eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (12/16/90)
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X
XSNARK [Lewis Carroll, via the Michigan Terminal System] n. 1. A system
X failure. When a user's process bombed, the operator would get a
X message "Help, Help, Snark in MTS!". 2. More generally, any kind
X of unexplained or threatening event on a computer. Often used to
X refer to events or log file entries which might indicate an
X attempted security violation. 3. UUCP name of snark.thyrsus.com,
X home site of the Jargon File 2.x.x versions.
X
XSNEAKERNET n. Term used (generally with ironic intent) for transfer of
X electronic information by physically carrying tape, disks, or some
X other media from one machine to another. "Never underestimate the
X bandwidth of a station wagon filled with magtape, or a 747 filled
X with CD-ROMs." Also called "Tennis-Net", "Armpit-Net".
X
XSNIFF v.,n. Synonym for POLL.
X
XS.O. /ess-oh/ n. Acronym for Significant Other, almost invariably
X written abbreviated and pronounced "ess-oh" by hackers. In fact
X the form without periods "SO" is most common. Used to refer to
X one's primary relationship, esp. a live-in to whom one is not
X married. See MOTAS, MOTOS, MOTSS.
X
XSOFTCOPY n. [back-formation from `hardcopy'] A machine readable form
X of corresponding hardcopy. See BITS.
X
XSOFTWARE ROT n. (Also known as BIT DECAY, BIT ROT) Hypothetical
X disease the existence of which has been deduced from the
X observation that unused programs or features will often stop
X working after sufficient time has passed, even if "nothing has
X changed". The theory explains that bits decay as if they were
X radioactive. As time passes, the contents of a file or the code in
X a program will become increasingly garbled. There actually are
X physical processes that produce such effects (the alpha particles
X such as are found in cosmic rays can change the contents of a
X computer memory unpredictably, and various kinds of subtle media
X failures can corrupt files in mass storage) but they are quite
X rare. Nevertheless, when you can't figure out why something
X stopped working, it is often humorously convenient to blame
X SOFTWARE ROT.
X
X Historical note: software rot in an even funnier sense than the
X mythical one was a real problem on early research computers (e. g.
X the R1, see GRIND CRANK). If a program that depended on a peculiar
X instuction hadn't been run in quite a while, the user might
X discover that the opcodes no longer did the things as they used to.
X ("Hey, so-and-so needs an instruction to do such-and-such. We can
X snarf this one, right? No one uses it.")
X
XSOFTWARILY /soft-weir'i-lee/ adv. In a way pertaining to software.
X "The system is softwarily unreliable." The adjective
X "softwary" is *not* used. See HARDWARILY.
X
XSOME RANDOM X adj. Used to indicate a member of class X, with the
X implication that the particular X is interchangeable with most
X other Xs in whatever context was being discussed. "I think some
X random cracker tripped over the guest timeout last night."
X
XSORCERER'S APPRENTICE MODE n. A bug in a protocol where, under some
X circumstances, the receipt of a message causes more than one
X message to be sent, each of which, when received, triggers the same
X bug. Used esp. of such behavior caused by BOUNCE MESSAGE loops in
X EMAIL software. Compare BROADCAST STORM.
X
XSPACE-CADET KEYBOARD n. The Knight keyboard, a now-legendary device
X used on MIT LISP machines which inspired several still-current
X slang terms and influenced the design of EMACS (q.v.). It was
X inspired by the Stanford keyboard and equipped with no less than
X *seven* shift keys: four BUCKY BIT (q.v.) keys (`control', `meta',
X `hyper', and `super') and three like the regular shift key, called
X `shift', `top', and `front'. Many keys have three symbols on them:
X a letter and a symbol on the top, and a Greek letter on the front.
X For example, the "L" key has an "L" and a two-way arrow on the
X top, and the Greek letter lambda on the front. If you press this
X key with the right hand while playing an appropriate "chord" with
X the left hand on the shift keys, you can get the following results:
X
X L lower-case "l"
X shift-L upper-case "L"
X front-L Greek lower-case lambda
X front-shift-L Greek upper-case lambda
X top-L two-way arrow (front and shift are ignored)
X
X And of course each of these may also be typed with any combination
X of the control, meta, hyper, and super keys. On this keyboard you
X can type over 8000 different characters! This allows the user to
X type very complicated mathematical text, and also to have thousands
X of single-character commands at his disposal. Many hackers were
X actually willing to memorize the command meanings of that many
X characters if it will reduce typing time (this view rather
X obviously shaped the interface of EMACS). Other hackers, however,
X thought having that many bucky bits is overkill, and object that
X such a keyboard can require three or four hands to operate. See
X BUCKY BITS, COKEBOTTLE, META BIT.
X
XSPACEWAR n. A space-combat simulation game first implemented on the
X PDP-1 at MIT in 1960-61. SPACEWAR aficionados formed the core of
X the early hacker culture at MIT. Ten years later a descendant of
X the game motivated Ken Thompson to build, in his spare time on a
X scavenged PDP-7, the operating system that became UNIX (q.v.). Ten
X years after that, SPACEWAR was commercialized as one of the first
X video games; descendants are still feeping in video arcades
X everywhere.
X
XSPAGHETTI CODE n. Describes code with a complex and tangled control
X structure, esp. one using many GOTOs, exceptions or other
X `unstructured' branching constructs. Pejorative. The synonym
X "kangaroo code" has been reported.
X
XSPAGHETTI INHERITANCE n. [Encountered among users of object-oriented
X languages that use inheritance, such as Smalltalk] A convoluted
X class-subclass graph, often resulting from carelessly deriving
X subclasses from other classes just for the sake of reusing their
X code. Coined in a (successful) attempt to discourage such
X practice, through guilt by association with SPAGHETTI CODE.
X
XSPIFFY /spi'fee/ adj. 1. Said of programs having a pretty, clever or
X exceptionally well-designed interface. "Have you seen the spiffy X
X version of EMPIRE yet?" 2. Said sarcastically of programs which
X are perceived to have little more than a flashy interface going for
X them. Which meaning should be drawn depends delicately on tone of
X voice and context.
X
XSPIN v. Equivalent to BUZZ (q.v.). More common among C and UNIX
X programmers.
X
XSPIN-LOCK [Cambridge] n. A BUSY-WAIT. Preferred in Britain.
