eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (03/23/91)
Submitted-by: jargon@thyrsus.com
Archive-name: jargon/part06
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X 1. vi. To disappear or dissolve; the image that goes with it is of
X an object breaking up into raster lines and static and then
X dissolving. Occasionally used of a person who seems to have
X suddenly `fuzzed out' mentally rather than physically. Usage:
X extremely silly, also rare. This verb was actually invented as
X *fictional* hacker jargon, and adopted in a spirit of irony by
X real hackers years after the fact. 2. vt. On a Macintosh, many
X program structures (including the code itself) are managed in small
X segments of the program file known as `resources'. The standard
X resource compiler is Rez. The standard resource decompiler is
X DeRez. Thus decompiling a resource is `derezzing'. Usage: very
X common.
X
Xdead code: n. Routines that can never be accessed because all calls
X to them have been removed, or code which cannot be reached because
X it is guarded by a control structure which provably must always
X transfer control somewhere else. The presence of dead code may
X reveal either logical errors due to alterations in the program or
X significant changes in the assumptions and environment of the
X program (see also {software rot}); a good compiler should report
X dead code so a maintainer can think about what it means. Syn.
X {grunge}.
X
XDEADBEEF: n. The hexadecimal word-fill pattern for freshly
X allocated memory under a number of IBM environments, including the
X RS/6000. As in "Your program is..."; if you start from an odd
X half-word boundary, of course, you have BEEFDEAD.
X
Xdeadlock: n. 1. [techspeak] A situation wherein two or more
X processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for one of
X the other to do something. A common example is a program
X communicating to a server, which may find itself waiting for output
X from the server before sending anything more to it, while the
X server is similarly waiting for more input from the controlling
X program before outputting anything. (It is reported that this
X particular flavor of deadlock is sometimes called a `starvation
X deadlock', though the term `starvation' is more properly used for
X situations where a program can never run simply because it never
X gets high enough priority. Another common flavor is
X `constipation', where each process is trying to send stuff to
X the other, but all buffers are full because nobody is reading
X anything.) See {deadly embrace}. 2. Also used of
X deadlock-like interactions between humans, as when two people meet
X in a narrow corridor, and each tries to be polite by moving aside
X to let the other pass, but they end up swaying from side to side
X without making any progress because they always both move the same
X way at the same time.
X
Xdeadly embrace: n. Same as {deadlock}, though usually used only when
X exactly two processes are involved. This is the more popular term in
X Europe, while {deadlock} predominates in the United States.
X
Xdeath star: [from the movie `Star Wars'] The AT&T corporate
X logo, which appears on computers sold by AT&T and bears an uncanny
X resemblance to the `Death Star' in the movie. This usage is
X particularly common among partisans of {BSD} UNIX, who tend to
X regard the AT&T versions as inferior and AT&T as a bad guy. Copies
X still circulate of a poster printed by Mt. Xinu showing a starscape
X with a space fighter labelled 4.2BSD streaking away from a broken
X AT&T logo wreathed in flames.
X
X AT&T's internal magazine, `Focus', uses `death star' for
X an incorrectly done AT&T logo in which the inner circle in the top
X left is dark instead of light --- a frequent result of dark-on-light
X logo images.
X
XDEC Wars: n. A 1983 {USENET} posting by Alan Hastings and Steve Tarr,
X spoofing the `Star Wars' movies in hackish terms. Some years
X later, ESR (disappointed by Hastings/Tarr's failure to exploit a
X great premise more thoroughly) posted a three-times-longer complete
X rewrite called `UNIX WARS'; the two are often confused.
X
XDEChead: /dek'hed/ n. 1. A DEC {field servoid}. Not flattering.
X 2. [from `deadhead'] A Grateful Dead fan working at DEC.
X
Xdeckle: [from dec- and {nickle}] /dek'l/ n. Two {nickle}s; 10
X bits. Reported among developers for Mattel's GI 1600 (the
X Intellivision games processor), a chip with 16-bit-wide RAM but
X 10-bit-wide ROM.
X
Xdeep hack mode: n. See {hack mode}.
X
Xdeep magic: [poss. from C.S. Lewis's `Narnia' books.] n. An
X awesomely arcane technique central to a program or system, esp. one
X not generally published and available to hackers at large (compare
X {black art}); one which could only have been composed by a true
X {wizard}. Compiler optimization techniques and many aspects of
X {OS} design used to be {deep magic}; many techniques in
X cryptography, signal processing, graphics, and AI still are.
X Compare {heavy wizardry}. Esp. found in comments of the form
X "Deep magic begins here...". Compare {voodoo programming}.
X
Xdeep space: adj. 1. Describes the notional location of any program
X which has gone {off the trolley}. Esp. used of programs which
X just sit there silently grinding long after either failure or some
X output is expected. Compare {buzz}, {catatonic},
X {hyperspace}. 2. The metaphorical location of a human so dazed
X and/or confused or caught up in some esoteric form of {bogosity}
X that he/she no longer responds coherently to normal communication.
X Compare {page out}.
X
Xdefenestration: [from the traditional Czechoslovak method of
X assassinating prime ministers, via SF fandom] n. 1. Proper karmic
X retribution for an incorrigible punster. "Oh, ghod, that was
X *awful*!" "Quick! Defenestrate him!" 2. The act of
X exiting a window system in order to get better response time from a
X full-screen program. This comes from the dictionary meaning of
X `defenestrate', which is to throw something out a window. 3. Any
X non-reversible act of removal, usually applied to worthless
X objects, that improves matters having happened. "I don't have any
X disk space left." "Well, why don't you defenestrate that 100 megs
X worth of old core dumps?" 4. [proposed] The requirement to support
X a command-line interface. As: "It has to run on a VT100."
