {USENET}. Use of {crunch} itself in this
X sense is rare among UNIX hackers.
X
Xcomputer confetti: n. Syn. {chad}. Though this term is common,
X this use of the punched-card chad is not a good idea, as the pieces
X are stiff and have sharp corners that could injure the eyes. GLS
X reports that he once attended a wedding at MIT during which he and
X a few other guests enthusiastically threw chad instead of rice. The
X groom later grumbled that he and his bride had spent most of the
X evening trying to get the stuff out of their hair.
X
Xcomputer geek: n. One who eats (computer) bugs for a living. One
X who fulfills all of the dreariest negative stereotypes about
X hackers: an asocial, malodorous, pasty-faced monomaniac with all
X the personality of a cheese grater. Cannot be used by outsiders
X without implied insult to all hackers; compare black-on-black usage
X of `nigger'. A computer geek may be either a fundamentally
X clueless individual or a proto-hacker in {larval stage}. Also
X called `turbo nerd', `turbo geek'. See also
X {clustergeeking}, {wannabee}, {terminal junkie}.
X
Xcomputron: /kom'pyoo-tron`/ n. 1. A notional unit of computing power
X combining instruction speed and storage capacity, dimensioned
X roughly in instructions-per-second times megabytes-of-main-store times
X megabytes-of-mass-storage. "That machine can't run GNU EMACS, it
X doesn't have enough computrons!" This usage is usually found in
X metaphors that treat computing power as a fungible commodity good
X like a crop yield or diesel horsepower. See {bitty box}, {Get a
X real computer!}, {toy}, {crank}. 2. A mythical subatomic particle
X that bears the unit quantity of computation or information, in much
X the same way that an electron bears one unit of electric charge
X (see {bogon}). An elaborate pseudo-scientific theory of computrons
X has been worked out based on the physical fact that the molecules
X in a solid object move more rapidly as it is heated. It is argued
X that an object melts because the molecules have lost their
X information about where they are supposed to be (that is, they have
X emitted computrons). This explains why computers get so hot and
X require air conditioning; they use up computrons. Conversely, you
X should be able to cool down an object by placing it in the path of
X a computron beam. It is believed that this may also explain why
X machines that work at the factory fail in the computer room ---
X because the computrons there have been all used up by your other
X hardware. (This may owe something to the group of fantasy stories
X by Larry Niven, beginning with `What Good is a Glass Dagger?',
X in which magic is fueled by an exhaustible natural resource called
X `mana').
X
Xcondition out: vt. To prevent a section of code from being compiled
X by surrounding it with a conditional-compilation directive whose
X condition is always false. The {canonical} example is
X `#if 0' and `#endif' in C. Compare {comment out}.
X
Xcondom: n. The protective plastic baggy that accompanies 3.5-inch
X microfloppy diskettes. Rarely, used of (paper) disk envelopes.
X Unlike the write protect, the condom (when left on) not only
X impedes the practice of {SEX}, it has been shown to have a high
X failure rate as drive mechanisms attempt to access the disk --- and
X can even fatally frustrate insertion!
X
Xconnector conspiracy: [probably came into prominence with the
X appearance of the KL-10, none of whose connectors matched anything
X else] n. The tendency of manufacturers (or, by extension,
X programmers or purveyors of anything) to come up with new products
X which don't fit together with the old stuff, thereby making you buy
X either all new stuff or expensive interface devices. The KL-10
X Massbus connector was actually *patented* by DEC, which is
X reputed to have refused to license the design and thus effectively
X locked third parties out of competition for the lucrative Massbus
X peripherals market. This is a source of never-ending frustration
X for the die-hards who maintain older PDP-10 or VAX systems.
X Their CPUs work fine, but they're stuck with dying, obsolescent
X disk and tape drives with low capacity and high power requirements.
X
X In these latter days of open-systems computing this term has fallen
X somewhat into disuse, to be replaced by the observation that
X "Standards are great! There are so *many* of them." Compare
X {backward combatability}.
X
Xcons: /konz/ or /kons/ [from LISP] 1. v. To add a new element to a
X list, esp. at the top. 2. `cons up': vt. To synthesize from
X smaller pieces: "to cons up an example".
X
Xconsidered harmful: adj. Edsger W. Dijkstra's infamous March 1968
X Communications of the ACM note, `Goto Statement Considered
X Harmful', fired the first salvo in the `structured programming'
X wars. Amusingly, the ACM considered the resulting acrimony
X sufficiently harmful that they will (by policy) no longer print an
X article which takes up that assertive a position against a coding
X practice. In the ensuing decades, a large number of both serious
X papers and parodies have borne titles of the form `X considered Y'.
X The `structured programming' wars eventually blew over with the
X realization that both sides were wrong, but use of such titles has
X remained as a persistent minor in-joke (the `considered silly'
X found at various places in this lexicon is related).