X
XSPLAT n. 1. Name used in many places (DEC, IBM, and others) for the
X ASCII asterisk ("*") character. 2. [MIT] Name used by some
X people for the ASCII number-sign ("#") character. 3. [Stanford]
X Name used by some people for the Stanford/ITS extended ASCII
X circle-x character. (This character is also called "circle-x",
X "blobby", and "frob", among other names.) 4. [Stanford] Name
X for the semi-mythical extended ASCII circle-plus character. 5.
X Canonical name for an output routine that outputs whatever the
X local interpretation of splat is. Usage: nobody really agrees what
X character "splat" is, but the term is common.
X
XSPOOGE /spooj/ 1. n. Inexplicable or arcane code, or random and
X probably incorrect output from a computer program. 2. v. To
X generate code or output as in definition 1.
X
XSPOOL [fr. early IBM "Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line",
X but this acronym is widely thought to have been contrived for
X effect] v. To send files to some device or program (a `spooler')
X that queues them up and does something useful with them later. The
X spooler usually understood is the `print spooler' controlling
X output of jobs to a printer, but the term has been used in
X connection with other peripherals (especially plotters and graphics
X devices).
X
XSTACK n. See PDL. The STACK usage is probably more common outside
X universities. The usual physical example of a stack is to be found
X in a cafeteria: a pile of plates sitting on a spring in a well in a
X cart, so that when you put a plate on the top they all sink down,
X and when you take one off the top the rest spring up a bit.
X
XSTACK PUKE n. Some micros are said to "puke their guts onto the
X stack" to save their internal state during exception processing.
X On a pipelined machine this can take a while (up to 92 bytes for a
X bus fault on the 68020, for example).
X
XSTALE POINTER BUG n. Synonym for ALIASING BUG used esp. among
X microcomputer hackers.
X
XSTATE n. Condition, situation. "What's the state of your latest
X hack?" "It's winning away." "The system tried to read and
X write the disk simultaneously and got into a totally wedged
X state." A standard question is "What's your state?" which means
X "What are you doing?" or "What are you about to do?" Typical
X answers might be "I'm about to GRONK OUT", or "I'm hungry".
X Another standard question is "What's the state of the world?"
X meaning "What's new?" or "What's going on?". The more terse and
X humorous way of asking these conventions would be "State-p?".
X
XSTIR-FRIED RANDOM alt. STIR-FRIED MUMBLE n. Term used for frequent
X best dish of those hackers who can cook. Consists of random fresh
X veggies and meat wokked with random spices. Tasty and economical.
X See RANDOM, GREAT-WALL, CHINESE RAVS, ORIENTAL FOOD; see also
X MUMBLE.
X
XSTOMP ON v. To inadvertently overwrite something important, usually
X automatically. Example: "All the work I did this weekend got
X stomped on last night by the nightly-server script." Compare
X SCRIBBLE, MANGLE, TRASH, SCROG, ROACH.
X
XSTOPPAGE /sto'p@j/ n. Extreme lossage (see LOSSAGE) resulting in
X something (usually vital) becoming completely unusable. "The
X recent system stoppage was caused by a FRIED transformer."
X
XSTUBROUTINE /stuhb'roo-teen/ [contr. of "stub routine"] n. Tiny,
X often vacuous placeholder for a subroutine to be written or fleshed
X out later.
X
XSTUNNING adj. Mind-bogglingly stupid. Usually used in sarcasm. "You
X want to code *what* in ADA? That's...a stunning idea!" See also
X NON-OPTIMAL SOLUTION.
X
XSUBSHELL [UNIX, MS-DOS] n. An OS command interpreter (see SHELL)
X spawned from within a program, such that exit from the command
X interpreter returns one to the parent program in a state that
X allows it to continue execution. Oppose CHAIN.
X
XSUIT n. 1. Ugly and uncomfortable `business clothing' often worn by
X non-hackers. Invariably worn with a `tie', a strangulation device
X which partially cuts off the blood supply to the brain. It is
X thought that this explains much about the behavior of suit-
X wearers. 2. A person who habitually wears suits, as distinct from a
X techie or hacker. See LOSER, BURBLE and BRAIN-DAMAGED. English,
X BTW, is relatively kind; our Soviet correspondent informs us that
X the corresponding idiom in Russian hacker jargon is `sovok', lit. a
X tool for grabbing garbage.
X
XSUNSPOTS n. Notional cause of an odd error. "Why did the program
X suddenly turn the screen blue?" "Sunspots, I guess". Also cause
X of bitrot, from the genuine, honest-to-god fact that sunspots will
X increase cosmic radiation which can flip single bits in memory.
X Needless to say, although real sunspot errors happen, they are
X extremely rare. See PHASE OF THE MOON.
X
XSUN-STOOLS n. Unflattering hackerism for SunTools, a pre-X windowing
X environment notorious in its day for size, slowness and misfeatures
X (X, however, is larger and slower; see SECOND SYSTEM EFFECT).
X
XSUPDUP /soop'doop/ v. To communicate with another ARPAnet host using
X the SUPDUP program, which is a SUPer-DUPer TELNET talking a special
X display protocol used mostly in talking to ITS sites. Sometimes
X abbreviated to SD.
X
XSUPERPROGRAMMER n. A prolific programmer; one who can code
X exceedingly well and quickly. Not all hackers are
X superprogrammers, but many are. (Productivity can vary from one
X programmer to another by factors of as much as 1000. For example,
X programmer A might be able to write an average of 3 lines of
X working code in one day, while another, with the proper tools and
X skill, might be able to write 3,000 lines of working code in one
X day. This variance is astonishing, appearing in very few other
X areas of human endeavor.) The term SUPERPROGRAMMER is more
X commonly used within such places as IBM than in the hacker
X community. It tends to stress productivity rather than creativity
X or ingenuity. Hackers tend to prefer the terms HACKER and WIZARD.
X
XSUZIE COBOL /soo'zee koh'bol/ 1. [IBM, prob. fr. Frank Zappa's
X "little Suzy Creamcheese"] n. A coder straight out of training
X school who knows everything except the benefits of comments in
X plain English. Also (fashionable among personkind wishing to avoid
X accusations of sexism) `Sammy Cobol' or (in some non-IBM circles)
X `Cobol Charlie'. 2. [proposed] Meta-name for any CODE GRINDER,
X analogous to J. RANDOM HACKER.