X "Curses! I've been defenestrated".
X
Xdefined as: adj. Currently in the role of, usually in an
X off-the-organization-chart sense. "Pete is currently defined as
X bug prioritizer." Compare {logical}.
X
Xdehose: vt. To clear a {hosed} condition.
X
Xdelint: vt. To modify code to remove problems detected when linting.
X See {lint}.
X
Xdelta: n. 1. [techspeak] A quantitative change, especially a
X small or incremental one (this use is general in physics and
X engineering). Example: "I just doubled the speed of my program!"
X "What was the delta on program size?" "About thirty percent."
X (He doubled the speed of his program, but increased its size by
X only thirty percent.) 2. [UNIX] A {diff}, especially a
X {diff} stored under the set of version-control tools called SCCS
X (Source Code Control System). 3. n. A small quantity, but not as
X small as {epsilon}. The jargon usage of {delta} and
X {epsilon} stems from the traditional use of these letters in
X mathematics for very small numerical quantities, particularly in
X `epsilon-delta' proofs in limit theory (as in the differential
X calculus). The term {delta} is often used once {epsilon} has
X been mentioned to mean a quantity that is slightly bigger than
X {epsilon} but still very small. For example, "The cost isn't
X epsilon, but it's delta" means that the cost isn't totally
X negligible, but it is nevertheless very small. Compare `within
X delta of', `within epsilon of': that is, close to and even
X closer to.
X
Xdemented: adj. Yet another term of disgust used to describe a
X program. The connotation in this case is that the program works as
X designed, but the design is bad. For example, a program that
X generates large numbers of meaningless error messages implying it
X is on the point of imminent collapse. Compare {wonky},
X {bozotic}.
X
Xdemigod: n. Hacker with years of experience, a national reputation,
X and a major role in the development of at least one design, tool,
X or game used by or known to more than half of the hacker community.
X To qualify as a genuine demigod, the person must recognizably
X identify with the hacker community and have helped shape it. Major
X demigods include Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie (co-inventors of
X {UNIX} and {C}) and Richard M. Stallman (inventor of
X {EMACS}). In their hearts of hearts, most hackers dream of
X someday becoming demigods themselves, and more than one major
X software project has been driven to completion by the author's
X veiled hopes of apotheosis. See also {net.god}, {true-hacker}.
X
Xdemo: /de'moh/ [short for `demonstration'] 1. v. To demonstrate a
X product or prototype. A far more effective way of inducing bugs to
X manifest than any number of {test} runs, especially when
X important people are watching. 2. n. The act of demoing.
X
Xdemo mode: [Sun] n. The state of being {heads down} in order to
X finish code in time for a {demo}, usually due yesterday.
X
Xdemon: n. 1. [MIT] A portion of a program which is not invoked
X explicitly, but which lies dormant waiting for some condition(s) to
X occur. See {daemon}. The distinction is that demons are usually
X processes within a program, while daemons are usually programs
X running on an operating system. Demons are particularly common in
X AI programs. For example, a knowledge-manipulation program might
X implement inference rules as demons. Whenever a new piece of
X knowledge was added, various demons would activate (which demons
X depends on the particular piece of data) and would create
X additional pieces of knowledge by applying their respective
X inference rules to the original piece. These new pieces could in
X turn activate more demons as the inferences filtered down through
X chains of logic. Meanwhile, the main program could continue with
X whatever its primary task was. 2. [outside MIT] Often used
X equivalently to {daemon}, especially in the {UNIX} world where the
X latter spelling and pronunciation is considered mildly archaic.
X
Xdepeditate: /dee-ped'*-tayt/ [by analogy with `decapitate'] vt.
X Humorously, to cut off the feet of. When using some computer-aided
X phototypesetting tools, careless placement of text blocks within a
X page or above a rule can result in chopped-off letter descenders.
X Such letters are said to have been depeditated.
X
Xdeprecated: n. Said of a program or feature that is considered
X obsolescent and in the process of being phased out, usually in
X favor of a specified replacement. Deprecated features can,
X unfortunately, linger on for many years.
X
Xdeserves to lose: adj. Said of someone who willfully does the
X {Wrong Thing}; humorously, if one uses a feature known to be
X {marginal}. What is meant is that one deserves the consequences
X of one's {losing} actions. "Boy, anyone who tries to use
X {mess-dos} deserves to {lose}!" (ITS fans used to say this of
X UNIX; many still do.) See also {screw}, {chomp}, {bagbiter}.
X
Xdesk check: n.,v. To {grovel} over hardcopy of source code
X mentally simulating the control flow; a method of catching bugs.
X No longer common practice in this age of on-screen editing, fast
X compiles, and sophisticated debuggers, though some maintain stoutly
X that it ought to be. Compare {eyeball search}, {vdiff},
X {vgrep}.
X
Xdevo: /dee'voh/ [orig. in-house jargon at Symbolics] n. A person in a
X development group. See also {doco} and {mango}.
X
Xdickless workstation: n. Extremely pejorative hackerism for
X `diskless workstation', a class of botches including the Sun 3/50
X and other machines designed exclusively to network with an
X expensive central disk server. These combine all the disadvantages
X of time-sharing with all the disadvantages of distributed personal
X computers.
X
Xdiddle: 1. vt. To work with or modify in a not particularly
X serious manner. "I diddled a copy of {ADVENT} so it didn't
X double-space all the time." "Let's diddle this piece of code and
X see if the problem goes away." See {tweak} and {twiddle}.
X 2. n. The action or result of diddling. See also {tweak},
X {twiddle}, {frob}.