X
Xconsole:: n. 1. The operator's station of a {mainframe}. In times
X past, this was a privileged location which conveyed godlike powers
X to him (almost invariably a `him') with his fingers on the keys. Under
X UNIX and other modern timesharing OSes, such privileges are
X guarded by passwords, and the console is just the {tty} the system
X was booted from. Some of the mystique remains, however, and it is
X traditional for sysadmins to post urgent messages to all users from
X /dev/console. 2. On microcomputer UNIX boxes: the main screen and
X keyboard (as opposed to character-only terminals talking to a
X serial port). Typically only the console can do real graphics or
X run {X}. See also {CTY}.
X
Xconsole jockey: n. See {terminal junkie}.
X
Xcontent-free: adj. Ironic analogy with `context-free', used of a
X message that adds nothing to the recipient's knowledge. Though
X this adjective is sometimes applied to {flamage}, it more usually
X connotes derision for communication styles which exalt form over
X substance, or are centered on concerns irrelevant to the subject
X ostensibly at hand. Perhaps most used with reference to speeches
X by company presidents and like animals. "Content-free?
X Uh...that's anything printed on glossy paper". See also
X {four-color glossies}.
X
Xcontrol-c: vi. "Stop whatever you are doing." From the interrupt
X character used on many operating systems to abort a running
X program. Considered silly.
X
Xcontrol-o: vi. "Stop talking." From the character used on many
X operating systems to abort output but allow the program to keep on
X running. Generally means that you are not interested in hearing
X anything more from that person, at least on that topic; a standard
X respond to someone who is flaming. Considered silly.
X
Xcontrol-s: vi. "Stop talking for a second." From the ASCII XOFF
X character (this is also pronounced XOFF /eks'off/). Control-s
X differs from {control-o} in that the person is asked to stop
X talking (perhaps because you are on the phone) but will be allowed
X to continue when you're ready to listen to him, as opposed to
X control-o which has more of the meaning of "Shut up." Considered
X silly.
X
XConway's Law: prov. The rule that the organization of the software and
X the organization of the software team will be congruent; originally
X stated as "If you have four groups working on a compiler, you'll
X get a four-pass compiler."
X
X This was originally promulgated by Melvin Conway, an early
X proto-hacker who wrote an assembler for the Burroughs 220 called
X SAVE. The name `SAVE' didn't stand for anything; it was just that
X you lost fewer decks and listings because they all had SAVE written
X on top of them.
X
Xcookie: n. A handle, transaction ID, or other token of agreement
X between cooperating programs. "I give him a packet, he gives me
X back a cookie." Compare {magic cookie}; see also {fortune
X cookie}.
X
Xcookie bear: n. Syn. {cookie monster}.
X
Xcookie file: n. A collection of {fortune cookie}s in a format
X that facilitates retrieval by a fortune program. There are several
X different ones in public distribution, and site admins often
X assemble their own from various sources including this lexicon.
X
Xcookie monster: [from `Sesame Street'] n. Any of a family of
X early (1970s) hacks reported on {TOPS-10}, {ITS}, {Multics},
X and elsewhere that would lock up either the victim's terminal (on a
X time-sharing machine) or the {{console}} (on a batch
X {mainframe}), repeatedly demanding "I WANT A COOKIE". The
X required responses ranged in complexity from "COOKIE" through
X "HAVE A COOKIE" and upward. See also {wabbit}.
X
Xcopper: n. Conventional electron-carrying network cable, which uses
X copper as a core conductor --- or aluminum! Opposed to {light
X pipe} or, say, a short-range microwave link.
X
Xcopy protection: n. A class of clever methods for preventing
X incompetent pirates from stealing software and legitimate customers
X from using it. Considered silly.
X
Xcopybroke: adj. [play on `copyright'] Used to describe an
X instance of a copy-protected program which has been `broken'; that
X is, a copy with the copy-protection scheme disabled. Syn.
X {copywronged}.
X
Xcopyleft: /kop'ee-left/ [play on `copyright'] n. 1. The
X copyright notice (`General Public License') carried by {GNU}
X {EMACS} and other Free Software Foundation software, granting re-use
X and reproduction rights to all comers (but see also {General
X Public Virus}). 2. By extension, any copyright notice intended to
X achieve similar aims.
X
Xcopywronged: [play on `copyright'] adj. Syn. for {copybroke}.
X
Xcore: n. Main storage or RAM. Dates from the days of ferrite-core
X memory; now archaic most places outside IBM, but also still used in
X the UNIX community and by old-time hackers or those who would sound
X like same. Some derived idioms are quite current; `in core',
X for example, means `in memory' (as opposed to `on disk'), and both
X {core dump} and the `core image' or `core file' produced
X by one are terms in favors. Commonwealth hackish prefers {store}.
