eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part07
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X {NAK} depending on whether or not the person felt interruptible.
X Compare {ping}, {finger}, and the usage of "FOO?" listed
X under {talk mode}.
X
XEOF: /ee-oh-ef/ [acronym, End Of File] n. 1. [techspeak]
X Refers esp. to whatever pseudo-character value is returned by C's
X sequential character input functions (and their equivalents in
X other environments) when the logical end of file has been reached
X (this was 0 under V6 UNIX but, is `-1' under V7 and all subsequent
X versions and all non-UNIX C library implementations). 2. Used by
X extension in non-computer contexts when a human is doing something
X that can be modelled as a sequential read and can't go further.
X "Yeah, I looked for a list of 360 mnemonics to post as a joke, but
X I hit EOF pretty fast; all the library had was a {JCL} manual."
X See also {EOL}.
X
XEOL: /ee-oh-el/ [End Of Line] n. Syn. for {newline} derived
X perhaps from the original CDC6600 Pascal. Now rare, but widely
X recognized and occasionally used because it's shorter. It's used
X in the example entry under {BNF}. See also {EOF}.
X
XEOU: /ee-oh-yoo/ n. The mnemonic of a mythical ASCII control
X character (End Of User) that could make a Model 33 Teletype explode
X on receipt. This parodied the numerous obscure delimiter and
X control characters left in ASCII from the days when it was more
X associated with wire-service teletypes than computers (e.g., FS,
X GS, RS, US, EM, SUB, ETX, and esp. EOT). It is worth remembering
X that ASR-33s were big, noisy mechanical beasts with a lot of
X clattering parts; the notion that one might explode was nowhere
X near as ridiculous as it might seem to someone sitting in front of
X a {tube} or flatscreen today.
X
Xepoch: [UNIX] [perhaps from astronomical timekeeping] n. The time
X and date corresponding to zero in an operating system's clock and
X timestamp values. Under most UNIX versions, 00:00:00 GMT, January
X 1, 1970. System time is measured in seconds or {tick}s past the
X epoch. Note that weird problems may ensue when the clock wraps
X around (see {wrap around}), and that this is not a necessarily a
X rare event; on systems counting 10 ticks per second, a signed
X 32-bit count of ticks is good only for 6.8 years. The
X 1-tick-per-second clock of UNIX is good only until January 18,
X 2038, assuming word lengths don't increase by then. See also
X {wall time}.
X
Xepsilon: [see {delta} for etymology] 1. n. A small quantity of
X anything. "The cost is epsilon." 2. adj. Very small,
X negligible; less than {marginal}. "We can get this feature for
X epsilon cost." 3. `within epsilon of': close enough to be
X indistinguishable for all practical purposes. This is even closer
X than being `within delta of'. Example: "That's not what I asked
X for, but it's within epsilon of what I wanted." Alternatively, it
X may mean not close enough, but very little is required to get it
X there: "My program is within epsilon of working."
X
Xepsilon squared: n. A quantity even smaller than {epsilon}, as
X small in comparison to it as it is to something normal; completely
X negligible. If you buy a supercomputer for a million dollars, the
X cost of the thousand-dollar terminal to go with it is {epsilon},
X and the cost of the ten-dollar cable to connect the two is
X {epsilon squared}. Compare {lost in the underflow}, {lost in
X the noise}.
X
Xera, the: Syn. {epoch}. The Webster's Unabridged makes these words
X almost synonymous, but `era' usually connotes a span of time
X rather than a point in time. The {epoch} usage is recommended.
X
XEric Conspiracy: n. A shadowy group of mustachioed hackers named
X Eric first pinpointed as a sinister conspiracy by an infamous
X talk.bizarre posting ca. 1986; this was doubtless influenced by the
X numerous `Eric' jokes in the Monty Python oeuvre. There do indeed
X seem to be considerably more mustachioed Erics in hackerdom than
X the frequency of these three traits can account for unless they are
X correlated in some arcane way. Well-known examples include Eric
X Allman (he of the `Allman style' described under {indent style}),
X and Erik Fair (co-author of NNTP); your editor has heard from about
X fourteen others by email, and the organization line `Eric
X Conspiracy Secret Laboratories' now emanates regularly from more
X than one site.
X
XEris: /e'ris/ pn. The Greek goddess of Chaos, Discord, Confusion,
X and Things You Know Not Of; her name was latinized to Discordia and
X she was worshiped by that name in Rome. Not a very friendly deity
X in the Classical original, she was re-invented as a more benign
X personification of creative anarchy starting in 1959 by the
X adherents of {Discordianism} and has since been a semi-serious
X subject of veneration in several `fringe' cultures, including
X hackerdom. See {Discordianism}, {Church of the Sub-Genius}.
X
Xerotics: /ee-ro'tiks/ n. Reported from Scandinavia as
X English-language university slang for electronics. Often used by
X hackers, maybe because good electronics makes them warm.
X
Xessentials: n. Things necessary to maintain a productive and secure
X hacking environment. "A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, a
X 20-megahertz 80386 box with 8 meg of core and a 300-megabyte disk
X supporting full UNIX with source and X windows and EMACS and UUCP
X via a 'blazer to a friendly Internet site, and thou."
X
Xevil: adj. As used by hackers, implies that some system, program,
X person, or institution is sufficiently maldesigned as to be not
X worth the bother of dealing with. Unlike the adjectives in the
X {cretinous}/{losing}/{brain-damaged} series, `evil' does not
X imply incompetence or bad design, but rather a set of goals or
X design criteria fatally incompatible with the speaker's. This is
X more an esthetic and engineering judgement than a moral one in the
X mainstream sense. "We thought about adding a {Blue Glue}
X interface but decided it was too evil to deal with." "{TECO}
X is neat, but it can be pretty evil if you're prone to typos."