X
Xdiff: n. 1. A change listing, especially giving differences between
X (and additions to) source code or documents (the term is often used
X in the plural `diffs'). "Send me your diffs for the Jargon
X File!" Compare {vdiff}. 2. Specifically, such a listing
X produced by the `diff(1)' command, esp. when used as
X specification input to the `patch(1)' utility (which can
X actually perform the modifications; see {patch}). This is a
X common method of distributing patches and source updates in the
X UNIX/C world. See also {vdiff}, {mod}.
X
Xdigit: /dij'it/ n. An employee of Digital Equipment Corporation.
X See also {VAX}, {VMS}, {PDP-10}, {TOPS-10}, {DEChead},
X {double DECkers}, {field circus}.
X
Xdike: vt. To remove or disable a portion of something, as a wire
X from a computer or a subroutine from a program. A standard slogan
X runs: "When in doubt, dike it out." (The implication is that it
X is usually more effective to attack software problems by reducing
X complexity rather than increasing it.) The word `dikes' is widely
X used among mechanics and engineers to mean `diagonal cutters', a
X heavy-duty metal-cutting device; to `dike something out' means to
X use such cutters to remove something. Indeed, the TMRC Dictionary
X defined dike as "to attack with dikes". Among hackers this term
X has been metaphorically extended to informational objects such as
X sections of code.
X
Xding: /ding/ n.,vi. 1. Synonym for {feep}. Usage: rare among
X hackers, but commoner in the {Real World}. 2. `dinged': what
X happens when someone in authority gives you a minor bitching about
X something, esp. something you consider trivial. "I was dinged for
X having a messy desk".
X
Xdink: adj. Said of a machine which has the {bitty box} nature; a
X machine too small to be worth bothering with, sometimes the current
X system you're forced to work on. First heard from an MIT hacker
X (BADOB) working on a CP/M system with 64K in reference to any 6502
X system, then from fans of 32-bit architectures about 16-bit
X machines. "GNUMACS will never work on that dink machine."
X Probably derived from mainstream `dinky', which isn't sufficiently
X pejorative.
X
Xdinosaur: n. 1. Any hardware requiring raised flooring and special
X power. Used especially of old minis and mainframes when contrasted
X with newer microprocessor-based machines. In a famous quote from
X the '88 UNIX EXPO, Bill Joy compared the mainframe in the massive
X IBM display with a grazing dinosaur, "with a truck outside pumping
X its bodily fluids through it". IBM was not amused. Compare
X {big iron}; see also {mainframe}. 2. [IBM] A very conservative
X user; a {zipperhead}.
X
Xdinosaur pen: n. A traditional {mainframe} computer room complete with
X raised flooring, special power, its own ultra-heavy-duty air
X conditioning, and a side order of Halon fire extinguishers. See
X {boa}.
X
Xdinosaurs mating: n. Said to occur when yet another {big iron}
X merger or buyout occurs; reflects a perception by hackers that
X these signal another stage in the long-drawn-out death throes of
X the {mainframe} industry. In its glory days of the Sixties, it
X was `IBM and the Seven Dwarves': Burroughs, Control Data, General
X Electric, Honeywell, NCR, RCA, and Univac. RCA and GE sold out
X early and it was `IBM and the Bunch' (Burroughs, Univac, NCR,
X Control Data, and Honeywell) for a while. Honeywell was bought out
X by Bull; Burroughs merged with Univac to form Unisys (in 1984, this
X was when the phrase `dinosaurs mating' was coined), and at time of
X writing AT&T is attempting to recover from a disastrously bad first
X six years in the hardware industry by buying NCR. More such
X earth-shaking unions of doomed giants seem inevitable.
X
Xdirty power: n. Electrical mains voltage which is unfriendly to
X the delicate innards of computers. Spikes, {drop-outs}, average
X voltage significantly higher or lower than nominal, or just plain
X noise can all cause problems of varying subtlety and severity.
X
XDiscordianism: /dis-kor'di-*n-ism/ n. The veneration of {Eris}, aka
X Discordia; widely popular among hackers. Popularized by Robert
X Anton Wilson's `Illuminatus!' trilogy as a sort of self-subverting
X dada-Zen for Westerners --- it should on no account be taken
X seriously but is far more serious than most jokes. Usually
X connected with an elaborate conspiracy theory/joke involving
X millennia-long warfare between the anarcho-surrealist partisans of
X Eris and a malevolent, authoritarian secret society called the
X Illuminati. See Appendix B, {Church of the Sub-Genius}, and {ha ha
X only serious}.
X
Xdisk farm: n. (also {laundromat}) A large room or rooms filled
X with disk drives (esp. {washing machine}s).
X
Xdisplay hack: n. A program with the same approximate purpose as a
X kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks
X include {munching squares}, {smoking clover}, the BSD UNIX
X `rain(6)' program, `worms(6)' on miscellaneous UNIXes,
X and the {X} kaleid program. Display hacks can also be
X implemented without programming by creating text files containing
X numerous escape sequences for interpretation by a video terminal;
X one notable example displayed, on any VT100, a Christmas tree with
X twinkling lights and a toy train circling its base. The {hack
X value} of a display hack is proportional to the esthetic value of
X the images times the cleverness of the algorithm divided by the
X size of the code. Syn. {psychedelicware}.
X
XDissociated Press: n. An algorithm for transforming any text into
X potentially humorous garbage, even more efficiently than passing it
X through a {marketroid}. You start by printing any N consecutive
X words (or letters) in the text. Then at every step you search for
X any random occurrence in the text of the last N words (or letters)
X already printed and then print the next one. EMACS has a handy
X command for this. Here is a short example of word-based
X Dissociated Press applied to this Jargon File:
X
X wart: n. A small, crocky {feature} that sticks out of
X an array (C has no checks for this). This is relatively
X benign and easy to spot if the phrase is bent so as to be
X not worth paying attention to the medium in question.
