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X featured many references to ADVENT (q.v.) and the immortal line
X "Eat flaming death, minicomputer mongrels!" (uttered, of course,
X by an IPM stormtrooper). It is alleged that the author subsequently
X received a letter of appreciation on IBM company stationery from
X the then-head of IBM's Thomas J. Watson research laboratories (then
X as now one of the few islands of true hackerdom in the IBM
X archipelago). The lower loop of the `B' in the IBM logo, it is
X said, had been carefully whited out. See EAT FLAMING DEATH, X!.
X
XCRACKER n. One who breaks security on a system. Coined c.1985 by
X hackers in defense against journalistic misuse of HACKER, (q.v.,
X sense #7).
X
XCRANK [from automotive slang] vt. Verb used to describe the performance
X of a machine, especially sustained performance. "This box cranks
X about 6 MegaFLOPS, with a burst mode of twice that on vectorized
X operations."
X
XCRASH 1. n. A sudden, usually drastic failure. Most often said of the
X system (q.v., definition #1), sometimes of magnetic disk drives.
X "Three lusers lost their files in last night's disk crash." A
X disk crash which entails the read/write heads dropping onto the
X surface of the disks and scraping off the oxide may also be
X referred to as a "head crash", whereas the term "system crash"
X usually, though not always, implies that the operating system or
X other software was at fault. 2. vi. To fail suddenly. "Has the
X system just crashed?" Also used transitively to indicate the
X cause of the crash (usually a person or a program, or both).
X "Those idiots playing SPACEWAR crashed the system." 3. Sometimes
X said of people hitting the sack after a long HACKING RUN, see GRONK
X OUT.
X
XCRASH AND BURN vi.,n. A spectacular crash, in the mode of the
X conclusion of the car chase scene from Steve McQueen's "Bullitt".
X Sun-3 monitors losing the flyback transformer and lightning strikes
X on VAX-11/780 backplanes are notable crash and burn generators.
X
XCRAWLING HORROR n. Ancient crufty hardware or software that forces
X beyond the control of the hackers at a site refuse to let die.
X Like DUSTY DECK or GONKULATOR, but connotes that the thing
X described is not just an irritation but an active menace to health
X and sanity. "Mostly we code new stuff in C, but they pay us to
X maintain one big Fortran II application from nineteen-sixty-X
X that's a real crawling horror...". Compare WOMBAT.
X
XCRAY /kray/ n. 1. One of the line of supercomputers designed by Cray
X Research. 2. Any supercomputer at all.
X
XCRAYOLA n. A super-mini or -micro computer that provides some
X reasonable percentage of supercomputer perfermance for an
X unreasonably low price. Now known also as KILLER MICROS.
X
XCRAYON n. Someone who works on Cray supercomputers. More specifically
X implies a programmer, probably of the CDC ilk, probably male, and
X almost certainly wearing a tie (irrespective of gender). Unicos
X systems types who have a Unix background tend not to be described
X as crayons.
X
XCREEPING FEATURITIS /kree'ping fee-ch@r-ie't@s/ n. 1. Describes a
X systematic tendency to load more CHROME onto systems at the expense
X of whatever ELEGANCE they may have posessed when originally
X designed. See FEEPING CREATURITIS. "You know, the main problem
X with BSD UNIX has always been creeping featuritis". At MIT, this
X tends to be called CREEPING FEATUR*ISM* (and likewise, FEEPING
X CREATURISM). (After all, -ism means "condition" whereas -itis
X usually means "inflammation of"...) 2. More generally, The
X tendency for anything complicated to become even more complicated
X because people keep saying, "Gee, it would be even better if it
X had this feature too." (See FEATURE.) The result is usually a
X patchwork because it grew one ad-hoc step at a time, rather than
X being planned. Planning is a lot of work, but it's easy to add
X just one extra little feature to help someone... and then
X another... and another.... When creeping featurism gets out of
X hand it's like a cancer. Usually this term is used to describe
X computer programs, but it could also be said of the federal
X government, the IRS 1040 form, and new cars.
X
XCRETIN /kre'tn/ or /kree'tn/ n. Congenital LOSER (q.v.); an obnoxious
X person; someone who can't do anything right. It has been observed
X that American hackers tend to favor the British pronunciation
X /kret'n/ over standard American /kreet'n/; it is thought this may
X be due to the phonetic influence Monty Python's Flying Circus.