X Often pronounced with the first syllable lengthened, as /eeee'vil/.
X
Xexa-: /ek's*/ pref. See {{quantifiers}}.
X
Xexamining the entrails: n. The process of rooting through a core dump
X or hex image in the attempt to discover the bug that brought your
X program or system down. Compare {runes}, {incantation}, {black
X art}, {desk check}.
X
XEXCH: /eks'ch*/ or /eksch/ vt. To exchange two things, each for the
X other; to swap places. If you point to two people sitting down and
X say "Exch!", you are asking them to trade places. EXCH,
X meaning EXCHange, was originally the name of a PDP-10 instruction
X that exchanged the contents of a register and a memory location.
X Many newer hackers tend to be thinking instead of the PostScript
X exchange operator (which is usually written in lowercase).
X
Xexcl: /eks'kl/ n. Abbreviation for `exclamation point'. See
X {bang}, {shriek}, {{ASCII}}.
X
XEXE: /eks'ee/, /eek'see/ n. An executable binary file. Some
X operating systems (notably MS-DOS, VMS, and TOPS-20/TWENEX) use the
X extension .EXE to mark such files. This usage is also occasionally
X found among UNIX programmers even though UNIX executables don't
X have any required extension (in fact, the term `extension' in this
X sense is not part of UNIX jargon).
X
Xexec: /eg-zek'/ [shortened from `executive' or `execute']
X vt.,n. 1. [UNIX] Synonym for {chain}, derives from the
X `exec(2)' call. 2. obs. The command interpreter for an
X {OS} (see {shell}); term esp. used on mainframes, and prob.
X derived from UNIVAC's archaic EXEC 2 and EXEC 8 operating systems.
X 3. At IBM, the equivalent of a shell command file (this is among
X VM/CMS users).
X
Xexercise, left as an: [from technical books] Used to complete a
X proof when one doesn't mind a {handwave}, or to avoid one
X entirely. The complete phrase is: "The proof (or the rest) is left as
X an exercise for the reader." This comment *has* occasionally
X been attached to unsolved research problems by authors possessed of
X either an evil sense of humor or a vast faith in the capabilities
X of their audiences.
X
Xeyeball search: n. To look for something in a mass of code or data
X {by hand}, as opposed to using some sort of pattern matcher like
X {grep} or any other automated search tool. Also called a
X {vgrep}; compare {vdiff}, {desk check}.
X
X= F =
X=====
X
Xfab: /fab/ [from `fabricate'] v. 1. To produce chips from a
X design that may have been created by someone at another company.
X Fabbing chips based on the designs of others is the activity of a
X {silicon foundry}. To a hacker, `fab' is practically never short
X for `fabulous'. 2. `fab line': the production system
X (lithography, diffusion, etching, etc.) for chips at a chip
X manufacturer. Different `fab lines' are run with different
X process parameters, die sizes, or technologies, or simply to
X provide more manufacturing volume.
X
Xface time: n. Time spent interacting with somebody face-to-face (as
X opposed to via electronic links). "Oh, yeah, I spent some face
X time with him at the last Usenix."
X
Xfall over: [IBM] vi. Yet another synonym for {crash} or {lose}.
X `Fall over hard' equates to {crash and burn}.
X
Xfall through: v. (n. `fallthrough', var. `fall-through')
X 1. To exit a loop by exhaustion, i.e. by having fulfilled its exit
X condition rather than via a break or exception condition that exits
X from the middle of it. This usage appears to be *really* old,
X as in dating from the 1940s and '50s. It may no longer be live
X jargon. 2. To fail a test that would have passed control to a
X subroutine or other distant portion of code. 3. In C,
X `fall-through' occurs when the flow of execution in a
X switch statement reaches a `case' label other than by jumping
X there from the switch header, passing a point where one would
X normally expect to find a `break'. A trivial example:
X
X switch (color)
X {
X case GREEN:
X do_green();
X break;
X case PINK:
X do_pink();
X /* FALL THROUGH */
X case RED:
X do_red();
X break;
X default:
X do_blue();
X break;
X }
X
X The variant spelling `/* FALL THRU */' is also common.
X
X The effect of this code is to `do_green()' when color is
X `GREEN', `do_red()' when color is `RED',
X `do_blue()' on any other color other than `PINK', and
X (and this is the important part) `do_pink()' *and then*
X `do_red()' when color is `PINK'. Fall-through is
X {considered harmful} by some, though there are contexts such as
X the coding of state machines in which it is natural; it is
X generally considered good practice to include a comment
X highlighting the fallthrough, at the point one would normally
X expect a break.
X
Xfandango on core: [UNIX/C hackers, from the Mexican dance] n. In C, a
X wild pointer that runs out of bounds causing a {core dump}, or
X corrupts the `malloc(3)' {arena} in such a way as to cause mysterious
X failures later on, is sometimes said to have `done a fandango on
X core'. On low-end personal machines without an MMU, this can
X corrupt the OS itself, causing massive lossage. Other frenetic
X dances such as the rhumba, cha-cha, or watusi may be substituted.
X See {aliasing bug}, {precedence lossage}, {smash the stack},
X {memory leak}, {overrun screw}, {core}.
X
XFAQ list: /ef-ay-kyoo list/ [Usenix] n. A compendium of accumulated
X lore, posted periodically to high-volume newsgroups in an attempt
X to forestall Frequently Asked Questions. This lexicon itself
X serves as a good example of a collection of one kind of lore,
X although it is far too big for a regular posting. Several extant
X FAQ lists do (or should) make reference to the Jargon File (the
X on-line version of this lexicon). "How do you pronounce `char'?"