X
X Here is a short example of letter-based Dissociated Press applied
X to this Jargon File:
X
X window sysIWYG: n. A bit was named aften /bee't*/ prefer
X to use the other guy's re, especially in every cast a
X chuckle on neithout getting into useful informash speech
X makes removing a featuring a move or usage actual
X abstractionsidered interj. Indeed spectace logic or problem!
X
X A hackish idle pastime is to apply letter-based Dissociated Press
X to a random body of text and {vgrep} the output in hopes of finding
X an interesting new word. (In the preceding example, `window
X sysIWYG' and `informash' show some promise.) Iterated applications
X of Dissociated Press usually yield better results. Similar
X techniques called `travesty generators' have been employed with
X considerable satirical effect to the utterances of USENET flamers;
X see {pseudo}.
X
Xdistribution: n. 1. A software source tree packaged for
X distribution; but see {kit}. 2. A vague term encompassing
X mailing lists and USENET newsgroups; any topic-oriented message
X channel with multiple recipients. 3. An information-space domain
X (usually loosely correlated with geography) to which propagation of
X a USENET message is restricted; a much-underutilized feature.
X
Xdo protocol: [from network protocol programming] vt. To perform an
X interaction with somebody or something that follows a clearly
X defined procedure. For example, "Let's do protocol with the
X check." at a restaurant means to ask for the check, calculate the
X tip and everybody's share, collect money from everybody, generate
X change as necessary, and pay the bill. See {protocol}.
X
Xdoc: /dok/ n. Common spoken and written shorthand for `document'.
X Often in the plural `docs' and the construction `doc file',
X documentation available on line.
X
Xdoco: /do'koh/ [orig. in-house jargon at Symbolics] n. A
X documentation writer. See also {devo} and {mango}.
X
Xdocumentation:: n. The multiple kilograms of macerated, pounded,
X steamed, bleached, and pressed trees that accompany most modern
X software or hardware products (see also {tree-killer}). Hackers
X seldom read paper documentation and (too) often resist writing it;
X they prefer theirs to be terse and on-line. See {drool-proof
X paper}, {verbiage}.
X
Xdodgy: adj. Syn. with {flaky}. Preferred outside the U.S.
X
Xdogcow: n. See {Moof}.
X
Xdogwash: [From a quip in the `urgency' field of a very optional
X software change request, about 1982. It was something like,
X "Urgency: Wash your dog first."] 1. n. A project of minimal
X priority, undertaken as an escape from more serious work. 2. v.
X To engage in such a project. Many games and much {freeware} get
X written this way.
X
Xdomainist: adj. 1. Said of an {{Internet address}} (as opposed to
X a {bang path}) because the part to the right of the `@',
X specifies a nested series of `domains'; for example,
X `eric@snark.thyrsus.com' specifies the machine called
X `snark' in the subdomain called `thyrsus' within the
X top-level domain called `com'. 2. Said of a site, mailer or
X routing program which knows how to handle domainist addresses.
X
XDon't do that, then!: [from an old doctor's office joke about a
X patient with a trivial complaint] interj. Stock response to a user
X complaint. "When I type control-S, the whole system comes to a
X halt for thirty seconds." "Don't do that, then." (or "So don't
X do that!"). Compare {RTFM}.
X
Xdongle: /dong'gl/ n. 1. A security device for commercial
X microcomputer programs consisting of a serialized EPROM and some
X drivers in a D-25 connector shell. Programs that use a dongle
X query the port at startup and at programmed intervals thereafter,
X and terminate if it does not respond with the dongle's programmed
X validation code. Thus, users can make as many copies of the
X program as they want but must pay for each dongle. The idea was
X clever but initially a failure, as users disliked tying up a serial
X port this way. Most dongles on the market today (1991) will pass
X data through the port and monitor for `magic codes' (and
X combinations of status lines) with minimal if any interference with
X devices further down the line (this innovation was necessary to
X allow daisy-chained dongles for multiple pieces of software). The
X devices are still not widely used, as the industry has moved away
X from copy-protection schemes in general. 2. By extension, any
X physical electronic key or transferrable ID required for a program
X to function. See {dongle-disk}.
X
Xdongle-disk: /don'gl disk/ n. See {dongle}; a `dongle-disk' is a
X floppy disk with some coding that allows an application to
X identify it uniquely. It can therefore be used as a {dongle}.
X Also called a "key disk".
X
Xdonuts: n. Collective noun for any set of memory bits. This is
X really archaic and may no longer be live jargon; it dates from the
X days of ferrite-core memories in which each bit was represented by
X a doughnut-shaped magnetic flip-flop. Compare {core}.
X
Xdoorstop: n. Used to describe equipment that is non-functional and
X halfway expected to remain so, especially obsolete equipment kept
X around for political reasons or ostensibly as a backup. "When we
X get another Wyse-50 in here, that ADM3 will turn into a doorstop."
X Compare {boat anchor}.
X
Xdot file: [UNIX] n. A file that is not visible to normal
X directory-browsing tools (on UNIX, files named beginning with a dot
X are normally invisible to the directory lister).
X
Xdouble bucky: adj. Using both the CTRL and META keys. "The
X command to burn all LEDs is double bucky F."
X
X This term originated on the Stanford extended-ASCII keyboard, and
X was later taken up by users of the {space-cadet keyboard} at MIT.
