eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (01/04/91)
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X way, experience something very like jet lag without travelling.
X
X<phase of the moon> n. Used humorously as a random parameter on which
X something is said to depend. Sometimes implies unreliability of
X whatever is dependent, or that reliability seems to be dependent on
X conditions nobody has been able to determine. "This feature
X depends on having the channel open in mumble mode, having the foo
X switch set, and on the phase of the moon."
X
X True story: Once upon a time, a program written by Gerry Sussman
X (professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT) and Guy Steele had a
X bug that really did depend on the phase of the moon! There is a
X little subroutine that had traditionally been used in various
X programs at MIT to calculate an approximation to the moon's true
X phase; the phase is then printed out at the top of program
X listings, for example, along with the date and time, purely for
X fun. (Actually, since hackers spend a lot of time indoors, this
X might be the only way they would ever know what the moon's phase
X was!) Steele incorporated this routine into a LISP program that,
X when it wrote out a file, would print a `timestamp" line almost 80
X characters long. Very occasionally the first line of the message
X would be too long and would overflow onto the next line, and when
X the file was later read back in the program would <barf>. The
X length of the first line depended on the precise time when the
X timestamp was printed, and so the bug literally depended on the
X phase of the moon!
X
X The first paper edition of the Jargon File (Steele-1983) included
X an example of this bug, but the typesetter "corrected" it. This
X has since been described as the phase-of-the-moon-bug bug.
X
X<pig, run like a> adj. To run very slowly on given hardware, said of
X software. Distinct from <hog>.
X
X<ping> /ping/ [from TCP/IP terminology] n.,v. 1. Slang term for a
X small network message (ICMP ECHO) sent by a computer to check for
X the presence and aliveness of another. Occasionally used as a
X phone greeting. See <ACK>, also <ENQ>. 2. To verify the presence
X of. 3. To get the attention of. From the Unix command by the same
X name (an acronym of "Packet INternet Groper) that sends an ICMP
X ECHO packet to another host. This was probably contrived to match
X submariners' "ping" (sonar ranging pulse).
X
X<Pink-Shirt Book> `The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM
X PC'. The original cover featured a picture of Peter Norton with a
X silly smirk on his face, wearing a pink shirt. Perhaps in
X recognition of this usage, the current edition has a different
X picture of Norton wearing a pink shirt.
X
X<PIP> /pip/ v. obs. To copy, from the program PIP on CP/M and RSX-11
X that was used for file copying (and in RSX for just about every
X other file operation you might want to do). Obsolete, but still
X occasionally heard.
X
X<pipeline> [UNIX, orig. by Doug McIlroy; now also used under MS-DOS
X and elsewhere] n. A chain of <filter> programs connected
X "head-to-tail", so that the output of one becomes the input of
X the next. Under UNIX, user utilities can often be implemented or
X at least prototyped by a suitable collection of pipelines and
X temp-file grinding encapsulated in a shell script; this is much
X less effort than writing C every time, and the capability is
X considered one of UNIX's major winning features.
X
X<pizza, ANSI standard> /pee'tz@, an'see stan'd@rd/ [CMU] Pepperoni
X and mushroom pizza. Coined allegedly because most pizzas ordered
X by CMU hackers during some period leading up to mid-1990 were of
X that flavor. See also <rotary debugger>.
X
X<plain-ASCII> Syn. <flat-ASCII>.
X
X<playpen> [IBM] n. A room where programmers work. Compare <salt
X mines>.
X
X<playte> /din'r/ 16 bits, by analogy with <nybble> and byte. Usage:
X rare and extremely silly. See also <dynner>.
X
X<plingnet> /pling'net/ n. Syn. <UUCPNET>. Also see <COMMONWEALTH
X HACKISH>.
X
X<plonk> [USENET] The sound a <newbie> makes as he falls to the bottom
X of a <kill file>. Almost exclusively used in the <newsgroup>
X "talk.bizarre", this term (usually written "*plonk*") is a
X form of public ridicule.
X
X<plugh> /ploogh/ [from the <ADVENT> game] v. See <xyzzy>.
X
X<PM> /pee em/ 1. [from "preventive maintenance"] v. to bring down a
X machine for inspection or test purposes; see <scratch monkey>. 2.
X n. Abbrev. for "Presentation Manager", an <elephantine> OS/2
X graphical user interface.
X
X<P.O.D.> /pee-oh-dee/ Acronym for `Piece Of Data' (as opposed to a
X code section). Usage: pedantic and rare.
X
X<pod> n. A Diablo 630 (or, latterly, any impact letter quality
X printer). From the DEC-10 PODTYPE program used to feed formatted
X text to same.
X
X<poll> v.,n. 1. The action of checking the status of an input line,
X sensor, or memory location to see if a particular external event
X has been registered. 2. To ask. "I'll poll everyone and see where
X they want to go for lunch."
X
X<polygon pusher> n. A chip designer who spends most of his/her time at
X the physical layout level (which requires drawing *lots* of
X multi-colored polygons). Also "rectangle slinger".
X
X<POM> /pee-oh-em/ n. <Phase of the moon>. Usage: usually used in the
X phrase "POM dependent" which means <flaky>.
X
X<POP> also <POPJ> /pop-jay/ [based on the stack operation that removes
X the top of a stack, and the fact that procedure return addresses
X are saved on the stack] 1. v. To remove something from a <stack>
X or <pdl>. If a person says he has popped something from his stack,
X he means he has finally finished working on it and can now remove
X it from the list of things hanging over his head. 2. To return
X from a digression (the J-form derives specifically from a <PDP-10>
X assembler instruction). By verb doubling, "Popj, popj" means
X roughly, "Now let's see, where were we?" See <RTI>.
X
X<PPN> /pip'n/ [from "Project-Programmer Number"] n. A user-ID under
X <TOPS-10> and its various mutant progeny at SAIL and BBN and
X CompuServe and elsewhere. Old-time hackers from the PDP-10 era
X sometimes use this to refer to user IDs on other systems as well.