X
Xcore dump: n. [common {Iron Age} jargon, preserved by UNIX] 1. A
X copy of the contents of {core} produced when a process is aborted
X by certain kinds of internal error. 2. By extension, used for
X humans passing out, vomiting, or registering extreme shock. "He
X dumped core. All over the floor. What a mess." "He heard about
X ... and dumped core." 3. Occasionally used for a human
X rambling on pointlessly at great length; esp. in apology: "Sorry I
X dumped core on you". 4. A recapitulation of knowledge (compare
X {bits}, sense 1). Hence, spewing all one knows about a topic,
X esp. in a lecture or answer to an exam question. "Short, concise
X answers are better than core dumps." (from the instructions to a
X qual exam at Columbia; compare {brain dump}). See
X {core}.
X
Xcore leak: n. Syn. {memory leak}.
X
XCore Wars: n. A game between `assembler' programs in a simulated
X machine, where the objective is to kill your opponent's program by
X overwriting it. This was popularized by A. K. Dewdney's column
X in `Scientific American' magazine, but is said to have been
X first devised by Victor Vyssotsky as a PDP-1 hack, during the early
X '60s at Bell Labs. It is rumored that the game is a civilized
X version of an amusement called DARWIN common on multitasking
X machines before the advent of protected address segments. See
X {core}.
X
Xcorge: /korj/ [originally, the name of a cat] n. Yet another
X meta-syntactic variable, invented by Mike Gallaher and propagated
X by the Gosmacs documentation. See {grault}.
X
Xcosmic rays: n. Notionally, the cause of {bit rot}. However, this is
X a semi-independent usage which may be invoked as a humorous way to
X {handwave} away any minor {randomness} that doesn't seem worth the
X bother of investigating. "Hey, Eric --- I just got a burst of
X garbage on my {tube}, where did that come from?" "Cosmic rays, I
X guess." Compare {sunspots}, {phase of the moon}. The British seem
X to prefer the usage `cosmic showers'; `alpha particles' is also
X heard, because stray alpha particles passing through a memory chip
X can cause single-bit errors (this becomes increasingly more likely
X as memory sizes and densities increase).
X
X Factual note: alpha particles cause bit rot, cosmic rays do not
X (except occasionally in spaceborne computers). Intel could not
X explain random bit drops in their early chips, and one hypothesis
X was cosmic rays. So they created the World's Largest Lead Safe, 25
X tons of lead, and used two identical boards for testing. One was
X placed in the safe, one outside. The hypothesis was that if cosmic
X rays were causing the bit drops, they should see a statistically
X significant difference between the error rates on the two boards.
X They did not observe such a difference. Further investigation
X demonstrated conclusively that the bit drops were due to alpha
X particle emission from thorium (and to a much lesser degree
X uranium) in the encapsulation material. Since it is impossible to
X eliminate these radioactives (they are uniformly distributed
X through the earth's crust, with the statistically insignificant
X exception of uranium mines) it became obvious that you have to
X design memories to withstand these hits.
X
Xcough and die: v. Syn. {barf}. Connotes that the program is
X throwing its hands up by design rather than because of a bug or
X oversight.
X
Xcowboy: [Sun, from William Gibson's {cyberpunk} SF] n. Synonym for
X {hacker}. It is reported that, at Sun, this is often said with
X reverence.
X
XCP/M: /see-pee-em/ n. [Control Program for Microcomputers] An
X early microcomputer {OS} written by hacker Gary Kildall for 8080-
X and Z80-based machines, very popular in the late 1970s until
X virtually wiped out by MS-DOS after the release of the IBM PC in
X 1981 (legend has it that Kildall's company blew their chance to
X write the OS for the IBM PC because Kildall decided to spend the
X day IBM's reps wanted to meet with him enjoying the perfect flying
X weather in his private plane). Many of its features and
X conventions strongly resemble those of early DEC operating systems
X such as {TOPS-10}, OS/8, RSTS, and RSX-11. See {MS-DOS},
X {operating system}.
X
XCPU Wars: /see-pee-yoo worz/ n. A 1979 large-format comic by Chas
X Andres chronicling the attempts of the brainwashed androids of
X `IPM' (Impossible to Program Machines) to conquer and destroy the
X peaceful denizens of HEC (Human Engineered Computers). This rather
X transparent allegory featured many references to {ADVENT} and the
X immortal line "Eat flaming death, minicomputer mongrels!"
X (uttered, of course, by an IPM stormtrooper). It is alleged that
X the author subsequently received a letter of appreciation on IBM
X company stationery from the then-head of IBM's Thomas J. Watson
X research laboratories (then, as now, one of the few islands of true
X hackerdom in the IBM archipelago). The lower loop of the `B' in
X the IBM logo, it is said, had been carefully whited out. See
X {eat flaming death}.