X A typical MIT comment was that the Stanford {bucky bits} (control
X and meta shifting keys) were nice, but there weren't enough of
X them; you could only type 512 different characters on a Stanford
X keyboard. An obvious thing was simply to add more shifting keys,
X and this was eventually done; one problem is that a keyboard with
X that many shifting keys is hard on touch-typists, who don't like to
X move their hands away from the home position on the keyboard. It
X was half-seriously suggested that the extra shifting keys be
X pedals; typing on such a keyboard would be very much like playing a
X full pipe organ. This idea is mentioned below, in a parody of a
X very fine song by Jeffrey Moss called `Rubber Duckie', which
X was published in `The Sesame Street Songbook' (Simon and
X Schuster 1971, ISBN 671-21036-X). These lyrics were written on May
X 27, 1978, in celebration of the Stanford keyboard.
X
X Double Bucky
X
X Double bucky, you're the one!
X You make my keyboard lots of fun.
X Double bucky, an additional bit or two:
X (Vo-vo-de-o!)
X Control and meta, side by side,
X Augmented ASCII, nine bits wide!
X Double bucky! Half a thousand glyphs, plus a few!
X Oh,
X I sure wish that I
X Had a couple of
X Bits more!
X Perhaps a
X Set of pedals to
X Make the number of
X Bits four:
X Double double bucky!
X Double bucky, left and right
X OR'd together, outta sight!
X Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of
X Double bucky, I'm happy I heard of
X Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of you!
X
X --- The Great Quux (with apologies to Jeffrey Moss)
X
X [This, by the way, is an excellent example of computer {filk} --- ESR]
X
X See also {meta bit}, {cokebottle}, and {quadruple bucky}.
X
Xdouble DECkers: n. Used to describe married couples in which both
X partners work for Digital Equipment Corporation.
X
Xdoubled sig: [USENET] n. A {sig block} that has been included
X twice in a {USENET} article or, less frequently, in an electronic
X mail message. An article or message with a doubled sig can be
X caused by improperly configured software. More often, however, it
X reveals the author's lack of experience in electronic
X communication. See {biff}, {pseudo}.
X
Xdown: 1. adj. Not operating. "The up escalator is down" is
X considered a humorous thing to say, but "The elevator is down"
X always means "The elevator isn't working" and never refers to
X what floor the elevator is on. With respect to computers, this
X usage has passed into the mainstream; the extension to other kinds
X of machine is still hackish. 2. `go down' vi. To stop functioning;
X usually said of the {system}. The message every hacker hates to
X hear from the operator is, "The system will go down in five
X minutes." 3. `take down', `bring down' vt. To deactivate
X purposely, usually for repair work. "I'm taking the system down to
X work on that bug in the tape drive." See {crash}; oppose {up}.
X
Xdownload: vt. To transfer data or (esp.) code from a larger `host'
X system (esp. a {mainframe}) over a digital comm link to a smaller
X `client' system, esp. a microcomputer or specialized peripheral
X device. Oppose {upload}.
X
XDP: n. 1. Data Processing. Listed here because, according to
X hackers, use of it marks one immediately as a {suit}. See
X {DPer}. 2. Common abbrev for {Dissociated Press}.
X
XDPB: /d*-pib'/ [from the PDP-10 instruction set] vt. To plop
X something down in the middle. Usage: silly. Example: "DPB
X yourself into that couch, there." The connotation would be that
X the couch is full except for one slot just big enough for you to
X sit in. DPB means `DePosit Byte', and was the name of a PDP-10
X instruction that inserts some bits into the middle of some other
X bits. This usage has been kept alive by the Common Lisp function
X of the same name.
X
XDPer: n. Data Processor. Hackers are absolutely amazed that {suit}s
X use this term self-referentially. "*Computers* process data,
X not people!" See {DP}.
X
Xdragon: n. [MIT] A program similar to a {daemon}, except that it
X is not invoked at all, but is instead used by the system to perform
X various secondary tasks. A typical example would be an accounting
X program, which keeps track of who is logged in, accumulates
X load-average statistics, etc. Under ITS, many terminals displayed
X a list of people logged in, where they were, what they were
X running, etc. along with some random picture (such as a unicorn,
X Snoopy, or the Enterprise) which was generated by the `name
X dragon'. Usage: rare outside MIT --- under UNIX and most other OSes
X this would be called a `background demon' or {daemon}. The
X best-known UNIX example of a dragon is `cron(1)'. At SAIL,
X they called this sort of thing a `phantom'.
X
XDragon Book: n. Aho, Sethi, and Ullman's classic text
X `Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools', so called
X because of the cover design depicting a knight slaying a dragon
X labelled `compiler complexity'. This actually describes the `Red
X Dragon Book' (1986); an earlier edition (sans Sethi and titled
X `Principles Of Compiler Design') was the `Green Dragon Book'
X (1977). There is now a third edition of the Dragon Book that has
X the knight sitting in front of what, for all the world, looks like
X a video-game display of the dragon, with the real dragon behind it.
X The term `White Dragon Book' has been proposed. See also
X {{book titles}}.
X
Xdrain: [IBM] v. Syn. for {flush} (sense #2). Has a connotation
X of finality about it; one speaks of draining a device before taking
X it offline.
X
Xdread high-bit disease: n. A condition endemic to PRIME (a.k.a
X PR1ME) minicomputers which results in all the characters having
X their high (0x80) bit ON rather than OFF. This of course makes
X transporting files to other systems much more difficult, not to
X mention talking to true eight-bit devices. It is reported that
X PRIME adopted the reversed-eight-bit convention in order to save 25
X cents per serial line per machine. This probably qualifies as one
X of the most {cretinous} design tradeoffs ever made. See {meta
X bit}.
X
XDRECNET: /drek'net/ [from Yiddish/German `dreck'] n. Deliberate
X distortion of DECNET, a networking protocol used in the {VMS}
X community. So called because DEC helped write the Ethernet
X specification and then (either stupidly or as a malignant
X customer-control tactic) violated that spec in the design of
X DRECNET in a way that made it incompatible. See also {connector
X conspiracy}.