X
X<precedence lossage> /pre's@-dens los'j/ [C programmers] n. Coding
X error in an expression due to unexpected grouping of arithmetic or
X logical operators by the compiler. Used esp. of certain common
X coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low precedence levels
X of &, | and ^. Can always be avoided by suitable use of
X parentheses. See <aliasing bug>, <memory leak>, <smash the stack>,
X <fandango on core>, <overrun screw>.
X
X<prepend> /pree`pend'/ [by analogy with "append"] v. To prefix.
X Like "append", but unlike "prefix" or "suffix" as a verb, the
X direct object is always the thing being added and not the original
X word (character string, etc). No, this is *not* standard
X English, yet!
X
X<pretty pictures> n. [scientific computation] The next step up from
X <numbers>. Interesting graphical output from a program which may
X not have any real relationship to the reality the program is
X intended to model. Good for showing to <management>.
X
X<prettyprint> v. 1. To generate `pretty' human-readable output from a
X hairy internal representation; esp. used for the process of
X <grind>ing (sense #2) LISP code. 2. To format in some particularly
X slick and nontrivial way. See <grind>.
X
X<prime time> [from TV programming] n. Normal high-usage hours on a
X timesharing system, the `day shift'. Avoidance of prime time is a
X major reason for <night mode> hacking.
X
X<priority interrupt> [from the hardware term] n. Describes any
X stimulus compelling enough to yank one right out of <hack mode>.
X Classically used to describe being dragged away by an <SO> for
X immediate sex, but may also refer to more mundane interruptions
X such as a fire alarm going off in the near vicinity. Also called
X an NMI (non maskable interrupt) especially in PC-land.
X
X<Programmer's Cheer> "Shift to the left! Shift to the right! Push
X down, pop up! Byte! Byte! Byte!" A joke so old it has hair on
X it...
X
X<propeller head> n. Used by hackers, this is syn. with <computer
X geek>. Non-hackers sometimes use it to describe all techies.
X Prob. derives from SF fandom's tradition of propeller beanies as
X fannish insignia (though nobody actually wears them except as a
X joke).
X
X<protocol> n. See <do protocol>.
X
X<prowler> [UNIX] n. A <DEMON> that is run periodically (typically once
X a week) to seek out and erase core files, truncate administrative
X logfiles, nuke lost+found directories, and otherwise clean up the
X cruft that tends to pile up in the corners of a file system. See
X also <GFR>, <reaper>, <skulker>.
X
X<pseudo> /soo'do/ [USENET] n. 1. An electronic-mail or <USENET>
X persona adopted by a human for amusement value or as a means of
X avoiding negative repercussions of his/her net.behavior; a `nom de
X USENET', often associated with forged postings designed to conceal
X message origins. Perhaps the best-known and funniest hoax of this
X type is <biff>. 2. Notionally, a <flamage>-generating AI program
X simulating a USENET user. Many flamers have been accused of
X actually being such entities, despite the fact that no AI program
X of the required sophistication exists. However, in 1989 there was
X a famous series of forged postings that used a
X phrase-frequency-based travesty generator to simulate the styles of
X several well-known flamers based on large samples of their back
X postings. A significant number of people were fooled by these, and
X the debate over their authenticity was only settled when the
X perpetrator of the hoax came publicly forward to admit the deed.
X
X<pseudoprime> n. A backgammon prime (six consecutive occupied points)
X with one point missing. This term is an esoteric pun derived from
X a mathematical method which, rather than determining precisely
X whether a number is prime (has no divisors), uses a statistical
X technique to decide whether the number is "probably" prime. A
X number that passes this test is called a pseudoprime. The hacker
X backgammon usage stems from the idea that pseudoprime is almost as
X good as a prime: it does the job of a prime until proven otherwise,
X and that probably won't happen.
X
X<pseudosuit> n. A <suit> wannabee; a hacker who's decided that he
X wants to be in management or administration and begins wearing
X ties, sport coats and (shudder!) suits voluntarily. Chacun a son
X gout...
X
X<punt> [from the punch line of an old joke referring to American
X football: "Drop back 15 yards and punt"] v. To give up, typically
X without any intention of retrying. "Let's punt the movie
X tonight." "I was going to hack all night to get this feature in,
X but I decided to punt" may mean that you've decided not to stay up
X all night, and may also mean you're not ever even going to put in
X the feature.
X
X<Purple Book> n. The `System V Interface Definition'. The covers
X of the first editions were an amazingly nauseating shade of
X off-lavender. See also <Red Book>, <Blue Book>, <Green Book>,
X <Silver Book>, <Orange Book>, <White Book>, <Pink-Shirt Book>,
X <Dragon Book>, <Aluminum Book>.
X
X<PUSH> [based on the stack operation that puts the current information
X on a stack, and the fact that procedure call addresses are saved on
X the stack] Also PUSHJ (push-jay), based on the PDP-10 procedure
X call instruction. 1. To put something onto a <stack> or <pdl>. If
X a person says something has been pushed onto his stack, he means
X yet another thing has been added to the list of things hanging over
X his head for him to do. 2. v. To enter upon a digression, to save
X the current discussion for later. Antonym of <POP>, <POPJ>; see
X also <stack>, <pdl>.
X
X<psychedelicware> [Great Britain] n. Syn. <display hack>.
X
X {= Q =}
X
X<quadruple bucky> n., obs. On a <space-cadet keyboard>, use of all
X four of the shifting keys control, meta, hyper, and super while
X typing a character key. This was very difficult to do! One
X accepted technique was to press the left-control and left-meta keys
X with your left hand, the right-control and right-meta keys with
X your right hand, and the fifth key with your nose. Thus, this
X combination was very seldom used in practice, because when you
X invent a new command you usually assign it to some character that
X is easier to type. If you want to imply that a program has
X ridiculously many commands or features, you can say something like
X "Oh, the command that makes it spin all the tapes while whistling
X Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is quadruple-bucky-cokebottle". See
X <double bucky>, <bucky bits>.
X
X<quantum bogodynamics> /kwahn'tm boh`goh-die-nam'iks/ n. Theory which
X characterizes the universe in terms of bogon sources (such as
X politicians, used-car salesmen, TV evangelists, and SUITs in
X general), bogon sinks (such as taxpayers and computers), and
X bogosity potential fields. Bogon absorption, of course, causes
X human beings to behave mindlessly and machines to fail (and may
X cause them to emit secondary bogons as well); however, the precise
X mechanics of the bogon-computron interaction are not yet understood
X and remain to be elucidated. Quantum bogodynamics is most
X frequently invoked to explain the sharp increase in hardware and
X software failures in the presence of suits; the latter emit bogons
X which the former absorb. See <bogon>, <computron>, <suit>.