X
XSWAB [From the PDP-11 "byte swap" instruction, and immortallized in
X the option "conv=swab" to DD (q.v.)] 1. v. to solve the NUXI
X PROBLEM by swapping bytes in a file. 2. Also, the program in V7
X UNIX used to perform this action, or anything functionally
X equivalent to it. See also BIG-ENDIAN, LITTLE-ENDIAN, BYTESEXUAL.
X
XSWAP SPACE n. Storage space. "I'm just using that corner of the machine
X room for swap space".
X
XSWAPPED adj. From the older (per-task) method of using secondary
X storage devices to implement support for multitasking. Something
X which is SWAPPED IN is available for immediate use in main memory,
X and otherwise is SWAPPED OUT. Often used metaphorically to refer
X to people's memories ("I read the Scheme Report every few months
X to keep the information swapped in.") or to their own availability
X ("I'll swap you in as soon as I finish looking at this other
X problem."). Compare PAGE IN, PAGE OUT.
X
XSWIZZLE v. To convert external names or references within a data
X structure into direct pointers when the data structure is brought
X into main memory from external storage; also called "pointer
X swizzling"; the converse operation is sometimes termed UNSWIZZLING.
X
XSYNC /sink/ [UNIX] n.,v. 1. To force all pending I/O to the disk. 2.
X More generally, to force a number of competing processes or agents
X to a state that would be `safe' if the system were to crash; thus,
X to checkpoint. See FLUSH.
X
XSYNTACTIC SUGAR n. Features added to a language or formalism to make
X it `sweeter' for humans, that do not affect the expressiveness of
X the formalism (compare CHROME). Used esp. when there is an obvious
X and trivial translation of the `sugar' feature into other
X constructs already present in the notation. Example: C's "a[i]"
X notation in syntactic sugar for "*(a + i)". Coined by Peter
X Landin. "Syntactic sugar causes cancer of the semicolon." - Alan
X Perlis.
X
XSYS-FROG [the PLATO system] n. Playful hackish variant of "sysprog"
X which is in turn short for "systems-programmer".
X
XSYSTEM n. 1. The supervisor program or OS on a computer. 2. n. The
X entire computer system, including input/output devices, the
X supervisor program or OS, and possibly other software. 3. Any
X large-scale program. 4. Any method or algorithm. 5. The way
X things are usually done. Usage: a fairly ambiguous word. "You
X can't beat the system." SYSTEM HACKER: one who hacks the system
X (in sense 1 only; for sense 2 one mentions the particular program:
X e.g., LISP HACKER)
X
X {= T =}
X
XT /tee/ 1. [from LISP terminology for "true"] Yes. Usage: used in
X reply to a question, particularly one asked using the "-P"
X convention). See NIL. In LISP, the name T means "true", among
X other things. Some hackers use "T" and "NIL" instead of
X "yes" and "no" almost reflexively. This sometimes causes
X misunderstandings. When a waiter or flight attendant asks whether
X a hacker wants coffee, he may well respond "T", meaning that he
X wants coffee; but of course he will be brought a cup of tea
X instead. As it happens, most hackers like tea at least as well as
X coffee, particularly those who frequent Chinese restaurants, so
X it's not that big a problem. 2. See TIME T. 3. In
X transaction-processing circles, an abbreviation for the noun
X "transaction". 4. [Purdue] Alternate spelling of TEE (q.v.)
X
XTAIL RECURSION n. See TAIL RECURSION.
X
XTALK MODE n. The state a terminal is in when linked to another via a
X bidirectional character pipe to support on-line dialogue between
X two or more users. Talk mode has a special set of jargon words,
X used to save typing, which are not used orally:
X
X BCNU Be seeing you.
X BTW By the way...
X BYE? Are you ready to unlink? (This is the standard way to
X end a talk mode conversation; the other person types
X BYE to confirm, or else continues the conversation.)
X CUL See you later.
X ENQ? Are you busy? Expects ACK or NAK in return.
X FOO? A greeting, also meaning R U THERE? Often used in the
X case of unexpected links, meaning also "Sorry if I
X butted in" (linker) or "What's up?" (linkee).
X FYI For your information...
X FYA For your amusement...
X GA Go ahead (used when two people have tried to type
X simultaneously; this cedes the right to type to
X the other).
X HELLOP A greeting, also meaning R U THERE? (An instance
X of the "-P" convention.)
X JAM Just a minute... Equivalent to SEC...
X NIL No (see the main entry for NIL).
X O Over to you (lower-case works too).
X OO Over and out (lower-case works too).
X / Another form of "Over to you"
X OBTW Oh, by the way...
X R U THERE? Are you there?
X SEC Wait a second (sometimes written SEC...).
X T Yes (see the main entry for T).
X TNX Thanks.
X TNX 1.0E6 Thanks a million (humorous).
X WTF The universal interrogative particle. WTF knows what
X it means?
X WTH What the hell
X <double CRLF>When the typing party has finished, he types
X two CRLFs to signal that he is done; this leaves a
X blank line between individual "speeches" in the
X conversation, making it easier to re-read the
X preceding text.
X <name>: When three or more terminals are linked, each speech
X is preceded by the typist's login name and a colon (or
X a hyphen) to indicate who is typing. The login name
X often is shortened to a unique prefix (possibly a
X single letter) during a very long conversation.
X /\/\/\ A giggle or chuckle (rare).
X
X Most of the above "sub-jargon" is used at both Stanford and MIT.
X Several of these are also common in EMAIL, esp. FYI, FYA, BTW,
X BCNU, and CUL. A few other abbreviations have been reported from
X commercial networks such as GEnie and Compuserve where on-line
X `live' chat including more than two people is common and usually
X involves a more `social' context, notably
X
X <g> grin
X BRB be right back
X HHOJ ha ha only joking
X HHOS HA HA ONLY SERIOUS
X LOL laughing out loud
X ROTF rolling on the floor
X AFK away from keyboard
X b4 before
X CU l8tr see you later
X MORF Male or Female?
X TTFN ta-ta for now
X OIC Oh, I see
X rehi hello again
X
X These are not used at universities or in the UNIX world;
X conversely, most of the people who know these are unfamiliar with
X FOO?, BCNU, HELLOP, NIL, and T.