X
Xcracker: n. One who breaks security on a system. Coined ca.1985 by
X hackers in defense against journalistic misuse of {hacker} (q.v.,
X sense #7). There had been an earlier attempt to establish `worm'
X in this sense around 1981--1982 on USENET; this largely failed.
X
Xcrank: [from automotive slang] vt. Verb used to describe the
X performance of a machine, especially sustained performance. "This
X box cranks (or, cranks at) about 6 megaflops, with a burst mode of
X twice that on vectorized operations."
X
Xcrash: 1. n. A sudden, usually drastic failure. Most often said of
X the {system} (q.v., sense #1), sometimes of magnetic disk drives.
X "Three {luser}s lost their files in last night's disk crash."
X A disk crash which involves the read/write heads dropping onto the
X surface of the disks and scraping off the oxide may also be
X referred to as a `head crash', whereas the term `system
X crash' usually, though not always, implies that the operating
X system or other software was at fault. 2. vi. To fail suddenly.
X "Has the system just crashed?" See {down}. Also used
X transitively to indicate the cause of the crash (usually a person
X or a program, or both). "Those idiots playing {SPACEWAR}
X crashed the system." 3. vi. Sometimes said of people hitting the
X sack after a long {hacking run}; see {gronk} (sense #4).
X
Xcrash and burn: vi.,n. A spectacular crash, in the mode of the
X conclusion of the car chase scene from the movie `Bullitt' and
X many subsequent imitators. Sun-3 monitors losing the flyback
X transformer and lightning strikes on VAX-11/780 backplanes are
X notable crash and burn generators. The construction
X `crash-and-burn machine' is reported for a computer used
X exclusively for alpha or {beta} testing, or reproducing bugs
X (i.e., not for development). The implication is that it wouldn't
X be such a disaster if that machine crashed, since only the testers
X would be inconvenienced.
X
Xcrawling horror: n. Ancient crufty hardware or software that forces
X beyond the control of the hackers at a site refuse to let die.
X Like {dusty deck} or {gonkulator}, but connotes that the thing
X described is not just an irritation but an active menace to health
X and sanity. "Mostly we code new stuff in C, but they pay us to
X maintain one big FORTRAN II application from nineteen-sixty-X
X that's a real crawling horror...." Compare {WOMBAT}.
X
Xcray: /kray/ n. 1. (properly, capitalized) One of the line of
X supercomputers designed by Cray Research. 2. Any supercomputer at
X all. 3. The {canonical} {number-crunching} machine.
X
X The term is actually the lowercased last name of Seymour Cray, a
X noted computer architect and co-founder of the company. Numerous
X vivid legends surround him, some true and some admittedly invented
X by Cray Research brass to shape their corporate culture and image.
X
Xcray instability: n. A shortcoming of a program or algorithm which
X manifests itself only when running a large problem on a powerful
X machine. Generally more subtle than bugs that can be detected in
X smaller problems running on a workstation or mini.
X
Xcrayola: n. A super-mini or -micro computer that provides some
X reasonable percentage of supercomputer performance for an
X unreasonably low price. Might also be a {killer micro}.
X
Xcrayon: n. 1. Someone who works on Cray supercomputers. More
X specifically implies a programmer, probably of the CDC ilk,
X probably male, and almost certainly wearing a tie (irrespective of
X gender). Unicos systems types who have a UNIX background tend not
X to be described as crayons. 2. A {computron} that participates
X only in {number-crunching}. 3. A unit of computational power
X equal to that of a single Cray-1. There is a standard joke about
X this that derives from an old Crayola crayon promotional gimmick:
X when you buy 64 crayons you get a free sharpener.
X
Xcreationism: n. The (false) belief that large, innovative designs
X can be completely specified in advance and then painlessly magicked
X out of the void by the normal efforts of a team of normally
X talented programmers. In fact, experience has shown repeatedly
X that good designs arise only from evolutionary, exploratory
X interaction between one (or at most a small handful of)
X exceptionally able designer(s) and an active user population ---
X and that the first try at a big new idea is always wrong.
X Unfortunately, because these truths don't fit the planning models
X beloved of {management}, they are generally ignored.
X
Xcreeping elegance: n. Describes a tendency for parts of a design to
X become {elegant} past the point of diminishing return. This often
X happens at the expense of the less interesting parts of the design,
X schedule, and other things deemed important in the {Real World}.
X See also {creeping featurism}, {second-system effect}, {tense}.