X
X<ques> /kwess/ 1. n. The question mark character ("?"). 2. interj.
X What? Also frequently verb-doubled as "ques ques?" See <wall>.
X
X<qux> /kwuhks/ The fourth of the standard metasyntactic variables,
X after <baz> and before the QUU*X series. See <foo>, <bar>, <baz>,
X <quux>. Note that this appears to a be recent mutation from
X <quux>, and that many versions of the standard series just run
X <foo>, <bar>, <baz>, <quux>,...
X
X<quux> /kwuhks/ [invented by Steele] Mythically, from the Latin
X semi-deponent verb quuxo, quuxare, quuxandum iri; noun form
X variously "quux" (plural "quuces", anglicized to "quuxes")
X and "quuxu" (genitive plural is "quuxuum", for four u-letters
X out of seven total).] 1. Originally, a meta-word like <foo> and
X <foobar>. Invented by Guy Steele for precisely this purpose when
X he was young and naive and not yet interacting with the real
X computing community. Many people invent such words; this one seems
X simply to have been lucky enough to have spread a little. In an
X eloquent display of poetic justice, it has returned to the
X originator in the form of a nickname, as punishment for inventing
X this bletcherous word in the first place. 2. interj. See <foo>;
X however, denotes very little disgust, and is uttered mostly for the
X sake of the sound of it. 3. Guy L. Steele in his persona as "The
X Great Quux", which is somewhat infamous for light verse and for
X the "Crunchly" cartoons. 4. quuxy: adj. Of or pertaining to a
X quux.
X
X<QWERTY> /kwer'tee/ adj. Pertaining to a standard English typewriter
X keyboard, as opposed to Dvorak or foreign-language layouts or a
X <space-cadet keyboard> or APL keyboard.
X
X {= R =}
X
X<random> adj. 1. Unpredictable (closest to mathematical definition);
X weird. "The system's been behaving pretty randomly." 2.
X Assorted; undistinguished. "Who was at the conference?" "Just
X a bunch of random business types." 3. Frivolous; unproductive;
X undirected (pejorative). "He's just a random loser." 4.
X Incoherent or inelegant; not well organized. "The program has a
X random set of misfeatures." "That's a random name for that
X function." "Well, all the names were chosen pretty randomly."
X 5. Gratuitously wrong, i.e., poorly done and for no good apparent
X reason. For example, a program that handles file name defaulting
X in a particularly useless way, or an assembler routine that could
X easily have been coded using only three registers, but randomly
X uses seven for assorted non-overlapping purposes, so that no one
X else can invoke it without first saving four extra registers. 6.
X In no particular order, though deterministic. "The I/O channels
X are in a pool, and when a file is opened one is chosen randomly."
X n. 7. A random hacker; used particularly of high school students
X who soak up computer time and generally get in the way. 8.
X (occasional MIT usage) One who lives at Random Hall. See also <J.
X Random>, <some random X>.
X
X<random numbers> n. When one wishes to specify a large but random
X number of things, and the context is inappropriate for <N>, certain
X numbers are preferred by hacker tradition (that is, easily
X recognized as placeholders). These include
X
X 17 Long described at MIT as "the least random number", see 23.
X 23 Sacred number of Eris, Goddess of Discord (along with 17 & 5).
X 42 The Answer to the Question of Life, the Universe and Everything.
X 69 From the sexual act. This one was favored in MIT's ITS culture.
X 105 69 hex = 105 dec, and 69 dec = 105 oct
X 666 The Number of the Beast.
X
X For further enlightenment, consult the `Principia Discordia',
X `The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy', any porn movie, and the
X Christian Bible's `Book Of Revelations'. See also
X <Discordianism>.
X
X<randomness> n. An unexplainable misfeature; gratuitous inelegance.
X Also, a <hack> or <crock> which depends on a complex combination of
X coincidences (or rather, the combination upon which the crock
X depends for its accidental failure to malfunction). "This hack
X can output characters 40-57 by putting the character in the
X accumulator field of an XCT and then extracting 6 bits --- the low
X two bits of the XCT opcode are the right thing." "What
X randomness!"
X
X<rape> v. To (metaphorically) screw someone or something, violently;
X in particular, to destroy a program or information irrecoverably
X Usage: often used in describing file-system damage. "So-and-so
X was running a program that did absolute disk I/O and ended up
X raping the master directory."
X
X<rare> [UNIX] adj. CBREAK mode (character-by-character with interrupts
X enabled). Distinguished from `raw' and `cooked'; the phrase
X "half-cooked (rare?)" is used in the V7/BSD manuals to describe
X the mode. Usage: rare.
X
X<raster blaster> n. [Cambridge] Specialized hardware for <bitblt>
X operations. Allegedly inspired by analogy with "Rasta Blasta",
X British slang for the sort of portable stereo/radio/tapedeck
X Americans call a `boom box' or `ghetto blaster'.
X
X<raster burn> n. Eyestrain brought on by too many hours of looking at
X low-res, poorly tuned or glare-ridden monitors, esp. graphics
X monitors. See <terminal illness>.
X
X<rave> [WPI] v. 1. To persist in discussing a specific subject. 2. To
X speak authoritatively on a subject about which one knows very
X little. 3. To complain to a person who is not in a position to
X correct the difficulty. 4. To purposely annoy another person
X verbally. 5. To evangelize. See <flame>. Also used to describe a
X less negative form of blather, such as friendly bullshitting.
X <Rave> differs slightly from <flame> in that <rave> implies that it
X is the manner or persistence of speaking that is annoying, while
X <flame> implies somewhat more strongly that the subject matter is
X annoying as well.
X
X<rave on!> imp. Sarcastic invitation to continue a <rave>, often by
X someone who wishes the raver would get a clue but realizes this is
X unlikely.