X and "What's that funny name for the `#' character?" for
X example, are both Frequently Asked Questions.
X
Xfarming: [Adelaide University, Australia] n. What the heads of a
X disk drive are said to do when they plow little furrows in the
X magnetic media. Associated with a {crash}. Typically used as
X follows: "Oh no, the machine has just crashed; I hope the hard
X drive hasn't gone {farming} again."
X
Xfascist: adj. 1. Said of a computer system with excessive or
X annoying security barriers, usage limits, or access policies. The
X implication is that said policies are preventing hackers from
X getting interesting work done. The variant `fascistic' seems
X to have been preferred at MIT, poss. by analogy with
X `touristic' (see {tourist}). 2. In the design of languages
X and other software tools, `the fascist alternative' is the most
X restrictive and structured way of capturing a particular function;
X the implication is that this may be desirable in order to simplify
X the implementation or provide tighter error checking. Compare
X {bondage-and-discipline language}; but that term is global rather
X than local.
X
XFAtt: // [FidoNet] n. Abbreviation for {File Attach}.
X
Xfaulty: adj. Non-functional; buggy. Same denotation as
X {bletcherous}, {losing}, q.v., but the connotation is much
X milder.
X
Xfd leak: /ef dee leek/ n. A kind of programming bug analogous to a
X {core leak}, in which a program fails to close file descriptors
X (`fd's) after file operations are completed, and thus eventually
X runs out. See {leak}.
X
Xfear and loathing: [from Hunter Thompson] n. State inspired by the
X prospect of dealing with certain real-world systems and standards
X that are totally {brain-damaged} but ubiquitous --- Intel 8086s,
X or {COBOL}, or {{EBCDIC}}, or any {IBM} machine except the Rios (aka
X the RS/6000). "Ack! They want PCs to be able to talk to the AI
X machine. Fear and loathing time!"
X
Xfeature: n. 1. A good property or behavior (as of a program).
X Whether it was intended or not is immaterial. 2. An intended
X property or behavior (as of a program). Whether it is good or not
X is immaterial (but if bad, it is also a {misfeature}). 3. A
X surprising property or behavior; in particular, one that is
X purposely inconsistent because it works better that way --- such an
X inconsistency is therefore a {feature} and not a {bug}. This
X kind of feature is sometimes called a {miswart}; see that entry
X for a classic example. 4. A property or behavior that is
X gratuitous or unnecessary, though perhaps also impressive or cute.
X For example, one feature of Common LISP's FORMAT function is the
X ability to print numbers in two different Roman-numeral formats
X (see {bells, whistles, and gongs}). 5. A property or behavior
X that was put in to help someone else but that happens to be in your
X way. 6. A bug that has been documented. To call something a
X feature sometimes means the author of the program did not consider
X the particular case, and the program responded in a way that was
X unexpected, but not strictly incorrect. A standard joke is that a
X bug can be turned into a {feature} simply by documenting it (then
X theoretically no one can complain about it because it's in the
X manual), or even by simply declaring it to be good. "That's not a
X bug, that's a feature!" See also {feetch feetch}, {creeping
X featurism}, {wart}, {green lightning}.
X
X The relationship between bugs, features, misfeatures, warts, and
X miswarts might be clarified by the following exchange between two
X hackers on an airplane:
X
X A: "This seat doesn't recline."
X
X B: "That's not a bug, that's a feature. There is an emergency
X exit door built around the window behind you, and the route has to
X be kept clear."
X
X A: "Oh. Then it's a misfeature; they should have increased the
X spacing between rows here."
X
X B: "Yes. But if they'd only increased spacing in one section it
X would have been a wart --- they would've had to make
X nonstandard-length ceiling panels to fit over the displaced
X seats."
X
X A: "A miswart, actually. If they increased spacing throughout
X they'd lose several rows and a chunk out of the profit margin. So
X unequal spacing would actually be the Right Thing."
X
X B: "Indeed."
X
X Finally, note that {undocumented feature} is a common, allegedly
X humorous euphemism for a {bug}.
X
Xfeature creature: [poss. fr. slang `creature feature' for a horror
X movie] n. One who loves to add features to designs or programs,
X perhaps at the expense of coherence, concision, or {taste}. See
X also {feeping creaturism}, {creeping featurism}.
X
Xfeature shock: [from Alvin Toffler's title `Future Shock'] n.
X A user's (or programmer's!) confusion when confronted with a
X package that has too many features and poor introductory material.
X
Xfeaturectomy: /fee`ch*r-ek'to-mee/ n. The act of removing a feature
X from a program. Featurectomies generally come in two varieties,
X the `righteous' and the `reluctant'. Righteous featurectomies
X are performed because the remover believes the program would be
X more elegant without the feature, or there is already an equivalent
X and `better' way to achieve the same end. (This is not quite the
X same thing as removing a {misfeature}.) Reluctant featurectomies
X are performed to satisfy some external constraint such as code size
X or execution speed.
X
Xfeep: /feep/ 1. n. The soft electronic `bell' sound of a
X display terminal (except for a VT-52!); a beep (in fact, the
X microcomputer world seems to prefer {beep}). 2. vi. To cause
X the display to make a feep sound. ASR 33s (the original TTYs) do
X not feep; they have mechanical bells that ring. Alternate forms:
X {beep}, `bleep', or just about anything suitably
X onomatopoeic. (Jeff MacNelly, in his comic strip `Shoe', uses
X the word `eep' for sounds made by computer terminals and video
X games; this is perhaps the closest written approximation yet.) The
X term `breedle' was sometimes heard at SAIL, where the terminal
X bleepers are not particularly `soft' (they sound more like the
X musical equivalent of a raspberry or Bronx cheer; for a close
X approximation, imagine the sound of a Star Trek communicator's beep
X lasting for five seconds). The `feeper' on a VT-52 has been
X compared to the sound of a '52 Chevy stripping its gears. See also
X {ding}.