X
XCRETINOUS /kre't@n-us/ or /kree't@n-us/ adj. Wrong; non-functional;
X very poorly designed (Also used pejoratively of people). Synonyms:
X BLETCHEROUS, BAGBITING, LOSING, BRAIN-DAMAGED.
X
XCRIPPLEWARE n. 1. SHAREWARE which has some important functionality
X deliberately removed, so as to entice potential users to pay for a
X working version. See also GUILTWARE. 2. [Cambridge] GUILTWARE
X (q.v.) which exhorts you to donate to some charity.
X
XCRLF /ker'l@f/, sometimes /kru'l@f/ n. A carriage return (CR) followed
X by a line feed (LF). More loosely, whatever it takes to get you
X from the end of one line of text to the beginning of the next line.
X See NEWLINE, TERPRI. Under UNIX influence this usage has become
X less common (UNIX uses a bare line feed as its `CRLF').
X
XCROCK [from the obvious mainstream scatologism] n. 1. An awkward
X feature or programming technique that ought to be made cleaner.
X Example: Using small integers to represent error codes without the
X program interpreting them to the user (as in, for example, UNIX
X make(1)) is a crock. 2. Also, a technique that works acceptably
X but which is quite prone to failure if disturbed in the least, for
X example depending on the machine opcodes having particular bit
X patterns so that you can use instructions as data words too; a
X tightly woven, almost completely unmodifiable structure. See
X KLUGE. Also in the adjectives CROCKISH, CROCKY and the noun
X CROCKITUDE.
X
XCROSS-POST [USENET] v. To post a single article directed to several
X newsgroups. Distinguished from posting the article repeatedly,
X once to each newsgroup, which causes people to see it multiple
X times.
X
XCRUDWARE n. Pejorative term for the hundreds of megabytes of
X low-quality FREEWARE circulated by user's groups and BBS systems in
X the micro-hobbyist world. "Yet *another* set of disk catalog
X utilities for MS-DOS? What crudware!" The related usage "fuckware"
X is reported for software so bad it mutilates your disk, broadcasts
X to the Internet, or some similar fiasco.
X
XCRUFT /kruhft/ 1. [back-formation from CRUFTY] n. 1. An unpleasant
X substance. The dust that gathers under your bed is cruft. 2. n.
X The results of shoddy construction. 3. v. [from hand cruft, pun on
X hand craft] to write assembler code for something normally (and
X better) done by a compiler (see HAND HACKING).
X
XCRUFT TOGETHER, CRUFT UP /kruhft too-ge'thr/, /kruhft uhp/ vt. To
X throw together something ugly but temporarily workable. Like v.
X KLUGE, but more pejorative. "There isn't any program now to
X reverse all the lines of a file, but I can probably cruft one
X together in about ten minutes." See CRUFTY.
X
XCRUFTSMANSHIP n. [from CRUFT] The antithesis of craftsmanship.
X
XCRUFTY /kruhf'tee/ [origin unknown; poss. from "crusty" or
X "cruddy"] adj. 1. Poorly built, possibly overly complex. The
X CANONICAL example is "This is standard old crufty DEC software".
X In fact, one theory of the origin of "crufty" holds that was
X originally a mutation of "crusty" applied to DEC software so old
X that the Ss were tall and skinny, looking more like Fs. Hence
X CRUFT, n. shoddy construction. 2. Unpleasant, especially to the
X touch, often with encrusted junk. Like spilled coffee smeared with
X peanut butter and catsup. 3. Generally unpleasant. CRUFTY or
X CRUFTIE n. A small crufty object (see FROB); often one which
X doesn't fit well into the scheme of things. "A LISP property list
X is a good place to store crufties (or, random cruft)."
X
XCRUMB n. Two binary digits; a quad. Larger that a BIT, smaller than a
X NYBBLE (q.v.).
X
XCRUNCH 1. vi. To process, usually in a time-consuming or complicated
X way. Connotes an essentially trivial operation which is
X nonetheless painful to perform. The pain may be due to the
X triviality being imbedded in a loop from 1 to 1000000000.