X
X<ravs> /ravz/, also CHINESE RAVS n. Kuo-teh. A Chinese appetizer,
X known variously in the plural as dumplings, potstickers and (around
X Boston) `Peking Ravioli'. The term "rav" is short for
X "ravioli", which among hackers always means the Chinese kind
X rather than the Italian kind. Both consist of a filling in a pasta
X shell, but the Chinese kind uses a thinner pasta and is cooked
X differently, either by steaming or frying. A rav or dumpling can
X be steamed or fried, but a potsticker is always the fried kind (so
X called because it sticks to the frying pot and has to be scraped
X off). "Let's get hot-and-sour soup and three orders of ravs."
X See also <ORIENTAL FOOD>.
X
X<READ.ME file> n. By convention, the top-level directory of a UNIX
X source distribution always contains a file named `READ.ME' (or
X README, or (rarely) ReadMe) which is a hacker's-eye introduction
X containing a pointer to more detailed documentation, credits,
X miscellaneous revision history notes, etc.
X
X<read-only user> n. Describes a <luser> who uses computers almost
X exclusively for reading USENET, bulletin boards and email, as
X opposed to writing code or purveying useful information. See
X <twink>.
X
X<real programmer> [indirectly, from the book `Real Men Don't Eat
X Quiche'] n. A particular sub-variety of hacker, one possessed of a
X flippant attitude towards complexity that is arrogant even when
X justified by experience. The archetypal `real programmer' likes to
X program on the <bare metal>, and is very good at same; he remembers
X the binary opcodes for every machine he's every programmed; thinks
X that HLLs are sissy; and he uses a debugger to edit his code
X because full-screen editors are for wimps. Real Programmers aren't
X satisfied with code that hasn't been <bum>med into a state of
X <tense>ness just short of rupture. Real Programmers never use
X comments or write documentation; "If it was hard to write", says
X the Real Programmer, "it should be hard to understand." Real
X Programmers can make machines do things that were never in their
X spec sheets; in fact, they're seldom really happy unless doing so.
X A Real Programmer's code can awe you with its fiendish brilliance
X even as it appalls by its level of crockishness. Real Programmers
X live on junk food and coffee, hang line-printer art on their walls,
X and terrify the crap out of other programmers --- because someday,
X somebody else might have to try to understand their code in order
X to change it. Their successors generally consider it a <Good
X Thing> that there aren't many Real Programmers around any more.
X
X<Real Soon Now> [orig. from SF's fanzine community, popularized by
X Jerry Pournelle's BYTE column] adj. 1. Supposed to be available
X (or fixed, or cheap, or whatever) real soon now according to
X somebody, but the speaker is quite skeptical. 2. When the
X gods/fates/other time commitments permit the speaker to get to it.
X Often abbreviated RSN.
X
X<real time> adv. Doing something while people are watching or waiting.
X "I asked her how to find the calling procedure's program counter
X on the stack and she came up with an algorithm in real time."
X
X<real user> n. 1. A commercial user. One who is paying "real" money
X for his computer usage. 2. A non-hacker. Someone using the system
X for an explicit purpose (research project, course, etc.). See
X <user>. Hackers who are also students may also be real users. "I
X need this fixed so I can do a problem set. I'm not complaining out
X of randomness, but as a real user." See also <luser>.
X
X<Real World> n. 1. In programming, those institutions at which
X programming may be used in the same sentence as FORTRAN, COBOL,
X RPG, <IBM>, etc. Places where programs do such commercially
X necessary but intellectually uninspiring things as compute payroll
X checks and invoices. 2. To programmers, the location of
X non-programmers and activities not related to programming. 3. A
X universe in which the standard dress is shirt and tie and in which
X a person's working hours are defined as 9 to 5. 4. The location of
X the status quo. 5. Anywhere outside a university. "Poor fellow,
X he's left MIT and gone into the real world." Used pejoratively by
X those not in residence there. In conversation, talking of someone
X who has entered the real world is not unlike talking about a
X deceased person. See also <fear and loathing>, <mundane>, and
X <uninteresting>.
X
X<reaper> n. A <prowler> which GFRs files (see <GFR>). A file removed
X in this way is said to have been "reaped".
X
X<rectangle slinger> n. See <polygon pusher>.
X
X<recursion> n. See <recursion>. See also <tail recursion>.
X
X<RECURSIVE ACRONYMS> pl.n. A hackish (and especially MIT) tradition is
X to choose acronyms which refer humorously to themselves or to other
X acronyms. The classic examples were two MIT editors called EINE
X ("EINE Is Not EMACS") and ZWEI ("ZWEI Was EINE Initially").
X More recently, <GNU> (q.v., sense #1) is said to stand for "GNU's
X Not UNIX!"
X
X<Red Book> n. 1. Informal name for one of the three standard
X references on PostScript (`PostScript Language Reference Manual',
X Adobe Systems, Addison-Wesley 1985 QA76.73.P67P67, ISBN
X 0-201-10174-2); the others are known as the <Green Book> and <Blue
X Book>. 2. `Smalltalk-80: The Interactive Programming
X Environment', Adele Goldberg, Addison-Wesley 1984,
X QA76.8.S635G638, ISBN 0-201-11372-4 (this is also associated with
X blue and green books). 3. Any of the 1984 standards issued by the
X CCIT 8th plenary assembly. Until now, these have changed color
X each review cycle (1988 was <Blue Book>, 1992 will be <Green
X Book>); however, it is rumored that this convention is going to be
X dropped befor 1992. These include, among other things, the X.400
X email spec and the Group 1 through 4 fax standards. 4. The new
X version of the <Green Book> (sense #4), "IEEE 1003.1-1990", aka
X "ISO 9945-1", is (because of the colour and the fact that it is
X printed on A4 paper), known in the USA as "The Ugly Red Book That
X Won't Fit On The Shelf", and in Europe as "The Ugly Red Book
X That's A Sensible Size". See also <Green Book>, <Blue Book>,
X <Purple Book>, <Silver Book>, <Orange Book>, <White Book>,
X <Pink-Shirt Book>, <Dragon Book>, <Aluminum Book>.