X
Xfeeper: /fee'pr/ n. The device in a terminal or workstation (usually
X a loudspeaker of some kind) that makes the {feep} sound.
X
Xfeeping creature: [from {feeping creaturism}] n. An unnecessary
X feature; a bit of {chrome} that, in the speaker's judgement, is
X the camel's nose for a whole horde of new features.
X
Xfeeping creaturism: /fee'ping kree`ch*r-izm/ n. Deliberate
X Spoonerism for {creeping featurism}, meant to imply that the
X system or program in question has become a misshapen creature of
X hacks. This term isn't really well-defined, but it sounds so neat
X that most hackers have said or heard it. It is probably reinforced
X by an image of terminals prowling about in the dark making their
X customary noises.
X
Xfeetch feetch: interj. If someone tells you about some new
X improvement to a program, you might respond, "Feetch, feetch!".
X The meaning of this depends critically on vocal inflection. With
X enthusiasm, it means something like, "Boy, that's great! What a
X great hack!" Grudgingly or with obvious doubt, it means "I don't
X know; it sounds like just one more unnecessary and complicated
X thing." With a tone of resignation, it means, "Well, I'd rather
X keep it simple, but I suppose it has to be done."
X
Xfence: n. 1. A sequence of one or more distinguished
X ({out-of-band}) characters (or other data items), used to delimit
X a piece of data intended to be treated as a unit (the computer
X science literature calls this a `sentinel'). The NUL (ASCII
X #b0000000) character that terminates strings in C is a fence. Hex
X FF is probably the most common fence character after NUL. See
X {zigamorph}. 2. (Among users of optimizing compilers) Any
X technique, usually exploiting knowledge about the compiler, that
X blocks certain optimizations. Used when explicit mechanisms are
X not available, or are overkill (e.g., a single-point optimization
X block in an otherwise optimized procedure, program, etc.)
X Typically a hack: "I call a dummy procedure there to force a flush
X of the optimizer's register-coloring info." can be expressed by
X the shorter "That's a fence procedure."
X
Xfencepost error: n. 1. The discrete equivalent of a boundary
X condition. Often exhibited in programs by iterative loops. From
X the following problem: "If you build a fence 100 feet long with
X posts 10 feet apart, how many posts do you need?" Either 9 or 11
X is a better answer than the obvious 10. For example, suppose you
X have a long list or array of items, and want to process items m
X through n; how many items are there? The obvious answer is `n
X - m', but that is off by one; the right answer is `n - m + 1'.
X A program that used the `obvious' formula would have a fencepost
X error in it. See also {off-by-one error}, and note that not all
X off-by-one errors are fencepost errors. The game of Musical Chairs
X involves a catastrophic off-by-one error where N people try to sit
X in `N - 1' chairs, but it's not a fencepost error. Fencepost errors
X come from counting things rather than the spaces between them, or
X vice versa, or by neglecting to consider whether one should count
X one or both ends of a row. 2. Occasionally, an error induced by
X unexpectedly regular spacing of inputs, which can (for instance)
X screw up your hash table.
X
Xfepped out: /fept owt/ adj. The Symbolics 3600 Lisp Machine has a
X front-end processor called a `FEP' (compare sense #2 of {box}).
X When the main processor gets {wedged}, the FEP takes control of
X the keyboard and screen. Such a machine is said to have
X `fepped out'.
X
XFidoNet: n. A world-wide hobbyist network of personal computers
X which exchange mail, discussion groups, and files. Founded in 1984
X and originally consisting only of IBM PCs and compatibles, FidoNet
X now includes such diverse machines as Apple ][s, Ataris, Amigas,
X and UNIX systems. Though it is much younger than USENET, FidoNet
X is already a significant fraction of {USENET}'s size at some 8000
X systems (early 1991).
X
Xfield circus: [a derogatory pun on `field service'] n. The field
X service organization of any hardware manufacturer, but especially
X DEC. There is an entire genre of jokes about DEC field circus
X engineers:
X
X Q: How can you recognize a DEC field circus engineer with a flat tire?
X A: He's changing each tire to see which one is flat.
X
X Q: How can you recognize a DEC field circus engineer who is out of
X gas?
X A: He's changing each tire to see which one is flat.
X
Xfield servoid: [play on `android'] /fee'ld ser'voyd/ n.
X Representative of a Field Service organization (see {field
X circus}). This has many of the implications of {droid}.
X
XFight-o-net: [FidoNet] n. Deliberate distortion of {FidoNet},
X often applied after a flurry of {flamage} in a particular
X {echo}, especially the SYSOP echo or Fidonews (see <'Snooze>).
X
XFile Attach: [FidoNet] 1. n. A file sent along with a mail message
X from one BBS to another. 2. vt. Sending someone a file by using
X the File Attach option in the BBS mailer.
X
XFile Request: [FidoNet] 1. n. The {FidoNet} equivalent of
X {FTP}, in which one BBS system automatically dials another and
X {snarf}s one or more files. Files are often announced as being
X "available for {FReq}" in the same way that files are announced
X as being "available for/by anonymous FTP" on the Internet.
X 2. vt. The act of getting a copy of a file by using the File
X Request option of the BBS mailer.
X
Xfilk: /filk/ [from SF fandom, where a typo for `folk' was adopted
X as a new word] n.,v. A `filk' is a popular or folk song with
X lyrics revised or completely new lyrics, intended for humorous
X effect when read and/or to be sung late at night at SF conventions.
X There is a flourishing subgenre of these called `computer filks',
X written by hackers and often containing technical humor of quite
X sophisticated nature. See {double bucky} for an example.