X
Xcreeping featurism: /kree'ping fee'chr-izm/ n. 1. Describes a
X systematic tendency to load more {chrome} and {feature}s onto
X systems at the expense of whatever elegance they may have possessed
X when originally designed. See also {feeping creaturism}. "You
X know, the main problem with {BSD} UNIX has always been creeping
X featurism." 2. More generally, the tendency for anything
X complicated to become even more complicated because people keep
X saying, "Gee, it would be even better if it had this feature
X too." (See {feature}.) The result is usually a patchwork
X because it grew one ad-hoc step at a time, rather than being
X planned. Planning is a lot of work, but it's easy to add just one
X extra little feature to help someone... and then another...
X and another.... When creeping featurism gets out of hand, it's
X like a cancer. Usually this term is used to describe computer
X programs, but it could also be said of the federal government, the
X IRS 1040 form, and new cars. A similar phenomenon sometimes
X afflicts conscious redesigns; see {second-system effect}. See
X also {creeping elegance}.
X
Xcreeping featuritis: /kree'ping fee'-chr-ie`t*s/ n. Variant of
X {creeping featurism}, with its own Spoonerization as `feeping
X creaturitis'. Some people like to reserve this form for the
X disease as it actually manifests in software or hardware, as
X opposed to the lurking general tendency in designers' minds. After
X all, -ism means `condition' or `pursuit of', whereas -itis usually
X means `inflammation of'.)
X
Xcretin: /kre'tn/ or /kree'tn/ n. Congenital {loser}; an obnoxious
X person; someone who can't do anything right. It has been observed
X that many American hackers tend to favor the British pronunciation
X /kre'tn/ over standard American /kree'tn/; it is thought this may
X be due to the insidious phonetic influence of Monty Python's Flying
X Circus.
X
Xcretinous: /kre't*n-uhs/ or /kree't*n-uhs/ adj. Wrong;
X non-functional; very poorly designed. Also used pejoratively of
X people. Synonyms: {bletcherous}, `bagbiting' (see
X {bagbiter}), {losing}, {brain-damaged}.
X
Xcrippleware: n. 1. Software that has some important functionality
X deliberately removed, so as to entice potential users to pay for a
X working version. See also {guiltware}. 2. [Cambridge]
X {guiltware} that exhorts you to donate to some charity (compare
X {careware}).
X
Xcritical mass: n. In physics, the minimum amount of fissionable
X material required to sustain a chain reaction. Of a software
X product, describes a condition of the software such that fixing one
X bug introduces one plus {epsilon} bugs. When software achieves
X critical mass, it can only be discarded and rewritten.
X
Xcrlf: /ker'l*f/, sometimes /kru'l*f/ or /see-ar-el-eff/ n. (often
X capitalized as `CRLF') A carriage return (CR) followed by a line
X feed (LF). More loosely, whatever it takes to get you from the end
X of one line of text to the beginning of the next line. See
X {newline}, {terpri}. Under {UNIX} influence this usage has
X become less common (UNIX uses a bare line feed as its `CRLF').
X
Xcrock: [from the obvious mainstream scatologism] n. 1. An awkward
X feature or programming technique that ought to be made cleaner.
X Example: Using small integers to represent error codes without the
X program interpreting them to the user (as in, for example, UNIX
X `make(1)', which returns code 139 for a process that dies due
X to {segfault}). 2. A technique that works acceptably, but which
X is quite prone to failure if disturbed in the least, for example
X depending on the machine opcodes having particular bit patterns so
X that you can use instructions as data words too; a tightly woven,
X almost completely unmodifiable structure. See {kluge},
X {brittle}. Also in the adjectives `crockish' and
X `crocky', and the noun `crockitude'.
X
Xcross-post: [USENET] vi. To post a single article directed to
X several newsgroups. Distinguished from posting the article
X repeatedly, once to each newsgroup, which causes people to see it
X multiple times (this is very bad form). Cross-posting without a
X Followup line directing responses to a single followup group is
X frowned upon, as it tends to cause {followup} articles to go to
X inappropriate newsgroups as people respond to only one part of the
X original posting.
X
Xcrudware: /kruhd'weir/ n. Pejorative term for the hundreds of
X megabytes of low-quality {freeware} circulated by user's groups
X and BBS systems in the micro-hobbyist world. "Yet *another*
X set of disk catalog utilities for {MS-DOS}? What crudware!"
X The related usage `fuckware' is reported for software so bad it
X mutilates your disk, broadcasts to the Internet, or perpetrates
X some similar fiasco.
X
Xcruft: /kruhft/ 1. [back-formation from {crufty}] 1. n. An
X unpleasant substance. The dust that gathers under your bed is
X cruft; the TMRC dictionary correctly noted that attacking it with a
X broom only produces more. 2. n. The results of shoddy
X construction. 3. vt. [from hand cruft, pun on hand craft] to
X write assembler code for something normally (and better) done by a
X compiler (see {hand-hacking}). 4. n. Excess; superfluous junk.
X Esp. used of redundant or superseded code.