X
X<regexp> /reg'exp/ [UNIX] n. 1. Common written and spoken abbreviation
X for `regular expression', one of the wildcard patterns used, e.g.,
X by UNIX utilities such as `grep(1)', `sed(1)' and `awk(1)'. These use
X conventions similar to but more elaborate than those described
X under <glob>. 2. Name of a well-known PD regexp-handling package
X in portable C, written by revered USENETter Henry Spencer
X (henry@zoo.toronto.edu).
X
X<reincarnation, cycle of> n. Term used to refer to a well-known effect
X whereby function in a computing system family is migrated out to
X special purpose peripheral hardware for speed, then the peripheral
X evolves towards more computing power as it does its job, then
X somebody notices that it's inefficient to support two asymmetrical
X processors in the architecture and folds the function back into the
X main CPU, at which point the cycle begins again. Several
X iterations of this cycle have been observed in graphics processor
X design, and at least one or two in communications and
X floating-point processors. Also known as "the Wheel of Life",
X "the Wheel of Samsara", and other variations of the basic
X Hindu/Buddhist theological idea.
X
X<religious issues> n. Questions which seemingly cannot be raised
X without touching off holy wars>, such as "What is the best
X editor/language/operating system/architecture/shell/mail
X reader/news reader". See also <theology>.
X
X<replicator> n. Any construct that acts to produce copies of itself;
X this could be a living organism, an idea (see <meme>), a program
X (see <worm>, <wabbit> and <virus>), a pattern in a cellular
X automaton (see <life>, sense #1), or (speculatively) a robot.
X
X<retcon> /ret'-con/ ["retroactive continuity", from USENET's
X rec.arts.comics] 1. n. the common situation in pulp fiction (esp.
X comics, soaps) where a new story "reveals" new things about
X events previous stories, usually leaving the "facts" the same
X (thus preserving "continuity") while completely changing their
X interpretation. E.g., revealing that a whole season's episodes of
X Dallas was a dream was a retcon. 2. v.t. To write such a story
X about (a character or fictitious object). Thus, "Byrne has
X retconned Superman's cape so that it is no longer unbreakable".
X 3. v.i. Used of something "transformed" in this way -
X "Marvelman's old adventures were retconned into synthetic
X dreams", "Swamp Thing was retconned from a transformed person
X into a sentient vegetable."
X
X [This is included because it's a good example of hackish linguistic
X innovation in a field completely unrelated to computers. The word
X "retcon" will probably spread through comics fandom and lose its
X association with hackerdom within a couple of years; for the
X record, it started here. -- ESR]
X
X<retrocomputing> /ret'-roh-k@m-pyoo'ting/ n. Refers to emulations of
X way-behind-the state-of-the-art hardware or software, or
X implementations of never-was-state-of-the-art; esp. if such
X implementations are elaborate practical jokes and/or parodies of
X more `serious' designs. Perhaps the most widely distributed
X retrocomputing utility was the `pnch(6)' program on V7 and other
X early UNIX versions, which would accept up to 80 characters of text
X argument and display the corresponding pattern in Hollerith card
X code. Other well-known retrocomputing hacks have included the
X programming language <INTERCAL>, a jcl-emulating shell for UNIX,
X the card-punch-emulating editor named 029, and various elaborate
X PDP-11 hardware emulators and RT-11 OS emulators written just to
X keep an old, sourceless <Zork> binary running.
X
X<RFC> /ahr ef see/ n. Request For Comment. One of a long-established
X series of numbered Internet standards widely followed by commercial
X and PD software in the Internet and UNIX communities. Perhaps the
X single most influential one has been RFC-822 (the Internet
X mail-format standard). The RFCs are unusual in that they are
X floated by technical experts acting on their own initiative and
X reviewed by the Internet at large, rather than formally promulgated
X through an institution such as ANSI. For this reason they remain
X known as RFCs even once adopted.
X
X<RFE> n. 1. Request For Enhancement. 2. [Bellcore, Sun] Radio Free
X Ethernet, a system (originated by Peter Langston) for broadcasting
X audio among Sun SPARCstations over the ethernet.
X
X<rice box> [from ham radio slang] n. Any Asian-made commodity
X computer, esp. an 8086, 80286, 80386 or 80486-based machine built
X to IBM PC-compatible ISA or EISA-bus standards.
X
X<Right Thing, The> n. That which is *obviously* the correct or
X appropriate thing to use, do, say, etc. Often capitalized, always
X emphasized in speech as though capitalized. Use of this term often
X implies that in fact reasonable people may disagree. "Never let
X your conscience keep you from doing the right thing!" "What's
X the right thing for LISP to do when it reads (a mod 0)? Should it
X return a, or give a divide-by-zero error?" Antonym: <Wrong
X Thing>.
X
X<RL> [MUD community] n. Real Life. "Firiss laughs in RL" means
X Firiss's player is laughing.
X
X<roach> [Bell Labs] v. To destroy, esp. of a data structure. Hardware
X gets <toast>ed, software gets roached.
X
X<robust> adj. Said of a system which has demonstrated an ability to
X recover gracefully from the whole range of exception conditions in
X a given environment. One step below <bulletproof>. Compare
X <smart>, oppose <brittle>.
X
X<root> n. [UNIX] 1. The top node of the system directory structure
X (home directory of the root user). 2. The "superuser" account
X that ignores permission bits, user number zero on a UNIX system.
X This account has the user name `root'. 3. By extension, the
X privileged system-maintenance login on any OS. 4. Thus, <root
X mode>: Syn. with <wizard mode> or <wheel mode>. Like these, it is
X often generalized to describe privileged states in systems other
X than OSs. 5. <go root>: to temporarily enter <root mode> in order
X to perform a privileged operation. This use is deprecated in
X Australia, where v. "root" is slang for "to have sex with".
X
X<rotary debugger> [Commodore] n. Essential equipment for those late
X night or early morning debugging sessions. Mainly used as
X sustenance for the hacker. Comes in many decorator colors such as
X Sausage, Pepperoni, and Garbage. See <pizza, ANSI standard>.
X
X<rogue> [UNIX] n. Graphic Dungeons-And-Dragons-like game written under
X BSD UNIX and subsequently ported to other UNIX systems. The
X original BSD `curses(3)' screen-handling package was hacked together
X by Ken Arnold to support `rogue(6)' and has since become one of
X UNIX's most important and heavily used application libraries.