X
Xfilm at 11: [MIT, in parody of TV newscasters] Used in conversation
X to announce ordinary events, with a sarcastic implication that
X these events are earth-shattering. "{ITS} crashes; film at 11."
X "Bug found in scheduler; film at 11."
X
Xfilter: [orig. {UNIX}, now also in {MS-DOS}] n. A program that
X processes an input data stream into an output data stream in some
X well-defined way, and does no I/O to anywhere else except possibly
X on error conditions; one designed to be used as a stage in a
X {pipeline}.
X
Xfine: [WPI] adj. Good, but not good enough to be {cuspy}. The word
X `fine' is used elsewhere, of course, but without the implicit
X comparison to the higher level implied by {cuspy}.
X
Xfinger: [WAITS, via BSD UNIX] 1. n. A program that displays a
X particular user or all users logged on the system or a remote
X system. Typically shows full name, last login time, idle time,
X terminal line, and terminal location (where applicable). May also
X display a {plan file} left by the user. 2. vt. To apply finger
X to a username. 3. vt. By extension, to check a human's current
X state by any means. "Foodp?" "T!" "OK, finger Lisa and see
X if she's idle.". 4. Any picture (composed of ASCII characters)
X depicting `the finger'. Originally a humorous component of one's
X plan file to deter the curious fingerer (sense #2), it has entered
X the arsenal of some {flamer}s.
X
Xfinger-pointing syndrome: n. All-too-frequent result of bugs, esp.
X in new or experimental configurations. The hardware vendor points
X a finger at the software. The software vendor points a finger
X at the hardware. All the poor users get is the finger.
X
Xfirebottle: n. A large, primitive, power-hungry active electrical
X device, similar in function to a FET but constructed out of glass,
X metal, and vacuum. Characterized by high cost, low density, low
X reliability, high-temperature operation, and high power
X dissipation. Sometimes mistakenly called a `tube' in the U.S.
X or a `valve' in England; another hackish term is {glassfet}.
X
Xfirefighting: n. 1. What sysadmins have to do to correct sudden
X operational problems. An opposite of hacking. "Been hacking your
X new newsreader?" "No, a power glitched hosed the network and I spent
X the whole afternoon fighting fires." 2. The act of throwing lots
X of manpower and late nights at a project, esp. to get it out
X before deadline. See also {gang bang}, {Mongolian Hordes
X technique}; however, the term `firefighting' connotes that the
X effort is going into chasing bugs rather than adding features.
X
Xfirewall code: n. The code you put in a system (say, a telephone
X switch) to make sure that the users can't do any damage. Since
X users always want to be able to do everything but never want to
X suffer for any mistakes, the construction of a firewall is not just
X a question of defensive coding but of interface presentation, so
X that users don't even get curious about those corners of a system
X where they can burn themselves.
X
Xfirewall machine: n. A dedicated gateway machine with special
X security precautions on it, used to service outside network
X connections and dial-in lines. The idea is to protect a cluster of
X more loosely administered machines `hidden' behind it from
X {cracker}s. The typical firewall is an inexpensive micro-based
X UNIX box kept clean of critical data, with a bunch of modems and
X public network ports on it but just one carefully watched
X connection back to the rest of the cluster. The special
X precautions may include threat monitoring, callback, and even a
X complete {iron box} keyable to particular incoming IDs or
X activity patterns. Syn. {flytrap}, {Venus flytrap}.
X
Xfireworks mode: n. The mode a machine is sometimes said to be in when
X it is performing a {crash and burn} operation.
X
Xfish: [Adelaide University, Australia] n. Another metasyntactic
X variable. See {foo}. Derived originally from the Monty Python
X skit in the middle of `The Meaning of Life' entitled `Find the
X fish'.
X
XFISH queue: [acronym, by analogy with FIFO (First In, First Out)]
X adj. First In, Still Here. A joking way of pointing out that
X processing of a particular sequence of events or requests has
X stopped dead. Also `FISH mode' and `FISHnet'; the latter
X may be applied to any network that is running really slowly or
X exhibiting extreme flakiness.
X
Xfix: n.,v. What one does when a problem has been reported too many
X times to be ignored.
X
Xflag: n. A variable or quantity that can take on one of two values; a
X bit, particularly one that is used to indicate one of two outcomes
X or is used to control which of two things is to be done. Examples:
X "This flag controls whether to clear the screen before printing
X the message." "The program status word contains several flag
X bits." See also {bit}, {hidden flag}, {mode bit}.
X
Xflag day: n. A software change which is neither forward- nor
X backward-compatible, and which is costly to make and costly to
X revert. "Can we install that without causing a flag day for all
X users?" This term has nothing to do with the use of the word
X {flag} to mean a variable that has two values. It came into use
X when a massive change was made to the {Multics} timesharing
X system to convert from the old ASCII code to the new one; this was
X scheduled for Flag Day (a U.S. holiday), June 14, 1966. See also
X {backward combatability}.
X
Xflaky: adj. (var sp. `flakey') Subject to frequent {lossage}.
X This use is of course related to the common slang use of the word,
X to describe a person as eccentric, crazy, or just unreliable. A
X system that is flaky is working, sort of, enough that you are
X tempted to try to use it, but it fails frequently enough that the
X odds in favor of finishing what you start are low. Commonwealth
X hackish prefers {dodgy} or {wonky}.
X
Xflamage: /flay'm*j/ n. High-noise, low-signal postings to {USENET}
X or other electronic fora. Often in the phrase `the usual
X flamage'.