X
Xdriver: n. 1. The {main loop} of an event-processing program; the
X code that gets commands and dispatches them for execution. 2. In
X `device driver', code designed to handle a particular
X peripheral device such as a magnetic disk or tape.
X
Xdroid: n. A person (esp. a low-level bureaucrat or service-business
X employee) exhibiting most of the following characteristics: (a)
X Naive trust in the wisdom of the parent organization or `the
X system'; (b) A propensity to believe obvious nonsense emitted by
X authority figures; blind faith; (c) A rule-governed mentality, one
X unwilling or unable to look beyond the `letter of the law' in
X exceptional situations; (d) No interest in fixing that which is
X broken; an "It's not my job, man" attitude. Compare {suit},
X {marketroid}; see {-oid}.
X
Xdrool-proof paper: n. Documentation that has been obsessively dumbed
X down, to the point where only a {cretin} could bear to read it, is
X said to have succumbed to the `drool-proof paper syndrome' or to
X have been `written on drool-proof paper'. For example, this is
X an actual quote from Apple's LaserWriter manual: "Do not expose
X your LaserWriter to open fire or flame."
X
Xdrop on the floor: vt. To react to an error condition by silently
X discarding messages or other valuable data. Example: "The gateway
X ran out of memory, so it just started dropping packets on the
X floor." Also frequently used of faulty mail and netnews relay
X sites that lose messages. See also {black hole}, {bit bucket}.
X
Xdrop-ins: [prob. by analogy with {drop-outs}] n. Spurious
X characters appearing on a terminal or console due to line noise or
X a system malfunction of some sort. Esp. used when these are
X interspersed with your own typed input. Compare {drop-outs}.
X
Xdrop-outs: n. 1. A variety of `power glitch' (see {glitch});
X momentary zero voltage on the electrical mains. 2. Missing
X characters in typed input due to software malfunction or system
X saturation (this can happen under UNIX, for example, when a bad
X connect to a modem swamps the processor with spurious character
X interrupts). 3. Mental glitches; used as a way of describing
X those occasions when the mind just seems to shut down for a couple
X of beats. See {glitch}, {fried}.
X
Xdrugged: adj. (also `on drugs') 1. Conspicuously stupid,
X heading towards {brain-damaged}. Often accompanied by a
X pantomime of toking a joint (but see Appendix B). 2. Of hardware,
X very slow relative to normal performance.
X
Xdrunk mouse syndrome: n. A malady exhibited by the mouse pointing
X device of some computers. The typical symptom is for the mouse
X cursor on the screen to move to random directions and not in sync
X with the moving of the actual mouse. Can usually be corrected by
X unplugging the mouse and plugging it back again. Another
X recommended fix is to rotate your optical mouse pad 90 degrees.
X
X At Xerox PARC in the 1970s, most people kept a can of copier
X cleaner (isopropyl alcohol) at their desks. When the steel ball on
X the mouse had picked up enough cruft to be unreliable, the mouse
X was doused in cleaner, which restored it for a while. However,
X this operation left a fine residue which accelerated the accumulation
X of cruft, so the dousings became more and more frequent. Finally,
X the mouse was declared "alcoholic" and sent to the clinic to be
X dried out (in a CFC ultrasonic bath).
X
Xdumbass attack: /duhm'ass *-tak'/ [Purdue] n. Notional cause of a
X novice's mistake made by the experienced, especially one made while
X running as root under UNIX, e.g. typing `rm -r *' or
X `mkfs' on a mounted file system. Compare {adger}.
X
Xdump: n. 1. An undigested and voluminous mass of information about a
X problem or the state of a system, especially one routed to the
X slowest available output device (compare {core dump}), and most
X especially one consisting or hex and octal {runes} describing the
X byte-by-byte state of memory, mass storage, or some file. In elder
X days, debugging was generally done by `grovelling over a dump'
X (see {grovel}); increasing use of high-level languages and
X interactive debuggers has made this uncommon, and the term `dump'
X now has a faintly archaic flavor. 2. A backup. This usage is
X typical only at large timesharing installations.
X
Xdup killer: /d[y]oop killer/ [FidoNet] n. Software which is
X supposed to detect and delete duplicates of a message which may
X have reached the FidoNet system via different routes.
X
Xdup loop: /d[y]oop loop/ (also `dupe loop') [FidoNet] n. An
X incorrectly configured system or network gateway may propagate
X duplicate messages on one or more {echo}s, with different
X identification information that renders {dup killer}s
X ineffective. If such a duplicate message eventually reaches a
X system which it has already passed through (with the original
X identification information), all systems passed on the way back to
X that system are said to be involved in a {dup loop}.
X
Xdusty deck: n. Old software (especially applications) with which
X one is obliged to remain compatible (or to maintain). The term
X implies that the software in question is a holdover from card-punch
X days. Used esp. when referring to old scientific and
X {number-crunching} software, much of which was written in FORTRAN and
X very poorly documented but is believed to be too expensive to
X replace. See {fossil}.
X
XDWIM: /dwim/ [Do What I Mean] 1. adj. Able to guess, sometimes
X even correctly, the result intended when bogus input was provided.
X 2. n.,obs. The BBNLISP/INTERLISP function that attempted to
X accomplish this feat by correcting many of the more common errors.
X See {hairy}. 3. Occasionally, an interjection hurled at a
X balky computer, esp. when one senses one might be tripping over
X legalisms (see {legalese}).