X "FORTRAN programs do mostly number crunching." 2. vt. To reduce
X the size of a file by a complicated scheme that produces bit
X configurations completely unrelated to the original data, such as
X by a Huffman code. (The file ends up looking like a paper document
X would if somebody crunched the paper into a wad.) Since such
X compression usually takes more computations than simpler methods
X such as counting repeated characters (such as spaces) the term is
X doubly appropriate. (This meaning is usually used in the
X construction "file crunch(ing)" to distinguish it from "number
X crunch(ing)".) See COMPRESS. 3. n. The character "#". Usage:
X used at Xerox and CMU, among other places. See ASCII. 4.
X [Cambridge] To squeeze program source into a minimum-size
X representation that will still compile. The term came into being
X specifically for a famous program on the BBC micro which crunched
X Basic source in order to make it run more quickly (it was a
X wholly-interpretive basic).
X
XCRUNCHA CRUNCHA CRUNCHA /kruhn'chah kruhn'chah kruhn'chah/ interj. An
X encouragement sometimes muttered to a machine bogged down in
X serious GROVELLING. Also describes a notional sound made by
X grovelling hardware. See WUGGA WUGGA, GRIND GRIND.
X
XCRYONICS n. The practice of freezing oneself in hopes of being revived
X in the future by CELL-REPAIR MACHINES. A possible route to
X technological immortality already taken by 1990 by more than a
X handful of persons with terminal illnesses.
X
XCRYPPIE /krip'ee/ n. A cryptographer. One who hacks or implements
X cryptographic software or hardware.
X
XCTSS /see-tee-ess-ess/ n. Compatible Time-Sharing System. An early
X (1963) experiment in the design of interactive time-sharing
X operating systems. Cited here because it was ancestral to MULTICS,
X UNIX, and ITS (q.v.).
X
XCTY /sit'ee/ or /see tee wie/ n. [MIT] The terminal physically
X associated with a computer's operating console. The term is a
X contraction of "Console TTY", that is, "Console TeleTYpe".
X This ITS and TOPS-10-associated term has become less common than
X formerly, as most UNIX hackers simply refer to the CTY as `the
X console'.
X
XCUBING [parallel with "tubing"] vi. 1. Hacking on an IPSC (Intel
X Personal SuperComputer) hypercube. "Louella's gone cubing
X AGAIN!!" 2. An indescribable form of self-torture (see sense #1).
X
XCUSPY /kuhs'pee/ [coined at WPI from the DEC acronym CUSP, for
X Commonly Used System Program, i.e., a utility program used by many
X people] adj. 1. (of a program) Well-written. 2. Functionally
X excellent. A program which performs well and interfaces well to
X users is cuspy. See RUDE. 2. [NYU] An attractive woman,
X especially one regarded as available.
X
XCYBERPUNK /sie'ber-puhnk/ [orig. by SF critic Gardner Dozois] n.,adj.
X A subgenre of SF launched in 1982 by William Gibson's epoch-making
X novel _Neuromancer_. Gibson's near-total ignorance of computers
X and the present-day hacker culture enabled him to speculate about
X the role of computers and hackers in futures in ways hackers have
X since found both irritatingly naive and tremendously stimulating.
X Gibson's work was widely imitated, in particular by the short-lived
X but innovative "Max Headroom" TV series. See CYBERSPACE, ICE, GO
X FLATLINE.
X
XCYBERSPACE /sie'ber-spays/ n. Notional "information-space" loaded
X with visual cues and navigable with brain-computer interfaces
X called "cyberspace decks"; a characteristic prop of CYBERPUNK SF.
X At time of writing (1990) serious efforts to construct VIRTUAL
X REALITY interfaces modelled explicitly on CYBERSPACE are already
X under way, using more conventional devices such as glove sensors
X and binocular TV headsets. Few hackers are prepared to outright
X deny the possibility of a cyberspace someday evolving out of THE
X NETWORK.
X
XCYCLE n. The "basic unit of computation". What every hacker wants
X more of. One might think that single machine instructions would be
X the measure of computation, and indeed computers are often compared
X by how many instructions they can process per second, but some
X instructions take longer than others. Nearly all computers have an
X internal clock, though, and you can describe an instruction as
X taking so many "clock cycles". Frequently the computer can
X access its memory once on every clock cycle, and so one speaks also
X of "memory cycles". These are technical meanings of "cycle".