X
Xflame: v. 1. To post an email message intended to insult and
X provoke. 2. vi. To speak incessantly and/or rabidly on some
X relatively uninteresting subject or with a patently ridiculous
X attitude. When a discussion degenerates into useless controversy,
X one might tell the participants, "Now you're just flaming" or
X "Stop all that flamage!" to try to get them to cool down (so to
X speak).
X
X USENETter Marc Ramsey, who was at WPI from 1972 to 1976, adds: "I
X am 99% certain that the use of `flame' originated at WPI. Those
X who made a nuisance of themselves insisting that they needed to use
X a TTY for `real work' came to be known as `flaming asshole lusers'.
X Other particularly annoying people became `flaming asshole ravers',
X which shortened to `flaming ravers', and ultimately `flamers'. I
X remember someone picking up on the Human Torch pun, but I don't
X think `flame on/off' was ever much used at WPI." See also
X {asbestos}.
X
X The term may have been independently invented at several different
X places; it is also reported that `flaming' was in use to mean
X something like `interminably drawn-out semi-serious discussions'
X (late-night bull-sessions) at Carleton College during 1968--1971.
X
Xflame bait: n. A posting intended to trigger a {flame war}, or one
X that invites flames in reply.
X
Xflame on: vi.,interj. 1. To begin to {flame}. The punning
X reference to Marvel Comics's Human Torch is no longer widely
X recognized. 2. To continue to flame. See {rave}, {burble}.
X
Xflame war: n. (var. `flamewar') An acrimonious dispute,
X especially when conducted on a public electronic forum such as
X {USENET}.
X
Xflamer: n. One who habitually flames others. Said esp. of obnoxious
X {USENET} personalities.
X
Xflap: vt. 1. To unload a DECtape (so it goes flap, flap,
X flap...). Old-time hackers at MIT tell of the days when the
X disk was device 0 and microtapes were 1, 2,... and attempting
X to flap device 0 would instead start a motor banging inside a
X cabinet near the disk! 2. By extension, to unload any magnetic
X tape. See {microtape}, {macrotape}. Modern cartridge tapes no
X longer actually flap, but the usage has remained.
X
Xflarp: /flarp/ [Rutgers University] n. Yet another metasyntactic
X variable (see {foo}). Among those who use it, it is associated
X with a legend that any program not containing the word `flarp'
X somewhere will not work. The legend is discreetly silent on the
X reliability of programs which *do* contain the magic word.
X
Xflat: adj. 1. Lacking any complex internal structure. "That
X {bitty box} only has a flat filesystem, not a hierarchical one."
X The verb form is {flatten}. 2. Said of a memory architecture
X like the VAX or 680x0 that is one big linear address space
X (typically with each possible value of a processor register
X corresponding to a unique core address), as opposed to a
X `segmented' architecture like the 80x86 in which addresses are
X composed from a base-register/offset pair (such designs are
X generally considered {cretinous}).
X
Xflat-ASCII: adj. Said of a text file that contains only 7-bit ASCII
X characters and uses only ASCII-standard control characters (that
X is, has no embedded codes specific to a particular text formatter
X or markup language, and no {meta}-characters). Syn.
X {plain-ASCII}. Compare {flat-file}.
X
Xflat-file: adj. A {flatten}ed representation of some database or
X tree or network structure, as a single file from which the
X structure could implicitly be rebuilt, esp. one in {flat-ASCII}
X form.
X
Xflatten: vt. To remove structural information, esp. to filter
X something with an implicit tree structure into a simple sequence of
X leaves; also tends to imply mapping to {flat-ASCII}. "This code
X flattens an expression with parentheses into an equivalent
X {canonical} form."
X
Xflavor: n. 1. Variety, type, kind. "DDT commands come in two
X flavors." "These lights come in two flavors, big red ones and
X small green ones." See {vanilla}. 2. The attribute that causes
X something to be {flavorful}. Usually used in the phrase "yields
X additional flavor." "This convention yields additional flavor by
X allowing one to print text either right-side-up or upside-down."
X See {vanilla}. This usage was certainly reinforced by the
X terminology of quantum chromodynamics, in which quarks (the
X constituents of, e.g., protons) come in six flavors (up, down,
X strange, charm, top, bottom) and three colors (red, blue, green)
X --- however, hackish use of `flavor' at MIT predated QCD. 3. The
X term for `class' (in the object-oriented sense) in the Lisp Machine
X Flavors system. Though the Flavors design has been superseded
X (notably by the Common Lisp CLOS facility), the term `flavor' is
X still used as a general synonym for `class' by some LISP hackers.
X
Xflavorful: adj. Full of {flavor}; esthetically pleasing. See
X {random} and {losing} for antonyms. See also the entries for
X {taste} and {elegant}.
X
Xflippy: /flip'ee/ n. A single-sided floppy disk altered for
X double-sided use by addition of a second write-notch, so called
X because it must be flipped over for the second side to be
X accessible. No longer common.
X
Xflowchart:: [techspeak] n. An archaic form of visual control-flow
X specification employing arrows and `speech balloons' of various
X shapes. Hackers never use flowcharts, consider them extremely
X silly, and associate them with {COBOL} programmers, {card
X walloper}s, and other lower forms of life. This is because (from a
X hacker's point of view) they are no easier to read than code, are
X less precise, and tend to fall out of sync with the code (so that
X they either obfuscate it rather than explaining it, or require
X extra maintenance effort that doesn't improve the code). See also
X {pdl}, sense #3.
X
Xflush: v. 1. To delete something, usually superfluous. "All that
X nonsense has been flushed." 2. [UNIX/C] To force buffered I/O to
X disk, as with an `fflush(3)' call. This is *not* an
X abort as in sense #1, but a demand for early completion! 3. To
X leave at the end of a day's work (as opposed to leaving for a
X meal). "I'm going to flush now." "Time to flush." 4. To
X exclude someone from an activity, or to ignore a person.