X
XTANKED adj. Same as DOWN, used primarily by UNIX hackers. See also
X HOSED. Popularized as a synonym for "drunk" by Steve Dallas in
X the late lamented "Bloom County" comics.
X
XTAR AND FEATHER [from UNIX tar(1)] v. To create a transportable
X archive from a group of files by first sticking them together with
X the tape archiver tar(1) and then compressing the result (see
X COMPRESS). The latter is dubbed `feathering' by analogy to what you
X do with an airplane propeller to decrease wind resistance; smaller
X files, after all, slip through comm links more easily.
X
XTASTE n. [primarily MIT-DMS] The quality in programs which tends to be
X inversely proportional to the number of features, hacks, and kluges
X programmed into it. Also, TASTY, TASTEFUL, TASTEFULNESS. "This
X feature comes in N tasty flavors." Although TASTEFUL and
X FLAVORFUL are essentially synonyms, TASTE and FLAVOR are not.
X TASTE refers to sound judgement on the part of the creator; a
X program or feature can *exhibit* taste but cannot "have" taste.
X On the other hand, a feature can have FLAVOR. Also, FLAVOR has the
X additional meaning of "kind" or "variety" not shared by TASTE.
X FLAVOR is a more popular word among hackers than TASTE, though both
X are used.
X
XTCB /tee see bee/ [IBM] 1. Trouble Came Back. Intermittent or
X difficult-to reproduce problem which has failed to respond to
X neglect. Compare HEISENBUG. Not to be confused with: 2. Trusted
X Computing Base, an "official" jargon term from the ORANGE BOOK
X (q.v.).
X
XTECO /tee'koh/ v. obs. Originally, to edit using the TECO editor in
X one of its infinite variations (see Appendix B); sometimes still
X used to mean "to edit" even when not using TECO! Usage: rare and
X now primarily historical.
X
XTEE n.,v. [Purdue] A carbon copy of an electronic transmisson, "Oh,
X you're sending him the BITS to that? Slap on a tee for me." From
X the UNIX command tee(1). Can also mean `save one for me' as in
X "Tee a slice for me!". Also spelled `T'.
X
XTELERAT /tel'@-rat/ n. Unflattering hackerism for "Teleray", a line
X of extremely losing terminals. See also TERMINAK, SUN-STOOLS,
X HP-SUX.
X
XTELNET /telnet/ v. To communicate with another ARPAnet host using the
X TELNET program. TOPS-10 people use the word IMPCOM since that is
X the program name for them. Sometimes abbreviated to TN. "I
X usually TN over to SAIL just to read the AP News."
X
XTEN FINGER INTERFACE n. The interface between two networks which
X cannot be directly connected for security reasons; refers to the
X practice of placing two terminals side by side and having an
X operator read from one and type into the other.
X
XTENSE adj. Of programs, very clever and efficient. A tense piece of
X code often got that way because it was highly BUMMED, but sometimes
X it was just based on a great idea. A comment in a clever display
X routine by Mike Kazar, a student hacker at CMU: "This routine is
X so tense it will bring tears to your eyes. Much thanks to Craig
X Everhart and James Gosling for inspiring this HACK ATTACK." A
X tense programmer is one who produces tense code.
X
XTENURED GRADUATE STUDENT n. One who has been in graduate school for
X ten years (the usual maximum is five or six): a "ten-yeared"
X student (get it?). Students don't really get tenure, of course,
X the way professors do, but a tenth-year graduate student has
X probably been around the university longer than any non-tenured
X professor.
X
XTERAFLOP CLUB /ter'a-flop kluhb/ [FLOP = Floating Point Operation] n.
X Mythical group of people who consume outragous amounts of computer
X time in order to produce a few simple pictures of glass balls with
X intricate ray tracing techniques. Cal Tech professor James Kajiya
X is said to have been the founding member.
X
XTERMINAK /ter'mi-nak/ [Caltech, ca. 1979] n. Any malfunctioning
X computer terminal. A common failure mode of Lear-Siegler ADM3a
X terminals caused the "L" key to produce the "K" code instead;
X complaints about this tended to look like "Terminak #3 has a bad
X keyboard. Pkease fix." See SUN-STOOLS, TELERAT, HP-SUX.
X
XTERMINAL BRAIN DEATH n. Extreme form of TERMINAL ILLNESS (sense #1).
X
XTERMINAL ILLNESS n. 1. Syn. with RASTER BURN. 2. The `burn-in'
X condition your CRT tends to get if you don't have a screen saver.
X
XTERPRI /ter'pree/ [from the LISP 1.5 (and later, MacLISP) function to
X start a new line of output] v. To output a CRLF (q.v.). Now rare.
X It is a contraction of "TERminate PRInt line".
X
XTEX /tekh/ n. An extremely powerful MACRO-based text-formatter written
X by Donald E. Knuth, very popular in the computer-science community
X (it is good enough to have displaced UNIX troff(1), the other
X favored formatter, even at many UNIX installations). TeX fans
X insist on the correct (guttural) pronunciation and mixed-case
X spelling (TeX) of the name. They like to proliferate names from
X the word `TeX' --- such as TeXnichian (TeX user), TeXhacker (TeX
X programmer), TeXmaster (competent TeX programmer), TeXhax,
X TeXnique.
X
XTHANKS IN ADVANCE [USENET] Conventional net.politeness ending a posted
X request for information or assistance. Sometimes written
X "advTHANKSance". See "NET.", NETIQUETTE.
X
XTHEOLOGY n. 1. Ironically used to refer to RELIGIOUS ISSUES. 2.
X Technical fine points of an abstruse nature, esp. those where the
X resolution is of theoretical interest but relatively MARGINAL with
X respect to actual use of a design or system. Used esp. around
X software issues with a heavy AI or language design component.
X Example: the deep- vs. shallow-binding debate in the design of
X dynamically-scoped LISPS.
X
XTHEORY n. Used in the general sense of idea, plan, story, or set of
X rules. This is a generalization and abuse of the technical
X meaning. "What's the theory on fixing this TECO loss?" "What's
X the theory on dinner tonight?" ("Chinatown, I guess.")
X "What's the current theory on letting lusers on during the day?"
X "The theory behind this change is to fix the following well-known
X screw..."
X
XTHINKO /thin'ko/ [by analogy with `typo'] n. A bubble in the stream of
X consciousness; a momentary, correctable glitch in mental
X processing, especially one involving recall of information learned
X by rote. Syn. BRAINO. Compare MOUSO.