X
Xcruft together: vt. (also `cruft up') To throw together
X something ugly but temporarily workable. Like vt. {kluge up},
X but more pejorative. "There isn't any program now to reverse all
X the lines of a file, but I can probably cruft one together in about
X ten minutes." See {hack together}, {hack up}, {kluge up},
X {crufty}.
X
Xcruftsmanship: /kruhfts'man-ship / n. [from {cruft}] The
X antithesis of craftsmanship.
X
Xcrufty: /kruhf'tee/ [origin unknown; poss. from `crusty' or
X `cruddy'] adj. 1. Poorly built, possibly overly complex. The
X {canonical} example is "This is standard old crufty DEC
X software." In fact, one fanciful theory of the origin of `crufty'
X holds that was originally a mutation of `crusty' applied to DEC
X software so old that the S characters were tall and skinny, looking
X more like `f' characters. 2. Unpleasant, especially to the touch,
X often with encrusted junk. Like spilled coffee smeared with peanut
X butter and catsup. 3. Generally unpleasant. 4. (sometimes spelled
X `cruftie') n. A small crufty object (see {frob}); often one
X that doesn't fit well into the scheme of things. "A LISP property
X list is a good place to store crufties (or, collectively,
X {random} cruft)."
X
Xcrumb: n. Two binary digits; a {quad}. Larger than a {bit},
X smaller than a {nybble}. Syn. {tayste}.
X
Xcrunch: 1. vi. To process, usually in a time-consuming or
X complicated way. Connotes an essentially trivial operation that is
X nonetheless painful to perform. The pain may be due to the
X triviality being embedded in a loop from 1 to 1,000,000,000.
X "FORTRAN programs do mostly {number-crunching}." 2. vt. To
X reduce the size of a file by a complicated scheme that produces bit
X configurations completely unrelated to the original data, such as
X by a Huffman code. (The file ends up looking like a paper document
X would if somebody crunched the paper into a wad.) Since such
X compression usually takes more computations than simpler methods
X such as run-length encoding, the term is doubly appropriate. (This
X meaning is usually used in the construction `file crunch(ing)' to
X distinguish it from {number-crunching}.) See {compress}.
X 3. n. The character `#'. Usage: used at XEROX and CMU, among
X other places. See {{ASCII}}. 4. vt. To squeeze program source
X into a minimum-size representation that will still compile or
X execute. The term came into being specifically for a famous
X program on the BBC that crunched BASIC source in order to make it
X run more quickly (it was a wholly interpretive BASIC).
X {Obfuscated C Contest} entries are often crunched; see the first
X example under that entry.
X
Xcruncha cruncha cruncha: /kruhn'ch* kruhn'ch* kruhn'ch*/ interj.
X An encouragement sometimes muttered to a machine bogged down in a
X serious {grovel}. Also describes a notional sound made by
X grovelling hardware. See {wugga wugga}, {grind} (sense #3).
X
Xcryppie: /krip'ee/ n. A cryptographer. One who hacks or implements
X cryptographic software or hardware.
X
XCTSS: /see-tee-ess-ess/ n. Compatible Time-Sharing System. An early
X (1963) experiment in the design of interactive time-sharing
X operating systems. Cited here because it was ancestral to
X {Multics}, {UNIX}, and {ITS}. The name {ITS} ("Incompatible
X Time-sharing System") was a hack on CTSS, meant both as a joke and
X to express some basic differences in philosophy about the way I/O
X services should be presented to user programs.
X
XCTY: /sit'ee/ or /see tee wie/ n. [MIT] The terminal physically
X associated with a computer's system {{console}}. The term is a
X contraction of `Console {tty}', that is, `Console TeleTYpe'.
X This {ITS}- and {TOPS-10}-associated term has become less common
X than formerly, as most UNIX hackers simply refer to the CTY as `the
X console'.
X
Xcube: n. 1. [short for `cubicle'] A module in the open-plan
X offices used at many programming shops. "I've got the manuals in
X my cube". 2. A NeXT machine.
X
Xcubing: [parallel with `tubing'] vi. 1. Hacking on an IPSC (Intel
X Personal SuperComputer) hypercube. "Louella's gone cubing
X *again*!!" 2. Hacking Rubik's Cube or related puzzles,
X either physically or mathematically. 3. An indescribable form of
X self-torture (see sense #1 or #2).
X
Xcursor dipped in X: n. There are a couple of metaphors in English
X of the form `pen dipped in X' (perhaps the most common values of X
X are `acid', `bile' and `vitriol'). These map over neatly to this
X hackish usage (the cursor being what moves, leaving letters behind,
X when one is composing on-line).
X
Xcuspy: /kuhs'pee/ [coined at WPI from the DEC acronym CUSP, for
X Commonly Used System Program, i.e., a utility program used by many
X people] adj. 1. (of a program) Well-written. 2. Functionally
X excellent. A program that performs well and interfaces well to
X users is cuspy. See {rude}. 3. [NYU] Said of an attractive
X woman, especially one regarded as available. Implies a certain
X curvaceousness.