X The slang meaning comes from the observation that there are only so
X many cycles per second, and when you are sharing a computer, the
X cycles get divided up among the users. The more cycles the
X computer spends working on your program rather than someone else's,
X the faster your program will run. That's why every hacker wants
X more cycles: so he can spend less time waiting for the computer to
X respond.
X
XCYCLE CRUNCH n. The situation where the number of people trying to use
X the computer simultaneously has reached the point where no one can
X get enough cycles because they are spread too thin. Usually the
X only solution is to buy more computer. Happily, this has rapidly
X become easier in recent years, so much so that the very term CYCLE
X CRUNCH now has a faintly archaic flavor (most hackers now use
X workstations or personal computers as opposed to traditional
X timesharing systems).
X
XCYCLE DROUGHT n. A scarcity of cycles. It may be due to a CYCLE
X CRUNCH, but could also occur because part of the computer is
X temporarily not working, leaving fewer cycles to go around.
X Example: "The HIGH MOBY is DOWN, so we're running with only half
X the usual amount of memory. There will be a CYCLE DROUGHT until
X it's fixed."
X
X {= D =}
X
XDAEMON /day'mun/ or /dee'mun/ [Disk And Execution MONitor] n. A
X program which is not invoked explicitly, but which lies dormant
X waiting for some condition(s) to occur. The idea is that the
X perpetrator of the condition need not be aware that a daemon is
X lurking (though often a program will commit an action only because
X it knows that it will implicitly invoke a daemon). For example,
X under ITS writing a file on the LPT spooler's directory would
X invoke the spooling daemon, which prints the file. The advantage
X is that programs which want (in this example) files printed need
X not compete for access to the lpt. They simply enter their
X implicit requests and let the daemon decide what to do with them.
X Daemons are usually spawned automatically by the system, and may
X either live forever or be regenerated at intervals. Usage: DAEMON
X and DEMON (q.v.) are often used interchangeably, but seem to have
X distinct connotations. DAEMON was introduced to computing by CTSS
X people (who pronounced it dee'mon) and used it to refer to what is
X now called a DRAGON or PHANTOM (q.v.). The meaning and
X pronunciation have drifted, and we think this glossary reflects
X current usage.
X
XDAY MODE n. See PHASE (of people).
X
XDD /dee-dee/ [from IBM JCL via archaic UNIX dd(1)] vt. Equivalent to
X CAT or BLT. A specialized UNIX copy command for block-oriented
X devices. Often used in heavy-handed system abuse, as in "Let's dd
X the root partition onto a tape, then use the boot prom to load it
X back on to a new disk". The UNIX dd(1) was originally written
X with a weird, distinctly non-UNIXy keyword option syntax
X reminiscent of IBM System/360 JCL (which had a similar DD command);
X though the command filled a need the design choice looks to have
X been somebody's joke. The slang usage is now very rare outside
X UNIX sites and now nearly obsolescent even there, as dd(1) has been
X DEPRECATED for a long time (though it has no replacement).
X Replaced by BLT or simple English `copy'.
X
XDDT /dee'dee'tee'/ n. 1. Generic term for a program that helps you to
X debug other programs by showing individual machine instructions in
X a readable symbolic form and letting the user change them. In this
X sense the term DDT is now slightly archaic, having been widely
X displaced by `debugger' 2. [ITS] Under MIT's fabled ITS operating
X system (q.v.), its DDT was also used as the SHELL or top level
X command language used to execute other programs. 3. Any one of
X several specific DDTs (sense 1) supported on early DEC hardware.
X The DEC PDP-10 Reference Handbook (1969) contained a footnote on
X the first page of the documentation for DDT which illuminates the
X origin of the term:
X
X Historical footnote: DDT was developed at MIT for the PDP-1
X computer in 1961. At that time DDT stood for "DEC Debugging
X Tape". Since then, the idea of an on-line debugging program
X has propagated throughout the computer industry. DDT programs
X are now available for all DEC computers. Since media other
X than tape are now frequently used, the more descriptive name
X "Dynamic Debugging technique" has been adopted, retaining
X the DDT acronym. Confusion between DDT-10 and another well
X known pesticide, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
X (C14-H9-Cl5) should be minimal since each attacks a different,
X and apparently mutually exclusive, class of bugs.