X
X Warren Teitelman originally wrote DWIM to fix his typos and
X spelling errors, so it was somewhat idiosyncratic to his style, and
X would often make hash of anyone else's typos if they were
X stylistically different. This led a number of victims of DWIM to
X claim the acronym stood for "Damn Warren's Infernal Machine!"
X
X DWIM is often suggested in jest as a desired feature for a complex
X program; also, occasionally described as the single instruction the
X ideal computer would have. Back when proofs of program correctness
X were in vogue, there were also jokes about `DWIMC': Do What I
X Mean, Correctly). A related term, more often seen as a verb, is
X DTRT (Do The Right Thing), see {Right Thing}.
X
Xdynner: /din'r/ 32 bits, by analogy with {nybble} and {{byte}}. Usage:
X rare and extremely silly. See also {playte}, {tayste}, {crumb}.
X
X= E =
X=====
X
Xearthquake: [IBM] n. The ultimate real-world shock test for
X computer hardware. Hackish sources at IBM deny the rumor that the
X Bay Area quake of 1989 was initiated by the company to test quality
X assurance procedures at its California plants.
X
XEaster egg: n. 1. A message hidden in the object code of a program
X as a joke, intended to be found by persons disassembling or
X browsing the code. 2. A message, graphic, or sound-effect emitted
X by a program (or, on a PC, the BIOS ROM) in response to some
X undocumented set of commands or keystrokes, intended as a joke or
X to display program credits. One well-known early Easter egg found
X in a couple of OSes caused them to respond to the command `make
X love' with `not war?'. Many personal computers have much more
X elaborate eggs hidden in ROM, including lists of the developers'
X names, political exhortations, snatches of music, and (in one case)
X graphics images of the entire development team.
X
XEaster egging: [IBM] n. The act of replacing unrelated parts more or
X less at random in hopes that a malfunction will go away. Hackers
X consider this the normal operating mode of {field circus} techs and
X do not love them for it. Compare {shotgun debugging}.
X
Xeat flaming death: imp. A construction popularized among hackers by
X the infamous {CPU Wars} comic; supposed to derive from a famously
X turgid line in a WWII-era anti-Nazi propaganda comic which ran
X "Eat flaming death, non-Aryan mongrels!" or something of the sort
X (however, it is also reported that the Firesign Theater's 1975
X album `In The Next World, You're On Your Own' included the
X phrase "Eat flaming death, fascist media pigs"; this may have been
X an influence). Used in humorously overblown expressions of
X hostility. "Eat flaming death, {{EBCDIC}} users!"
X
XEBCDIC:: /eb's*-dik/, /eb'see`dik/, or /eb'k*-dik/ [Extended Binary
X Coded Decimal Interchange Code] n. An alleged character set used on
X IBM {dinosaur}s. It exists in six mutually incompatible
X versions, all featuring such delights as non-contiguous letter
X sequences and the absence of several ASCII punctuation characters
X fairly important for modern computer languages (exactly which
X characters are absent vary according to which version of EBCDIC
X you're looking at). IBM adapted EBCDIC from {{punched card}} code
X in the early 1960s and promulgated it as a customer-control tactic
X (see {connector conspiracy}), spurning the already established
X ASCII standard. Today, IBM claims to be an open-systems company,
X but IBM's own description of the EBCDIC variants and how to convert
X between them is still internally classified top-secret,
X burn-before-reading. Hackers blanch at the very *name* of
X EBCDIC and consider it a manifestation of purest {evil}. See
X also {fear and loathing}.
X
Xecho: [FidoNet] n. A topic group on {FidoNet}'s echomail system. Compare
X {newsgroup}.
X
Xeighty-column mind: [IBM] n. The sort said to be employed by
X persons for whom the transition from card to tape was traumatic
X (nobody has dared tell them about disks yet). It is said that
X these people, like (according to an old joke) the founder of IBM,
X will be buried `face down, 9-edge first' (the 9-edge is the bottom
X of the card). This directive is inscribed on IBM's 1422 and 1602
X card readers, and referenced in a famous bit of doggerel called
X `The Last Bug', which ends:
X
X He died at the console
X Of hunger and thirst.
X Next day he was buried,
X Face down, 9-edge first.
X
X The eighty-column mind is thought by most hackers to dominate IBM's
X customer base, and its thinking. See {{punched card}}, {IBM},
X {fear and loathing}, {card walloper}.
X
XEl Camino Bignum: /el' k*-mee'noh big'num/ n. El Camino Real. El
X Camino Real is the name of a street through the San Francisco
X peninsula that originally extended (and still appears in places)
X all the way down to Mexico City. Navigation on the San Francisco
X peninsula is usually done relative to El Camino Real, which defines
X {logical} north and south even though it doesn't really run N/S
X many places. El Camino Real runs right past Stanford University
X and so is familiar to hackers. The Spanish word `real' (which has
X two syllables /ray-ahl'/) means `royal'; El Camino Real is `the
X royal road'. In the FORTRAN language, a `real' quantity is a
X number typically precise to seven significant digits, and a `double
X precision' quantity is a larger floating-point number, precise to
X perhaps fourteen significant digits (other languages have similar
X `real' types). When a hacker from MIT visited Stanford in 1976 or
X so, he remarked what a long road El Camino Real was. Making a pun
X on `real', he started calling it `El Camino Double Precision' ---
X but when the hacker was told that the road was hundreds of miles
X long, he renamed it `El Camino Bignum', and that name has stuck.
X (See {bignum}.)
X
Xelegant: [from mathematical usage] adj. Combining simplicity, power,
X and a certain ineffable grace of design. Higher praise than
X `clever', `winning', or even {cuspy}.