X
X `Flush' was standard ITS terminology for aborting an output
X operation; one spoke of the text that would have been printed, but
X was not, as having been flushed. It is speculated that this term
X arose from a vivid image of flushing unwanted characters by hosing
X down the internal output buffer, washing the characters away before
X they can be printed. The UNIX/C usage, on the other hand, was
X propagated by the `fflush(3)' call in C's standard I/O library
X (though it is reported to have been in use among BLISS programmers
X at DEC and on Honeywell and IBM machines as far back as 1965).
X UNIX/C hackers find the ITS usage confusing and vice versa.
X
Xflytrap: n. See {firewall machine}.
X
XFOAF: // [USENET] n. Acronym for Friend Of A Friend. The
X source of an unverified, possibly untrue story. This was not
X originated by hackers (it is used in Jan Brunvand's books on urban
X folklore), but is much better recognized on USENET and elsewhere
X than in mainstream English.
X
XFOD: v. [Abbreviation for `Finger of Death', originally a
X spell-name from fantasy gaming] To terminate with extreme prejudice
X and with no regard for other people. From {MUD}s where the
X wizard command `FOD <player>' results in the immediate and total
X death of <player>, usually as punishment for obnoxious behavior.
X This migrated to other circumstances, such as "I'm going to fod
X that process which is burning all the cycles." Compare {gun}.
X
X In aviation, FOD means Foreign Object Damage, e.g. what happens
X when a jet engine sucks up a rock on the runway. Finger of Death
X is an distressingly apt description of the usual results of this!
X
Xfold case: v. See {smash case}. This term tends to be used more
X by people who don't *mind* that their tools smash case. It
X also connotes that case is ignored but case distinctions in data
X processed by the tool in question aren't destroyed.
X
Xfollowup: n. On USENET, a {posting} generated in response to
X another posting (as opposed to a {reply}, which goes by email
X rather than being broadcast). Followups include the ID of the
X {parent message} in their headers; smart news-readers can use
X this information to present USENET news in `conversation' sequence
X rather than order-of-arrival. See {thread}.
X
Xfoo: /foo/ 1. interj. Term of disgust. 2. n. Name used for
X temporary programs, or samples of three-letter names. Other
X similar words are {bar}, {baz} (Stanford corruption of
X {bar}), and rarely `rag'. 3. Used very generally as a sample
X name for absolutely anything. 4. First on the standard list of
X metasyntactic variables used in syntax examples. See also:
X {bar}, {baz}, {qux}, {quux}, {corge}, {grault},
X {garply}, {waldo}, {fred}, {plugh}, {xyzzy},
X {thud}.
X
X {foo} is the {canonical} example of a `metasyntactic variable'; a
X name used in examples and understood to stand for whatever thing is
X under discussion, or any random member of a class of things under
X discussion. To avoid confusion, hackers never use `foo' or other
X words like it as permanent names for anything. In filenames, a
X common convention is that any filename beginning `foo' is a scratch
X file which may be deleted at any time.
X
X The etymology of hackish `foo' is obscure. When used in
X connection with `bar' it is generally traced to the WWII-era army
X slang acronym FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition), later
X bowdlerized to {foobar}. (See also {FUBAR}).
X
X However, the use of the word `foo' itself has more complicated
X antecedents, including a long history in comic strips and cartoons.
X The old `Smokey Stover' comic strips by Bill Holman often
X included the word `FOO', in particular on license plates of cars;
X allegedly, `FOO' and `BAR' also occurred in Walt Kelly's
X `Pogo' strips. In a 1938 cartoon Daffy Duck holds up a sign
X saying "SILENCE IS FOO!" It is even possible that hacker usage
X actually springs from the title `FOO, Lampoons and Parody' of
X a comic book first issued 20 years later, in September 1958; the
X byline read `C. Crumb' but this may well have been a sort-of
X pseudonym for noted weird-comix artist Robert Crumb. The title FOO
X was featured in large letters on the front cover.
X
X An old-time member reports that in the semi-legendary 1959
X "Dictionary of the TMRC Language", compiled at TMRC (the Tech
X Model Railroad Club at MIT, pronounced /tmerk'/), there was an
X entry which went something like this:
X
X FOO: The first syllable of the sacred chant phrase "FOO MANE PADME
X HUM." Our first obligation is to keep the foo counters turning.
X
X By 1962, TMRC's legendary model-railroad layout was already a
X marvel of complexity for which the control system alone featured
X about 1200 relays. There were {scram switch}es located at
X numerous places around the room which could be pressed if something
X undesirable was about to occur, such as a train going full-bore at
X an obstruction. Another feature of the system was a digital clock
X on the dispatch board. Normally it ran at some multiple of real
X time, but if someone hit a scram switch the clock stopped and the
X display was replaced with the word "FOO".
X
X Almost the entire AI staff was involved with the TMRC, so it's not
X clear that anyone can say which group introduced the other to the
X word FOO.
X
X Very probably, hackish `foo' had no single origin and derives
X through all these channels from Yiddish `feh' and/or English
X `fooey!'.
X
Xfoobar: n. Another common metasyntactic variable; see {foo}.
X Note that hackers do *not* generally use this to mean
X {FUBAR} in either slang or jargon senses!
X
Xfool: n. As used by hackers, specifically describes a person who
X habitually reasons from obviously or demonstrably incorrect
X premises and cannot be persuaded by evidence to do otherwise; it is
X not generally used in its other senses, i.e., to describe a person
X with a native incapacity to reason correctly, or a clown. Indeed,
X in hackish experience many fools are capable of reasoning all too
X effectively in executing their errors. See also {cretin}, {loser}.