X Nethack, Omega, Larn and an entire subgenre of computer dungeon
X games all took off from the inspiration provided by `rogue(6)'. See
X <hack>.
X
X<room-temperature IQ> [IBM] 80 or below. Used in describing the
X expected intelligence range of the <luser>. As in "Well, but
X how's this interface gonna play with the room-temperature IQ
X crowd?" See <drool-proof paper>.
X
X<rot13> /rot-ther'teen/ [USENET, from "rotate alphabet 13 places"]
X n.,v. The simple encryption of replacing each English letter with
X the one 13 places forward or back along the alphabet, so that "The
X butler did it!" becomes "Gur ohgyre qvq vg!" Most Usenet news
X reading and posting programs include a rot13 feature. It is used
X as if to enclose the text in a sealed wrapper that the reader must
X choose to open, for posting things that might offend some readers,
X answers to puzzles, or discussion of movie plot surprises.
X
X<RSN> adj. See <Real Soon Now>.
X
X<RTFM> /ahr-tee-ef-em/ [UNIX] Abbrev. for "Read The Fucking Manual".
X 1. Used by GURUs to brush off questions they consider trivial or
X annoying. Compare <Don't do that, then!>. 2. Used when reporting
X a problem to indicate that you aren't just asking out of
X <randomness>. "No, I can't figure out how to interface UNIX to my
X toaster and yes I have RTFM." Unlike sense #1 this use is
X considered polite.
X
X<RTI> /ahr-tee-ie/ interj. The mnemonic for the `return from
X interrupt' instruction on Intel microprocessors. Equivalent to
X "Now, where was I?" or used to end a conversational digression.
X See <POP>, <POPJ>.
X
X<rude> [WPI] adj. 1. (of a program) Badly written. 2. Functionally
X poor, e.g. a program which is very difficult to use because of
X gratuitously poor (random?) design decisions. See <cuspy>.
X
X<runes> pl.n. 1. Anything that requires <heavy wizardry> or <black
X art> to <parse>; core dumps, JCL commands, or even code in a
X language you don't have the faintest idea how to read. Compare
X <casting the runes>. 2. Special display characters (for example,
X the high-half graphics on an IBM PC). 3. <runic> adj. Syn.
X <obscure>. VMS fans sometimes refer to UNIX as `Runix'; UNIX fans
X return the compliment by expanding VMS to `Vachement Mauvais
X Systeme' (lit. "Cowlike Bad System").
X
X {= S =}
X
X<sacred> adj. Reserved for the exclusive use of something (a
X metaphorical extension of the standard meaning). "Accumulator 7
X is sacred to the UUO handler." Often means that anyone may look
X at the sacred object, but clobbering it will screw whatever it is
X sacred to. Example: The comment "Register 7 is sacred to the
X interrupt handler" appearing in a program would be interpreted by
X a hacker to mean that one part of the program, the "interrupt
X handler", uses register 7, and if any other part of the program
X changes the contents of register 7 dire consequences are likely to
X ensue.
X
X<sadistics> /s@'dis'tiks/ n. University slang for statistics and
X probability theory, often used by hackers.
X
X<saga> [WPI] n. A cuspy but bogus raving story dealing with N random
X broken people.
X
X<sagan> [from Carl Sagan's TV series on PBS, think "Billions and
X Billions"] n. A large quantity of anything. "There's a sagan
X different ways to tweak EMACS." "The US Government spends sagans
X on military hardware."
X
X<SAIL> n. Stanford University Artificial Intelligence Lab. An
X important site in the early development of LISP; with the MIT AI
X LAB, CMU and the UNIX community, one of the major founts of hacker
X culture traditions. The SAIL machines were shut down in late May
X 1990, scant weeks after the MIT AI lab's ITS cluster went down for
X the last time.
X
X<salescritter> /sayls'kri-tr/ n. Pejorative hackerism for a computer
X salesperson. Hackers tell the following joke:
X
X Q. What's the difference between a used car dealer and a computer
X salesman?
X A. The used car dealer knows he's lying.
X
X This reflects the widespread hacker belief that salescritters are
X self-selected for stupidity (after all, if they had brains and the
X inclination to use them they'd be making more money programming).
X The term "salesthing" is also common. Compare <marketroid>,
X <suit>.
X
X<salt mines> n. Dense quarters housing large numbers of programmers
X working long hours on grungy projects, with some hope of seeing the
X end of the tunnel in N years. Noted for their absence of sunshine.
X Compare <playpen>.
X
X<sandbender> [IBM] n. A person involved with silicon lithography and
X the physical design of chips. Compare <ironmonger>, <polygon
X pusher>.
X
X<say> v. In some contexts, to type to a terminal. "To list a
X directory verbosely, you have to say `ls -l'". Tends to imply
X a carriage-return-terminated command (a `sentence'). A computer
X may also be said to `say' things to you even if it doesn't have a
X speech synthesizer, by displaying them on a terminal in response to
X your commands. Hackers find it odd that this usage confuses other
X people.
X
X<SCIENCE-FICTION FANDOM> n. Another voluntary subculture having a very
X heavy overlap with hackerdom; most hackers read SF and/or fantasy
X fiction avidly, and many go to "cons" (SF conventions) or are
X involved in fandom-connected activities like the Society for
X Creative Anachronism. Some hacker slang originated in SF fandom;
X see <defenestration>, <great-wall>, <cyberpunk>, <h infix>, <ha ha
X only serious>, <IMHO>, <mundane>, <neep-neep>, <Real Soon Now>.
X Additionally, the jargon terms <cowboy>, <cyberspace>, <de-rez>,
X <go flatline>, <ice>, <virus>, <wetware>, <wirehead> and <worm>
X originated in SF itself.
X
X<scratch> [from "scratchpad"] 1. adj. A device or recording medium
X attached to a machine for testing or temporary-use purposes; one
X which can be <SCRIBBLED> on without loss. Usually in the combining
X forms "scratch memory", "scratch disk", "scratch tape",
X "scratch volume". See <scratch monkey>. 2. [primarily IBM] v. To
X delete (as in a file).