X
XTHIS TIME, FOR SURE! Ritual affirmation frequently uttered during
X protracted debugging sessions involving numerous small obstacles
X (as, in for example, attempts to bring up a UUCP connection). For
X the proper effect, this must be uttered in a fruity imitation of
X Bullwinkle the Moose. Also heard: "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a
X rabbit out of my hat!". The canonical response is, of course,
X "Oh, Bullwinkle...that trick *never* works!". See HUMOR,
X HACKER.
X
XTHRASH v. To move wildly or violently, without accomplishing anything
X useful. Paging or swapping systems which are overloaded waste most
X of their time moving data into and out of core (rather than
X performing useful computation), and are therefore said to thrash.
X Someone who keeps changing his mind is said to be thrashing.
X
XTHREAD /thred/ n. [USENET, GEnie] Common abbreviation of `topic
X thread', a more or less continuous chain of postings on a single
X topic. Also in 2. UPTHREAD: earlier in the discussion. "As Joe
X pointed out upthread..."
X
XTHREE-FINGER SALUTE n. Syn. for VULCAN NERVE PINCH.
X
XTHUNK n. [from the implementation model for ALGOL-60's "call by
X name", a design accident that resulted from a THINKO when
X attempting to describe "call by reference"] 1. An expression,
X frozen together with its environment for later evaluation if and
X when needed. The process of unfreezing a THUNK is called
X `forcing'. 2. Stub routine, in an overlay programming environment,
X which loads and jumps to the correct overlay. 3. People and and
X activities scheduled in a thunklike manner. "It occurred to me the
X other day that I am rather accurately modelled by a thunk --- I
X frequently need to be forced to completion." --- paraphrased from a
X .plan file.
X
XTICK n. 1. The width of one tick of the system clock on the computer.
X Often 1 AC cycle time (1/60 second in the U.S. and 1/50 elsewhere)
X but more recently 1/100 sec has become common. Syn JIFFY. 2. In
X simulations, the discrete unit of time that passes "between"
X iterations of the simulation mechanism. In AI applications, this
X amount of time is often left unspecified, since the only constraint
X of interest is that caused things happen after their causes. This
X sort of AI simulation is often pejoratively referred to as
X "tick-tick-tick" simulation, especially when the issue of
X simultaneity of events with long, independent chains of causes is
X handwaved.
X
XTICK-LIST FEATURES [Acorn Computers] n. Features in software or
X hardware that customers insist on but never use (calculators in
X desktop TSRs and that sort of thing).
X
XTIME T /tiem tee/ n. 1. An unspecified but usually well-understood
X time, often used in conjunction with a later time T+1. "We'll
X meet on campus at time T or at Louie's at time T+1." means, in the
X context of going out for dinner, "If we meet at Louie's directly,
X we can meet there a little later than if we meet on campus and then
X have to travel to Louie's." (Louie's is a Chinese restaurant in
X Palo Alto that is a favorite with hackers. Had the number 30 been
X used instead of "one", it would have implied that the travel time
X from campus to Louie's is thirty minutes; whatever time T is (and
X that hasn't been decided on yet), you can meet half an hour later
X at Louie's than you could on campus and end up eating at the same
X time. 2. SINCE (or AT) TIME T EQUALS MINUS INFINITY: A long time
X ago; for as long as anyone can remember; at the time that some
X particular frob was first designed. Sometimes the word "time" is
X omitted if there is no danger of confusing "T" as a time with
X "T" meaning "yes".
X
XTIP OF THE ICE-CUBE [IBM] n. The visible part of something small and
X insignificant. Used as an ironic comment in situations where "tip
X of the iceberg" might be appropriate if the subject were actually
X nontrivial.
X
XTIRED IRON [IBM] n. Hardware that is perfectly functional but enough
X behind the state of the art to have been superseded by new
X products, presumably with enough improvement in bang-per-buck that
X the old stuff is starting to look a bit like a DINOSAUR.
X
XTITS ON A KEYBOARD n. Small bumps on certain keycaps to keep
X touch-typists registered. (Usually on the 5 of a numeric keypad,
X and on F and J of a QWERTY keyboard.)
X
XTLA /tee el ay/ [Three-Letter-Acronym] n. 1. Self-describing acronym
X for a species with which computing terminology is infested. 2. Any
X confusing acronym at all. Examples include MCA, FTP, SNA, CPU,
X MMU, SCCS, DMU, FPU, TLA, NNTP. People who like this looser usage
X argue that not all TLAs have three letters, just as not all four
X letter words have four letters. One also hears of "ETLA"
X (Extended Three Letter Acronym, pronounced /ee tee el ay/ ) being
X used to describe four-letter acronyms.
X
XTOAST 1. n. Any completely inoperable system, esp. one that has just
X crashed; "I think BUACCA is toast." 2. v. To cause a system to
X crash accidentally, especially in a manner that requires manual
X rebooting. "Rick just toasted harp again."
X
XTOASTER n. 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded
X microprocessor controller esp. `toaster oven'; often used in
X comments which imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology.
X "DWIM for an assembler? That'd be as silly as running UNIX on
X your toaster!" 2. A very very dumb computer. "You could run this
X program on any dumb toaster." See BITTY BOX, TOASTER, TOY.
X
XTOGGLE v. To change a BIT from whatever state it is in to the other
X state; to change from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1. This probably comes
X from "toggle switches", such as standard light switches, though
X the word "toggle" apparently originally referred to the mechanism
X that keeps the switch in the position to which it is flipped,
X rather than to the fact that the switch has two positions. There
X are four things you can do to a bit: set it (force it to be 1),
X clear (or zero) it, leave it alone, or toggle it. (Mathematically,
X one would say that there are four distinct boolean-valued functions
X of one boolean argument, but saying that is much less fun than
X talking about toggling bits.)
X
XTOOL 1. n. A program primarily used to create other programs, such as
X a compiler or editor or cross-referencing program. Oppose APP,
X OPERATING SYSTEM. 2. [UNIX] An application program with a simple,
X "transparent" (typically text-stream) interface designed
X specifically to be used in programmed combination with other tools
X (see FILTER). 3. [MIT] v.i. To work; to study. See HACK (def #9).