X
Xcut a tape: [poss. fr. mainstream `cut a check' or from the
X recording industry's `cut a record'] vi. To write a software or
X document distribution on magnetic tape for shipment. Has nothing
X to do with physically cutting the medium! Though this usage is
X quite widespread, one never speaks of analogously `cutting a disk'
X or anything else in this sense.
X
Xcybercrud: /sie'ber-kruhd/ [coined by Ted Nelson] n. Obfuscatory
X tech-talk. Verbiage with a high {MEGO} factor. The computer
X equivalent of bureaucratese.
X
Xcyberpunk: /sie'ber-puhnk/ [orig. by SF writer Bruce Bethke and/or
X editor Gardner Dozois] n.,adj. A subgenre of SF launched in 1982
X by William Gibson's epoch-making novel `Neuromancer' (though
X its roots go back through Vernor Vinge's `True Names' (see
X Appendix C) to John Brunner's 1975 novel, `The Shockwave
X Rider'). Gibson's near-total ignorance of computers and the
X present-day hacker culture enabled him to speculate about the role
X of computers and hackers in the future in ways hackers have since
X found both irritatingly naive and tremendously stimulating.
X Gibson's work was widely imitated, in particular by the short-lived
X but innovative `Max Headroom' TV series. See {cyberspace},
X {ice}, {go flatline}.
X
Xcyberspace: /sie'ber-spays/ n. 1. Notional `information-space'
X loaded with visual cues and navigable with brain-computer
X interfaces called `cyberspace decks'; a characteristic prop of
X {cyberpunk} SF. At time of writing (mid-1991), serious efforts to
X construct {virtual reality} interfaces modelled explicitly on
X Gibsonian cyberspace are already under way, using more conventional
X devices such as glove sensors and binocular TV headsets. Few
X hackers are prepared to outright deny the possibility of a
X cyberspace someday evolving out of the network (see {network,
X the}). 2. Occasionally, the metaphoric location of the mind of a
X person in {hack mode}. Some hackers report experiencing strong
X eidetic imagery when in hack mode; interestingly, independent
X reports from multiple sources suggest that there are common
X features to the experience. In particular, the dominant colors of
X this subjective `cyberspace' are often gray and silver, and the
X imagery often involves constellations of marching dots, elaborate
X shifting patterns of lines and angles, or moire patterns.
X
Xcycle: n. The basic unit of computation. What every hacker wants
X more of (noted hacker Bill Gosper used to describe himself as a
X "cycle junky"). One might think that single machine instructions
X would be the measure of computation, and indeed computers are often
X compared by how many instructions they can process per second, but
X some instructions take longer than others. Nearly all computers
X have an internal clock, though, and you can describe an instruction
X as taking so many `clock cycles'. Frequently the computer can
X access its memory once on every clock cycle, and so one speaks also
X of `memory cycles'. These are technical meanings of {cycle}.
X The jargon meaning comes from the observation that there are only
X so many cycles per second, and when you are sharing a computer, the
X cycles get divided up among the users. The more cycles the
X computer spends working on your program rather than someone else's,
X the faster your program will run. That's why every hacker wants
X more cycles: so he can spend less time waiting for the computer to
X respond.
X
Xcycle crunch: n. The situation where the number of people trying to
X use the computer simultaneously has reached the point where no one
X can get enough cycles because they are spread too thin. This is an
X inevitable result of Parkinson's Law applied to timesharing.
X Usually the only solution is to buy more computer. Happily, this
X has rapidly become easier in recent years, so much so that the very
X term `cycle crunch' now has a faintly archaic flavor; most
X hackers now use workstations or personal computers as opposed to
X traditional timesharing systems.
X
Xcycle drought: n. A scarcity of cycles. It may be due to a {cycle
X crunch}, but could also occur because part of the computer is
X temporarily not working, leaving fewer cycles to go around.
X Example: "The {high moby} is {down}, so we're running with only
X half the usual amount of memory. There will be a cycle drought
X until it's fixed."
X
Xcycle of reincarnation: [coined by Ivan Sutherland ca.1970] n. Term
X used to refer to a well-known effect whereby function in a
X computing system family is migrated out to special-purpose
X peripheral hardware for speed, then the peripheral evolves towards
X more computing power as it does its job, then somebody notices that
X it's inefficient to support two asymmetrical processors in the
X architecture and folds the function back into the main CPU, at
X which point the cycle begins again. Several iterations of this
X cycle have been observed in graphics processor design, and at least
X one or two in communications and floating-point processors. Also
X known as `the Wheel of Life', `the Wheel of Samsara', and
X other variations of the basic Hindu/Buddhist theological idea.