X
X<scratch monkey> n. As in, "Before testing or reconfiguring, always
X mount a". A proverb used to advise caution when dealing with
X irreplaceable data or devices. Used in memory of Mabel, the
X Swimming Wonder Monkey who expired when a computer vendor PM'd a
X machine which was regulating the gas mixture that the monkey was
X breathing at the time. See Appendix A. See <scratch>.
X
X<screw> [MIT] n. A <lose>, usually in software. Especially used for
X user-visible misbehavior caused by a bug or misfeature.
X
X<screwage> /scroo'@j/ n. Like <lossage> but connotes that the failure
X is due to a designed-in misfeature rather than a simple inadequacy
X or mere bug.
X
X<scrog> /skrog/ [Bell Labs] v. To damage, trash or corrupt a data
X structure. "The cblock got scrogged." Also reported as
X "skrog", and ascribed to "The Wizard of Id" comix. Equivalent
X to <scribble> or <mangle>
X
X<scrozzle> /skroh'zl/ v. Used when a self-modifying code segment runs
X incorrectly and corrupts the running program, or vital data. "The
X damn compiler scrozzled itself again!"
X
X<scribble> n. To modify a data structure in a random and
X unintentionally destructive way. "Bletch! Somebody's
X disk-compactor program went berserk and scribbled on the i-node
X table." "It was working fine until one of the allocation routines
X scribbled on low core." Synonymous with <trash>; compare <mung>,
X which conveys a bit more intention, and <mangle>, which is more
X violent and final.
X
XSCSI /ess see ess ie/ n. Small Computer System Interface is a
X system-level interface between a computer and intelligent devices.
X Typically annotated in literature with "sexy" (/sek'see/) and
X "scuzzy" (/skuhz'zee/) as pronunciation guides...the latter being
X the predominating form, much to the dismay of the designers and
X marketing people.
X
X<search-and-destroy mode> n. Hackerism for the search-and-replace
X facility in an editor, so called because an incautiously chosen
X match pattern can cause <infinite> damage.
X
X<second-system effect> n. When designing the successor to a relatively
X small, elegant and successful system, there is a tendency to become
X grandiose in one's success and perpetrate an <elephantine>
X feature-laden monstrosity. The term was first used by Fred Brooks
X in his classic book "The Mythical Man-Month". It described the
X jump from a set of nice, simple, operating monitors on the IBM 70xx
X series to OS/360 on the 360 series.
X
X<segfault> n.,v. Syn for <segment>, <seggie>.
X
X<seggie> /seg'ee/ [UNIX] n. Shorthand for <segmentation fault>
X reported from Britain.
X
X<segment> /seg'ment/ v. To experience a <segmentation fault>.
X Confusingly, this is often accented on the first syllable rather
X than on the second as for mainstream v. segment; this is because
X it's actually a noun shorthand that has been verbed.
X
X<segmentation fault (or violation)> n. [UNIX] 1. Error in which a
X running program attempts to access memory not allocated to it and
X <core dump> with a segment violation error. 2. To lose a train of
X thought or a line of reasoning. Also uttered as an exclamation at
X the point of befuddlement.
X
X<self-reference> n. See <self-reference>.
X
X<selvage> /selv'@j/ [from sewing] n. See <chad> (sense #1).
X
X<semi> /se'mee/ 1. n. Abbreviation for "semicolon", when speaking.
X "Commands to <grind> are prefixed by semi-semi-star" means that
X the prefix is ";;*", not 1/4 of a star. 2. Prefix with words
X such as "immediately", as a qualifier. "When is the system
X coming up?" "Semi-immediately." (That is, maybe not for an
X hour). "We did consider that possibility semi-seriously." See
X also <infinite>.
X
X<server> n. A kind of <daemon> which performs a service for the
X requester, which often runs on a computer other than the one on
X which the server runs. A particularly common term on the Internet,
X which is rife with "name servers" "domain servers" "news
X servers" "finger servers" and the like.
X
X<SEX> [Sun User's Group & elsewhere] n. 1. Software EXchange. A
X technique invented by the blue-green algae hundreds of millions of
X years ago to speed up their evolution, which had been terribly slow
X up until then. Today, SEX parties are popular among hackers and
X others. 2. The rather Freudian mnemonic often used for Sign Extend,
X a machine instruction found in many architectures. Amusingly, the
X Intel 8048 (the microcontroller used in IBM PC keyboards) was
X missing straight SEX but had logical-or and logical-and
X instructions ORL and ANL.
X
X<shareware> n. <freeware> for which the author requests some payment,
X usually in the accompanying documentation files or in an
X announcement made by the software itself. Such payment may or may
X not buy additional support or functionality. See <guiltware>,
X <crippleware>.
X
X<shelfware> n. Software purchased on a whim (by an individual user) or
X in accordance with policy (by a corporation or government) but not
X actually required for any particular use. Therefore, it often ends
X up on some shelf.
X
X<shell> [UNIX, now used elsewhere] n. 1. The command interpreter used
X to pass commands to an operating system. 2. More generally, any
X interface program which mediates access to a special resource or
X <server> for convenience, efficiency or security reasons; for this
X meaning, the usage is usually "a shell around" whatever. This
X sort of program is also called a "wrapper".
X
X<shell out> [UNIX] n. To spawn an interactive subshell from within a
X program such as a mailer or editor. "Bang foo runs foo in a
X <subshell>, while bang alone shells out."
X
X<shift left (or right) logical> [from any of various machines'
X instruction sets] 1. v. To move oneself to the left (right). To
X move out of the way. 2. imper. "Get out of that (my) seat! You
X can move to that empty one to the left (right)." Usage: often
X used without the "logical", or as "left shift" instead of
X "shift left". Sometimes heard as LSH (lish), from the PDP-10
X instruction set.
X
X<shitogram> /shit'oh-gram/ n. A *really* nasty piece of email.
X Compare <nastygram>, <flame>.
X
X<shriek> See <excl>. Occasional CMU usage, also in common use among
X mathematicians, especially category theorists.
X
X<sig block> /sig blok/ [UNIX; often written ".sig" there] n. Short
X for "signature", used specifically to refer to the electronic
X signature block which most UNIX mail- and news-posting software
X will allow you to automatically append to outgoing mail and news.