X
XTOPS-10 /tops-ten/ n. DEC's proprietary OS for the fabled PDP-10
X machines, long a favorite of hackers but now effectively extinct.
X A fountain of hacker folklore; see Appendix B. See also ITS,
X TOPS-20, TWENEX, VMS, OPERATING SYSTEM.
X
XTOPS-20 /tops-twen'tee/ n. See TWENEX.
X
XTOURIST [from MIT's ITS system] n. A guest on the system, especially
X one who generally logs in over a network from a remote location for
X games and other trivial purposes. One step below LUSER.
X
XTOURISTIC adj. Having the quality of a TOURIST (q.v.). Often used as
X a pejorative, as in "losing touristic scum".
X
XTOY n. A computer system; always used with qualifiers. 1. NICE TOY:
X One which supports the speaker's hacking style adequately. 2. JUST
X A TOY: A machine that yields insufficient COMPUTRONS for the
X speaker's preferred uses. This is not condemnatory as is BITTY BOX;
X toys can at least be fun. See also GET A REAL COMPUTER, BITTY BOX.
X
XTOY PROBLEM [AI] n. A deliberately simplified or even oversimplified
X case of a challenging problem used to investigate, prototype, or
X test algorithms for the real problem. Sometimes used pejoratively.
X See also GEDANKEN.
X
XTRAP 1. n. A program interrupt, usually used specifically to refer to
X an interrupt caused by some illegal action taking place in the user
X program. In most cases the system monitor performs some action
X related to the nature of the illegality, then returns control to
X the program. See UUO in Appendix B. 2. v. To cause a trap.
X "These instructions trap to the monitor." Also used transitively
X to indicate the cause of the trap. "The monitor traps all
X input/output instructions." This term is associated with assembler
X programming (INTERRUPT is more common among HLL programmers) and
X appears to be fading into history as the role of assembler
X continues to shrink.
X
XTRAP DOOR alt. TRAPDOOR n. Syn. with BACK DOOR (q.v.).
X
XTRASH v. To destroy the contents of (said of a data structure). The
X most common of the family of near-synonyms including MUNG, MANGLE
X and SCRIBBLE.
X
XTRIVIAL adj. 1. In explanation, too simple to bother detailing. 2. Not
X worth the speaker's time. 3. Complex, but solvable by methods so
X well-known that anyone not utterly CRETINOUS would have thought of
X them already. Hackers' notions of triviality may be quite at
X variance with those of non-hackers. See NONTRIVIAL, UNINTERESTING.
X
XTROGLODYTE [Commodore] n. A hacker who never leaves his cubicle. The
X term `Gnoll' (from D&D) is also reported.
X
XTROGLODYTE MODE [Rice University] n. Programming with the lights
X turned off, sunglasses on, and the (character) terminal inverted
X (black on white) because you've been up for so many days straight
X that your eyes hurt. Loud music blaring from a stereo stacked in
X the corner is optional but recommended. See LARVAL STAGE, MODE.
X
XTROJAN HORSE n. A program designed to break security or damage a
X system that is disguised as something else benign, such as a
X directory lister or archiver. See VIRUS, WORM.
X
XTRUE-HACKER [analogy with "trufan" from SF fandom] n. One who
X exemplifies the primary values of hacker culture, esp. competence
X and helpfulness to other hackers. A high complement. "He spent
X six hours helping me bring up UUCP and netnews on my FOOBAR 4000
X last week --- unequivocally the act of a true-hacker." Compare
X DEMIGOD, oppose MUNCHKIN.
X
XTTY /tee-tee-wie/ [UNIX], /ti'tee/ [ITS, but some UNIX people say it
X this way as well] n. 1. Terminal of the teletype variety,
X characterized by a noisy mechanical printer, a very limited
X character set, and poor print quality. Usage: antiquated (like the
X TTYs themselves). 2. [especially UNIX] Any terminal at all;
X sometimes used to refer to the particular terminal controlling a
X given job.
X
XTUBE n. A CRT terminal. Never used in the mainstream sense of TV;
X real hackers don't watch TV, except for Loony Toons and Rocky &
X Bullwinkle and the occasional cheesy old swashbuckle movie.
X
XTUNE [from automotive or musical usage] v. To optimize a program or
X system for a particular environment. One may `tune for time'
X (fastest execution) `tune for space' (least memory utilization) or
X `tune for configuration' (most efficient use of hardware). See BUM,
X HOT SPOT, HAND-HACK.
X
XTWEAK v. 1. To change slightly, usually in reference to a value. Also
X used synonymously with TWIDDLE. If a program is almost correct,
X rather than figuring out the precise problem, you might just keep
X tweaking it until it works. See FROBNICATE and FUDGE FACTOR.
X 2. To TUNE or BUM a program. This is preferred usage in England.
X
XTWENEX /twe-neks/ n. The TOPS-20 operating system by DEC. TOPS-10 was
X a typically crufty DEC operating system for the PDP-10, so TOPS-20
X was the obvious name choice for the DEC-20 OS. Bolt, Beranek and
X Newman (BBN) had developed their own system, called TENEX (TEN
X EXecutive), and in creating TOPS-20 DEC copied TENEX and adapted it
X for the 20. The term TWENEX was therefore a contraction of "twenty
X TENEX". DEC people cringed when they heard TOPS-20 referred to as
X "Twenex", but the term caught on nevertheless. The written
X abbreviation "20x" was also used. TWENEX was successful and very
X popular; in fact, there was a period in the 1980s when it commanded
X almost as fervent a culture of partisans as UNIX or ITS --- but
X DEC's decision to scrap all the internal rivals to the VAX
X architecture and the relatively stodgy VMS OS killed the DEC-20 and
X put a sad end to TWENEX's brief day in the sun.
X
XTWIDDLE n. 1. tilde (ASCII 176, "~"). Also called "squiggle",
X "sqiggle" (sic---pronounced "skig'gul"), and "twaddle", but
X twiddle is by far the most common term. 2. A small and
X insignificant change to a program. Usually fixes one bug and
X generates several new ones. 3. v. To change something in a small
X way. Bits, for example, are often twiddled. Twiddling a switch or
X knob implies much less sense of purpose than toggling or tweaking
X it; see FROBNICATE. To speak of twiddling a bit connotes
X aimlessnes, and at best doesn't specify what you're doing to the
X bit; by contrast, TOGGLING a bit has a more specific meaning.