X
Xcycle server: n. A powerful machine that exists primarily for
X running large batch jobs. Implies that interactive tasks such as
X editing are done on other machines on the network, such as
X workstations.
X
X= D =
X=====
X
Xdaemon: /day'm*n/ or /dee'm*n/ [from the mythological
X meaning, later rationalized as the acronym `Disk And Execution
X MONitor'] n. A program which is not invoked explicitly, but which
X lies dormant waiting for some condition(s) to occur. The idea is
X that the perpetrator of the condition need not be aware that a
X daemon is lurking (though often a program will commit an action
X only because it knows that it will implicitly invoke a daemon).
X For example, under {ITS} writing a file on the {LPT} spooler's
X directory would invoke the spooling daemon, which would then print
X the file. The advantage is that programs which want (in this
X example) files printed need not compete for access to the {LPT}.
X They simply enter their implicit requests and let the daemon decide
X what to do with them. Daemons are usually spawned automatically by
X the system, and may either live forever or be regenerated at
X intervals. Usage: daemon and {demon} are often used
X interchangeably, but seem to have distinct connotations. The term
X `daemon' was introduced to computing by {CTSS} people (who
X pronounced it /dee'mon/) and used it to refer to what ITS called
X a {dragon}. While the meaning and pronunciation have drifted, we
X think this glossary reflects current (1991) usage.
X
Xdangling pointer: n. A reference that doesn't actually lead
X anywhere (in C and some other languages, a pointer that doesn't
X actually point at anything valid). Usually this is because it
X formerly pointed to something which has moved or disappeared. Used
X as jargon in a generalization of its techspeak meaning; a local
X phone number for a person who's since moved to the other coast, for
X example.
X
XDatamation: n. A magazine that many hackers assume all {suit}s
X read. Used to question an unbelieved quote, as in "Did you read
X that in Datamation?" It used to publish something hackishly
X funny every once in a while, like the original paper on {COME
X FROM} in 1973; but since then it's become much more exclusively
X {suit}-oriented.
X
Xday mode: n. See {phase} (sense #1). Used of people only.
X
XD. C. Power Lab: n. The former site of the {SAIL}. Hackers
X thought this was very funny because the obvious connection to
X electrical engineering was nonexistent --- the lab was named for a
X Donald C. Power. Compare {Marginal Hacks}.
X
Xdd: /dee-dee/ [from IBM {JCL}] vt. Equivalent to {cat} or
X {BLT}. This was originally the name of a UNIX copy command with
X special options suitable for block-oriented devices. Often used in
X heavy-handed system abuse, as in "Let's dd the root partition onto
X a tape, then use the boot PROM to load it back on to a new disk".
X The UNIX `dd(1)' was designed with a weird, distinctly
X non-UNIXy keyword option syntax reminiscent of IBM System/360 JCL
X (which had a similar DD command); though the command filled a need,
X the design choice looks like somebody's idea of a joke. The jargon
X usage is now very rare outside UNIX sites and now nearly obsolete
X even there, as `dd(1)' has been {deprecated} for a long time
X (though it has no replacement). Replaced by {BLT} or simple
X English `copy'.
X
XDDT: /dee-dee-tee/ n. 1. Generic term for a program that helps you
X to debug other programs by showing individual machine instructions
X in a readable symbolic form and letting the user change them. In
X this sense the term DDT is now archaic, having been widely
X displaced by `debugger' or names of individual programs like
X `dbx', `adb', or `sdb'. 2. [ITS] Under MIT's fabled
X {ITS} operating system, DDT (running under the alias HACTRN) was
X also used as the {shell} or top level command language used to
X execute other programs. 3. Any one of several specific DDTs (sense
X #1) supported on early DEC hardware. The DEC PDP-10 Reference
X Handbook (1969) contained a footnote on the first page of the
X documentation for DDT which illuminates the origin of the
X term:
X
X Historical footnote: DDT was developed at MIT for the PDP-1
X computer in 1961. At that time DDT stood for "DEC Debugging
X Tape". Since then, the idea of an on-line debugging program
X has propagated throughout the computer industry. DDT programs
X are now available for all DEC computers. Since media other
X than tape are now frequently used, the more descriptive name
X "Dynamic Debugging Technique" has been adopted, retaining
X the DDT acronym. Confusion between DDT-10 and another well
X known pesticide, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
X (C14-H9-Cl5) should be minimal since each attacks a different,
X and apparently mutually exclusive, class of bugs.
X
X Sadly, this quotation was removed from later editions of the
X handbook after the {suit}s took over and DEC became much more
X `businesslike'.
X
Xde-rezz: /dee-rez'/ [from the movie `Tron'; poss. related to
X `hi-res' used for a graphics mode on early Apples] (also `derez')
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 5, continue with part 6'
echo 6 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0