X The composition of one's sig can be quite an art form, including an
X ASCII logo or one's choice of witty sayings (see <sig quote>); but
X many consider large sigs a waste of <bandwidth>, and it has been
X observed that the size of one's sig block is usually inversely
X proportional to one's longevity and level of prestige on the net.
X
X<sig quote> /sig kwoht/ [USENET] n. A maxim, quote, proverb, joke or
X slogan embedded in one's <SIG> and intended to convey something of
X one's philosophical stance, pet peeves, or sense of humor. "He
X *must* be a Democrat --- he posted a sig quote from Dan
X Quayle."
X
X<silicon> n. Hardware, esp. ICs or microprocessor-based computer
X systems (compare <iron>). Contrasted with software.
X
X<silly walk> [from Monty Python] v. A ridiculous procedure required to
X accomplish a task. Like <grovel>, but more <random> and humorous.
X "I had to silly-walk through half the /usr directories to find the
X maps file."
X
X<silo> n. The FIFO input-character buffer in an RS-232 line card. So
X called from DEC terminology used on DH and DZ line cards for the
X VAX and PDP-11.
X
X<Silver Book> n. Jensen & Wirth's infamous `Pascal User Manual
X and Report', so called because of the silver cover of the
X widely-distributed Springer-Verlag second edition of 1978 (ISBN
X 0-387-90144-2). See <Red Book>, <Green Book>, <Blue Book>, <White
X Book>, <Purple Book>, <Orange Book>, <Pink-Shirt Book>, <Dragon
X Book>, <Aluminum Book>
X
X<sitename> [UNIX/Internet] n. The unique electronic name of a computer
X system, used to identify it in UUCP mail, USENET or other forms of
X electronic information interchange. The folklore interest of
X sitenames stems from the creativity and humor they often display.
X Interpreting a sitename is not unlike interpreting a vanity license
X plate; one has to mentally unpack it, allowing for mono-case and
X length restrictions and the lack of whitespace. Hacker tradition
X deprecates dull, institutional-sounding names in favor of punchy,
X humorous and clever coinages (except that it is considered
X appropriate for the official public gateway machine of an
X organization to bear the organization's name or acronym).
X Mythological references, cartoon characters, animal names, and
X allusions to SF or fantasy literature are probably the most popular
X sources for sitenames (in roughly that order). See also <network
X address>.
X
X<skulker> n. Syn. <prowler>.
X
X<slap on the side> adj. A type of external expansion marketed by
X computer manufacturers (e.g. Commodore for their Amiga 500/1000
X series). Various SOTS boxes provided necessities such as memory,
X hard drive controllers, and "conventional" expansion slots.
X
X<sleep> v. On a timesharing system, a process which relinquishes its
X claim on the scheduler until some given event occurs or a specified
X time delay elapses is said to `go to sleep'.
X
X<slim> n. A small, derivative change (e.g. to code).
X
X<slop> n. 1. A one-sided <fudge factor>, that is, an allowance for
X error but only in one of two directions. For example, if you need
X a piece of wire ten feet long and have to guess when you cut it,
X you make very sure to cut it too long, by a large amount if
X necessary, rather than too short by even a little bit, because you
X can always cut off the slop but you can't paste it back on again.
X When discrete quantities are involved, slop is often introduced to
X avoid the possibility of a <fencepost error>. 2. n. The ratio of
X the size code generated by a compiler to the size of equivalent
X <hand-hacked> assembler code, minus 1; i.e., the space (or maybe
X time) you lose because you didn't do it yourself. This number is
X often used as a measure of the goodness of a compiler; slop below
X 5% is very good, and 10% is usually acceptable for most purposes.
X With modern compiler technology, esp. on RISC machines, the
X compiler's slop may actually be *negative*; that is, humans
X may be unable to generate code as good. This is one of the reasons
X assembler programming is no longer common.
X
X<slopsucker> n. A lowest-priority task that must wait around until
X everything else has "had its fill" of machine resources. Only
X when the machine would otherwise be idle is the task allowed to
X "suck up the slop." Also called a <hungry puppy>. One common
X variety of slopsucker hunts for large prime numbers. Compare
X <background>.
X
X<sluggy> /sluh'gee/ adj. Hackish variant of `sluggish'. Used only of
X people, esp. someone just waking up after a long <gronk out>.
X
X<slurp> v. To read a large data file entirely into core before working
X on it (This may be contrasted with the strategy of reading a small
X piece at a time, processing it, and then reading the next piece).
X "This program slurps in a 1K-by-1K matrix and does an FFT."
X
X<smart> adj. Said of a program that does the <Right Thing> in a wide
X variety of complicated circumstances. There is a difference
X between calling a program smart and calling it intelligent; in
X particular, there do not exist any intelligent programs (yet).
X Compare <robust> (smart programs can be <brittle>).
X
X<smart terminal> n. A terminal that has enough computing capability to
X perform useful work independently of the main computer. The
X development of workstations and personal computers has made this
X term and the product it describes semi-obsolescent, but one may
X still hear variants of the phrase "act like a smart terminal"
X used to describe the behavior of workstations/PCs with respect to
X programs that execute almost entirely out of a remote <server>'s
X storage, using said devices as displays.
X
X There's a classic quote from Rob Pike (inventor of the <blit>
X terminal): "A smart terminal is not a smart*ass* terminal,
X but rather a terminal you can educate." This illustrates a common
X design problem; the attempt to make peripherals (or anything else)
X intelligent sometimes results in finicky, rigid "special
X features" that become just so much dead weight if you try to use
X the device in any way the designer didn't anticipate. Flexibility
X and programmability, on the other hand, are *really* smart.
X
X<smash case> v. To lose or obliterate the uppercase/lowercase
X distinction in text input. "MS-DOS will automatically smash case
X in the filename you give when you create one".
X
X<smash the stack> [C programming] n. On many C implementations it is
X possible to corrupt the execution stack by writing past the end of
X an array declared auto in a routine. Code that does this is said
X to `smash the stack', and can cause return from the routine to jump
SHAR_EOF
chmod 0644 jsplit.ah || echo "restore of jsplit.ah fails"
if [ $TOUCH = can ]
then
touch -am 0103154591 jsplit.ah
fi
exit 0