X
XTWINK /twink/ [UCSC] n. Equivalent to READ-ONLY USER.
X
XTWO-TO-THE-N q. Used like N, but referring to bigger numbers. "I
X have two to the N things to do before I can go out for lunch"
X means you probably won't show up.
X
XTWO-PI q. The number of years it takes to finish one's thesis. Occurs
X in stories in the form: "He started on his thesis; two pi years
X later...".
X
X {= U =}
X
XUBD [abbreviation for "User Brain Damage"] An abbreviation used to
X close out trouble reports obviously due to utter cluelessness on
X the user's part. Compare PBD; see also BRAIN-DAMAGED.
X
XUNINTERESTING adj. 1. Said of a problem which, while NONTRIVIAL, can
X be solved simply by throwing sufficient resources at it. 2. Also
X said of problems for which a solution would neither advance the
X state of the art nor be fun to design and code. True hackers
X regard uninteresting problems as an intolerable waste of time, to
X be solved (if at all) by lesser mortals. See WOMBAT, SMOP; oppose
X INTERESTING.
X
XU*IX, UN*X n. Used to refer to the Unix operating system (trademark
X and/or copyright AT&T) in writing, but avoiding the need for the
X ugly (tm) typography. Also used to refer to any or all varieties
X of Unixoid operating systems. Ironically, lawyers now say (1990)
X that the requirement for superscript-tm has no legal force, but the
X asterisk usage is entrenched anyhow. It has been suggested that
X there may be a psychological connection to practice in certain
X religions where the name of the deity is never written out in full,
X e.g. JHWH or G-d is used.
X
XUNWIND THE STACK v. 1. During the execution of a procedural language
X one is said to `unwind the stack' from a called procedure up to a
X caller when one discards the stack frame and any number of frames
X above it, popping back up to the level of the given caller. In C
X this is done with longjmp/setjmp; in LISP with THROW/CATCH. This
X is sometimes necessary when handling exceptional conditions. See
X also SMASH THE STACK. 2. People can unwind the stack as well, by
X quickly dealing with a bunch of problems "Oh hell, let's do lunch.
X Just a second while I unwind my stack".
X
XUNWIND-PROTECT [MIT, from the name of a LISP operator] n. A task you
X must remember to perform before you leave a place or finish a
X project. "I have an unwind-protect to call my advisor."
X
XUNIX /yoo'nix/ [In the authors' words, "A weak pun on MULTICS"] n. A
X popular interactive time-sharing system originally invented in 1969
X by Ken Thompson after Bell Labs left the MULTICS project, mostly so
X he could play SPACEWAR on a scavenged PDP7. Dennis Ritchie, the
X inventor of C, is considered a co-author of the system. The
X turning point in UNIX's history came when it was reimplemented
X almost entirely in C in 1974, making it the first source-portable
X operating system. Fifteen years and a lot of changes later UNIX is
X the most widely used multiuser general-purpose operating system in
X the world. This fact probably represents the single most important
X victory yet of hackerdom over industry opposition. See VERSION 7,
X BSD UNIX, USG UNIX.
X
XUNIXISM n. A piece of code or coding technique that depends on of the
X protected multi-tasking environment with relatively low
X process-spawn overhead that exists on UNIX systems. Common UNIXISMs
X include: gratuitous use of fork(2); the assumption that certain
X undocumented but well-known features of UNIX libraries like
X stdio(3) are supported elsewhere; reliance on OBSCURE side-effects
X of sytem calls (use of sleep(2) with a zero argument to clue the
X scheduler that you're willing to give up your time-slice, for
X example); the assumption that freshly-allocated memory is empty,
X the assumption that it's safe to never free() memory, etc.
X
XUP adj. 1. Working, in order. "The down escalator is up." 2.
X BRING UP: v. To create a working version and start it. "They
X brought up a down system."
X
XUPLOAD /uhp'lohd/ v. 1. To transfer code or data over a digital comm
X line from a smaller `client' system to a larger `host' one. Oppose
X DOWNLOAD. 2. [speculatively] To move the essential patterns and
X algorithms which make up one's mind from one's brain into a
X computer. Only those who are convinced that such patterns and
X algorithms capture the complete essence of the self view this
X prospect with aplomb.
X
XURCHIN n. See MUNCHKIN.
X
XUSENET /yoos'net/ or /yooz'net/ [from `User's Network'] n. A
X distributed bulletin board system supported mainly by UNIX
X machines, international in scope and probably the largest
X non-profit information utility in existence. As of early 1990 it
X hosts over 700 topic groups and distributes up to 15 megabytes of
X new technical articles, news, discussion, chatter, and FLAMAGE
X every day. See NEWSGROUP.
X
XUSER n. 1. Someone doing "real work" with the computer, who uses a
X computer as a means rather than an end. Someone who pays to use a
X computer. See REAL USER. 2. A programmer who will believe
X anything you tell him. One who asks silly questions. (This is
X slightly unfair. It is true that users ask questions (of
X necessity). Sometimes they are thoughtful or deep. Very often
X they are annoying or downright stupid, apparently because the user
X failed to think for two seconds or look in the documentation before
X bothering the maintainer.) See LUSER. 3. Someone who uses a
X program from the outside, however skillfully, without getting into
X the internals of the program. One who reports bugs instead of just
X going ahead and fixing them. Basically, there are two classes of
X people who work with a program: there are implementors (hackers)
X and users (losers). The users are looked down on by hackers to a
X mild degree because they don't understand the full ramifications of
X the system in all its glory. (The few users who do are known as
X REAL WINNERS.) The term is a relative one: a consummate hacker may
X be a user with respect to some program he himself does not hack. A
X LISP hacker might be one who maintains LISP or one who uses LISP
X (but with the skill of a hacker). A LISP user is one who uses
X LISP, whether skillfully or not. Thus there is some overlap
X between the two terms; the subtle distinctions must be resolved by
X context.
X
XUSER FRIENDLY adj. Programmer-hostile. Generally used by hackers in a
X critical tone, to describe systems which hold the user's hand so
X obsessively that they make it painful for the more experienced and
X knowledgeable to get any work done. See MENUITIS, DROOL-PROOF
X PAPER, MACINTRASH, USER-OBSEQUIOUS.