X
Xfootprint: n. 1. The floor or desk area taken up by a piece of
X hardware. 2. [IBM] The audit trail (if any) left by a crashed
X program (often in plural, `footprints'). See also
X {toeprint}.
X
Xfor free: adj. Said of a capability of a programming language or
X hardware equipment which is available by its design without needing
X cleverness to implement, e.g, "In APL, we get the matrix
X operations for free", or "And owing to the way revisions are
X stored in this system, you get revision trees for free." Usually
X it refers to a serendipitous feature of doing things a certain way
X (compare {big win}), but may refer to an intentional but
X secondary feature.
X
Xfor the rest of us: [from the Mac slogan "The computer for the
X rest of us"] adj. 1. Used to describe a {spiffy} product whose
X affordability shames other comparable products, or (more often)
X used sarcastically to describe {spiffy} but very overpriced
X products. 2. Describes a program with a limited interface,
X deliberately limited capabilities, non-orthogonality, inability to
X compose primitives, or any other limitation designed to not
X `confuse' a naive user. This places an upper bound on how far that
X user can go before the program begins to get in the way of the task
X instead of helping accomplish it. Used in reference to Macintosh
X software which doesn't provide obviously necessary capabilities
X (and which are obvious to implement) because it is thought that the
X users wouldn't need them, wouldn't understand them, and other
X applicable patronizing terms. Becomes `the rest of *them*'
X when used in third-party reference; thus, "Yes, it is an
X attractive program, but it's designed for The Rest Of Them" means
X a program which superficially is neat but has no depth beyond the
X surface flash. See {WIMP environment}, {Macintrash}.
X
Xforeground: [UNIX] adj.,vt. 1. [techspeak] On a time-sharing
X system, a task executing in foreground is one able to accept input
X from and return output to the user; oppose {background}.
X Nowadays this term is primarily associated with {UNIX}, but it
X appears first to have been used in this sense on OS/360. Normally,
X there is only one foreground task per terminal (or terminal
X window); having multiple processes simultaneously reading the
X keyboard is a good way to {lose}. 2. By extension, to
X `foreground a task' is to bring it to the top of one's
X {stack} for immediate processing, and hackers often use it in
X this sense for non-computer tasks.
X
Xforked: [UNIX] adj. Terminally slow, or dead. Originated when the
X system slowed to incredibly bad speeds due to a process recursively
X spawning copies of itself (using the UNIX system call `fork(2)')
X and taking up all the process table entries.
X
XFortrash: n. Hackerism for the FORTRAN language, referring to its
X primitive design, gross and irregular syntax, limited control
X constructs, and slippery, exception-filled semantics.
X
Xfortune cookie: [UNIX] n. A random quote, item of trivia, joke, or
X maxim printed to the user's tty at login time or (less commonly) at
X logout time. Items from this lexicon have often been used as
X fortune cookies. See {cookie file}.
X
Xfossil: n. 1. In software, a misfeature that becomes understandable
X only in historical context, as a remnant of times past retained so
X as not to break compatibility. Example: the retention of octal as
X default base for string escapes in {C}, in spite of the better
X match of hexadecimal to ASCII and modern byte-addressable
X architectures. See {dusty deck}. 2. More restrictively, a
X feature with past but no present utility. Example: the
X force-all-caps (LCASE) bits in the V7 and {BSD} UNIX tty driver,
X designed for use with monocase terminals. In a perversion of the
X usual backward-compatibility goal, this functionality has actually
X been expanded and renamed in some later {USG UNIX} releases as
X the IUCLC and OLCUC bits. 3. The FOSSIL (Fido/Opus/Seadog
X Standard Interface Level) driver specification for serial-port
X access to replace the {brain-dead} routines in the IBM PC ROMs.
X Fossils are used by most MSDOS {BBS} software in lieu of
X programming the {bare metal} of the serial ports, as the ROM
X routines do not support interrupt-driven operation or setting
X speeds above 9600. Since the FOSSIL specification allows
X additional functionality to be hooked in, drivers that use the
X {hook} but do not provide serial-port access themselves are named
X with a modifier, as in `video fossil'.
X
Xfour-color glossies: 1. Literature created by {marketroid}s
X allegedly containing technical specs, but in fact as superficial as
X possible without being totally {content-free}. "Forget the
X four-color glossies, give me the tech ref manuals." Often applied
X even when the material is printed on ordinary paper in B&W as an
X indication of superficiality. Four-color-glossy manuals are
X *never* useful for finding a problem. 2. [rare] Applied by
X extension to manual pages that don't contain enough information to
X diagnose why the program doesn't produce the expected or desired
X output.
X
Xfred: n. 1. The personal name most frequently used as a
X metasyntactic variable (see {foo}). Allegedly popular because
X it's easy to type on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Unlike
X {J. Random Hacker} or `J. Random Loser', this name has no
X positive or negative loading (but see {Mbogo, Dr. Fred}). 2. An
X acronym for `Flipping Ridiculous Electronic Device'; other F-verbs
X may be substituted for "flipping".
X
Xfrednet: /fred'net/ n. Used to refer to some {random} and
X uncommon protocol encountered on a network. "We're implementing
X bridging in our router to solve the frednet problem."
X
Xfreeware: n. 1. Free software, often written by enthusiasts and
X distributed by users' groups, or via electronic mail, local
X bulletin boards, {USENET}, or other electronic media. At one
X time, `freeware' was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman, the author
X of the well-known MS-DOS comm program PC-TALK III. It wasn't
X enforced after his mysterious disappearance in 1984. See
X {shareware}. 2: Sometimes more specifically used for software
X which is given away with no conditions nor requests for
X contributions attached.
X
Xfreeze: v. To lock an evolving software distribution or document
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 7, continue with part 8'
echo 8 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0