X
Xelephantine: adj. Used of programs or systems that are both
X conspicuous {hog}s (due perhaps to poor design founded on
X {brute force and ignorance}) and exceedingly {hairy} in source
X form. An elephantine program may be functional and even friendly,
X but (like the old joke about being in bed with an elephant) it's
X tough to have around all the same (and, like a pachyderm, difficult
X to maintain). In extreme cases, hackers have been known to make
X trumpeting sounds or perform expressive proboscatory mime at the
X mention of the offending program. Usage: semi-humorous. Compare
X `has the elephant nature' and the somewhat more pejorative
X {monstrosity}. See also {second-system effect} and
X {baroque}.
X
Xelevator controller: n. Another archetypal dumb embedded-systems
X application, like {toaster} (which superseded it). During one
X period (1983--84) in the deliberations of ANSI X3J11, the C
X standardization committee, this was the canonical example of its
X type. "You can't require `printf(3)' to be part of the
X default runtime library --- what if you're targeting an elevator
X controller?" Elevator controllers became important rhetorical
X weapons on both sides of several {holy wars}.
X
XEMACS: /ee'maks/ [from Editing MACroS] n. The ne plus ultra of
X hacker editors, a program editor with an entire LISP system inside
X it. Originally written by Richard Stallman in {TECO} at the
X MIT-AI lab, but the most widely used versions now run under UNIX.
X It includes facilities to run compilation subprocesses and send and
X receive mail; many hackers spend up to 80% of their {tube time}
X inside it. Some versions running under window managers iconify as
X an overflowing kitchen sink, perhaps to suggest the one feature the
X editor doesn't include. Indeed, some hackers find EMACS too
X heavyweight and {baroque} for their taste, and expand the name as
X `Escape Meta Alt Control Shift' to spoof its heavy reliance on
X keystrokes decorated with {bucky bits}. Other spoof expansions
X include `Eight Megabytes And Constantly Swapping', `Eventually
X malloc()s All Computer Storage', and `EMACS Makes A Computer Slow'
X (see {{recursive acronyms}}). See also {vi}.
X
Xemail: /ee'mayl/ 1. n. Electronic mail automatically passed through
X computer networks and/or via modems common-carrier lines. Contrast
X {snail-mail}, {paper-net}, {voice-net}. See {network
X address}. 2. vt. To send email to a person.
X
X Oddly enough, the word `emailed' is actually listed in the OED; it
X means "embossed (with a raised pattern) or arranged in a net work"!
X A use from 1480 is given, and the word is derived from French
X `emmailleure', network.
X
Xemoticon: /ee-moh'ti-con/ n. An ASCII glyph used to indicate an
X emotional state in email or news. Hundreds have been proposed, but
X only a few are in common use. These include:
X
X :-) Smiley face (indicates humor, laughter, or friendliness)
X :-( Frowney face (indicates sadness, anger, or upset)
X ;-) Half-smiley ({ha ha only serious})
X Also known as "semi-smiley" or "winkey face".
X :-/ Wry face
X
X It appears that the emoticon was invented by one Scott Fahlman on
X the CMU {bboard} systems around 1980. He later wrote "I wish I
X had saved the original post, or at least recorded the date for
X posterity, but I had no idea that I was starting something that
X would soon pollute all the world's communication channels." (GLS
X confirms that he remembers this original posting).
X
X Of these, the first two are by far the most frequently encountered.
X Hyphenless forms of them are common on CompuServe, GEnie, and BIX;
X see also {bixie}. On {USENET}, `smiley' is often used as a
X generic synonymous with {emoticon}, as well as specifically for the
X happy-face emoticon.
X
X Note for the {newbie}: overuse of the smiley is a mark of
X loserhood! More than one per paragraph is a fairly sure sign that
X you've gone over the line.
X
Xempire: n. Any of a family of military simulations derived from a
X game written by Peter Langston many years ago. There are 5 or 6
X multi-player variants of varying degrees of sophistication, and one
X single-player version implemented for both UNIX and VMS which is
X even available as MS-DOS freeware. All are notoriously addictive.
X
Xengine: n. 1. A piece of hardware that encapsulates some function
X but can't be used without some kind of {front end}. Today we
X have, especially, `print engine': the guts of a laser printer.
X 2. An analogous piece of software; notionally, one that does a lot
X of noisy crunching, such as a `database engine'.
X
X The hackish senses of `engine' are actually close to its original,
X pre-Industrial-Revolution sense of a skill, clever device, or
X instrument (the word is cognate to `ingenuity'). This sense had
X not been completely eclipsed by the modern connotation of
X power-transducing machinery in Charles Babbage's time, which
X explains why he named the stored-program computer that
X he designed in 1844 the `Analytical Engine'.
X
XEnglish: n.,obs. The source code for a program, which may be in any
X language, as opposed to the linkable or executable binary produced
X from it by a compiler. The idea behind the term is that to a real
X hacker, a program written in his favorite programming language is
X at least as readable as English. Usage: used mostly by old-time
X hackers, though recognizable in context.
X
Xenhancement: n. {Marketroid}-speak for a bug {fix}. This abuse
X of language is a popular and time-tested way to turn incompetence
X into increased revenue. A hacker being ironic would instead call
X the fix a {feature} --- or perhaps save some effort by declaring
X the bug itself to be a feature.
X
XENQ: /enkw/ [from the ASCII mnemonic `ENQuire' for #b0000101] ques.
X An on-line convention for querying someone's availability. After
X opening a {talk mode} connection to someone apparently in heavy
X hack mode, one might type "SYN SYN ENQ?" (the SYNs representing
X notional synchronization bytes) expecting a return of {ACK} or
SHAR_EOF
true || echo 'restore of jargon.ascii failed'
fi
echo 'End of part 6, continue with part 7'
echo 7 > _shar_seq_.tmp
exit 0