X
XUSER-OBSEQUIOUS adj. Emphatic form of USER FRIENDLY. Connotes a system
X so verbose, inflexible, and determinedly simple-minded that it is
X nearly unusable. "Design a system any fool can use and only a fool
X will want to use it".
X
XUSG UNIX /yoo-ess-jee yoo'nix/ n. Refers to AT&T UNIX versions after
X VERSION 7, especially System III and System V releases 1, 2 and 3.
X So called because at that time AT&T's support crew was called the
X `Unix Support Group'. See BSD UNIX.
X
XUUCPNET n. The store-and-forward network consisting of all the world's
X UNIX machines (and others running some clone of the UUCP
X (Unix-to-Unix Copy Program) software). Any machine reachable via a
X BANG PATH is on UUCPNET. See NETWORK ADDRESS.
X
X {= V =}
X
XVADDING /vad'ing/ [from VAD, a permutation of ADV (i.e. ADVENT
X (q.v.)), used to avoid a particular sysadmin's continual
X search-and-destroy sweeps for the game] n. A leisure-time activity
X of certain hackers involving the covert exploration of the
X "secret" parts of large buildings --- basements, roofs, freight
X elevators, maintenance crawlways, steam tunnels and the like. A
X few go so far as to learn locksmithing in order to synthesize
X vadding keys. The verb is `to vad'. The most extreme and dangerous
X form of vadding is ELEVATOR RODEO, aka ELEVATOR SURFING, a sport
X played by wrasslin' down a thousand-pound elevator car with a
X three-foot piece of string, and then exploiting this mastery in
X various stimulating ways (such as elevator hopping, shaft
X exploration, rat-racing and the ever-popular drop experiments).
X Kids, don't try this at home!
X
XVANILLA adj. Ordinary flavor, standard. See FLAVOR. When used of
X food, very often does not mean that the food is flavored with
X vanilla extract! For example, "vanilla-flavored wonton soup" (or
X simply "vanilla wonton soup") means ordinary wonton soup, as
X opposed to hot and sour wonton soup. Applied to hardware and
X software. As in "Vanilla Version 7 UNIX can't run on a vanilla
X 11/34". Also used to orthogonalize TTL nomenclature; for instance
X a 74V00 is what TI calls a 7400, as distinct from a 74LS00, etc.
X This word differs from [CANONICAL in that the latter means "the
X thing you always use (or the way you always do it) unless you have
X some strong reason to do otherwise", whereas VANILLA simply means
X "ordinary". For example, when hackers go on a GREAT WALL (q.v.),
X hot-and-sour wonton soup is the CANONICAL wonton soup to get
X (because that is what most of them usually order) even though it
X isn't the VANILLA wonton soup.
X
XVANNEVAR /van'@-var/ n. A bogus technological prediction or foredoomed
X engineering concept, esp. one which fails by implicitly assuming
X that technologies develop linearly, incrementally, and in isolation
X from one another when in fact the learning curve tends to be highly
X nonlinear, revolutions are common, and competition is the rule.
X The prototype was Vannevar Bush's prediction of "electronic
X brains" the size of the Empire State Building with a
X Niagara-Falls-equivalent cooling system for their tubes and relays,
X at a time when the semiconductor effect had already been
X demonstrated. Other famous vannevars have included magnetic-bubble
X memory, LISP machines and a paper from the late 1970s that
X purported to prove limits on maximum areal densities for ICs less
X than those routinely achieved five years later.
X
XVAPORWARE n. Products announced far in advance of any shipment (which
X may or may not actually take place).
X
XVAR /veir/ or /vahr/ n. Short for "variable". Compare ARG, PARAM.
X
XVAX /vaks/ n. 1. [from Virtual Address eXtension] The most successful
X minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its
X immediate ancestor the PDP-11. Between its release in 1978 and
X eclipse by KILLER MICROS after about 1986 the VAX was probably the
X favorite hacker machine of them all, esp. after the 1982 release of
X 4.2BSD UNIX (see BSD UNIX). Esp. noted for its large,
X assembler-programmer-friendly instruction set, an asset which
X became a liability after the RISC revolution following about 1985.
X 2. A major brand of vacuum cleaner in Britain. Cited here because
X its alleged sales pitch, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a
X sort of battle-cry of RISC partisans. Ironically, the slogan was
X actually that of a rival brand called Electrolux.
X
XVAXEN /vak'sn/ [from "oxen", perhaps influenced by "vixen"] n. pl.
X The plural standardly used among hackers for the DEC VAX computers.
X "Our installation has four PDP-10's and twenty VAXEN." See
X BOXEN.
X
XVAXISM n. A piece of code that excebits VAXOCENTRISM (q.v.) in
X critical areas. Compare PC-ISM, UNIXISM, PC-WARE.
X
XVAXOCENTRISM /vak`soh-sen'trizm/ [analogy with "ethnocentrism"] n. A
X notional disease said to afflict C programmers who persist in
X coding according to certain assumptions valid (esp. under UNIX) on
X VAXEN, but false elsewhere (this can create substantial portability
X problems). Among these are:
X
X 1. The assumption that dereferencing a null pointer is safe
X because location 0 is readable and zero (it may instead
X cause an illegal-address trap on non-VAXEN, and even on
X VAXEN under OSs other than BSD UNIX).
X
X 2. The assumption that pointer and integer types are the same
X size, and that pointers can be stuffed into integer
X variables and drawn back out without being truncated or
X mangled.
X
X 3. The assumption that a data type of any size may begin at
X any byte address in memory (for example, that you can
X freely construct and dereference a pointer to a word-sized
X object at an odd address). On many (esp. RISC) architectures
X better optimized for HLL execution speed this is invalid and
X can cause an illegal address fault or bus error.
X
X 4. The (related) assumption that there is no `padding' at the
X end of types and that in an array you can thus step right
X from the last byte of a previous component to the first
X byte of the next one.
X
X 5. The assumption that memory address space is globally flat
X and that the array reference foo[-1] is necessarily valid
X This is not true on segment-addressed machines like Intel
X chips (yes, segmentatation is universally considered a
X BRAIN-DAMAGED way to design but that is a separate issue).
SHAR_EOF
chmod 0644 jsplit.ah || echo "restore of jsplit.ah fails"
if [ $TOUCH = can ]
then
touch -am 1215215290 jsplit.ah
fi
exit 0