X
X Sadly, this quotation was removed from later editions of the
X handbook as DEC became much more "businesslike".
X
XDEADLOCK n. 1. A situation wherein two or more processes are unable to
X proceed because each is waiting for another to do something. A
X common example is a program communicating to a server, which may
X find itself waiting for output from the server before sending
X anything more to it, while the server is similarly waiting for more
X input from the controlling program before outputting anything. (It
X is reported that this particular flavor of deadlock is sometimes
X called a "starvation" deadlock, though that term is more properly
X used for situations where a program can never run simply because it
X never gets high enough priority. Another common flavor is
X "constipation", where each process is trying to send stuff to the
X other, but all buffers are full because nobody is reading
X anything.) See DEADLY EMBRACE. 2. Also used of deadlock-like
X interactions between humans, as when two people meet in a narrow
X corridor, and each tries to be polite by moving aside to let the
X other pass, but they end up swaying from side to side without
X making any progress because they always both move the same way at
X the same time.
X
XDEADLY EMBRACE n. Same as DEADLOCK (q.v.), though usually used only
X when exactly two processes are involved. DEADLY EMBRACE is the
X more popular term in Europe; DEADLOCK in the United States. Also
X DEADLY EMBRACE is often restricted to the case where exactly two
X processes are involved, while DEADLOCK can involve any number.
X
XDEATH STAR [from the movie _Star_Wars_] The AT&T corporate logo, which
X appears on computers sold by AT&T and bears an uncanny resemblence
X to the "Death Star" in the movie. This usage is particularly
X common among partisans of BSD UNIX, who tend to regard the AT&T
X versions as inferior and AT&T as a bad guy.
X
XDEC WARS n. A 1983 USENET posting by Alan Hastings and Steve Tarr,
X spoofing the _Star_Wars_ movies in hackish terms. Some years later,
X ESR (disappointed by Hastings/Tarr's failure to exploit a great
X premise more thoroughly) posted a three-times-longer complete
X rewrite called `UNIX WARS'; the two are often confused.
X
XDECKLE /dek'l/ n. Two NICKLES; 10 bits. Reported among developers for
X Mattel's GI 1600 (the Intellivision games processor), a chip with
X 16-bit-wide RAM but 10-bit-wide ROM.
X
XDEFENESTRATION [from the traditional Czechoslovak method of
X assassinating prime ministers, via ESR and SF fandom] n. 1. Proper
X karmic retribution for an incorrigible punster. "Oh, ghod, that
X was *awful*!" "Quick! Defenestrate him!" See also H INFIX.
X 2. [proposed] The requirement to support a command-line interface. As:
X "It has to run on a VT100." "Curses! I've been defenestrated".
X
XDEFINED AS adj. Currently in the role of, usually in an
X off-the-organization-chart sense. "Pete is currently defined as
X bug prioritizer". From the C language MACRO feature.
X
XDEHOSE vt. To clear a HOSED condition.
X
XDELINT vt. To modify code to remove problems detected when linting.
X See LINT.
X
XDEEP MAGIC n. An awesomely arcane technique central to a program or
X system, esp. one not generally published and available to hackers
X at large (compare BLACK ART). one which could only have been
X uttered by a true WIZARD. Compiler optimization techniques and
X many aspects of OS design used to be DEEP MAGIC; many techniques in
X cryptography, signal processing, graphics and AI still are. Compare
X HEAVY WIZARDRY. Esp. found in comments of the form "Deep magic
X begins here...".
X
XDEEP SPACE adj. 1. Describes the "location" of any program which has
X gone OFF THE TROLLEY (q.v.). Esp. used of programs which just sit
X there silently grinding long after either failure or some output is
X expected. Compare BUZZ, CATATONIA. 2. The metaphorical
X "location" of a human so dazed and/or confused or caught up in
X some esoteric form of BOGOSITY that he/she no longer responds
X coherently to normal communication. Compare PAGE OUT.
X
XDELTA n. 1. A change, especially a small or incremental change.
X Example: "I just doubled the speed of my program!" "What was
X the delta on program size?" "About thirty percent." (He
X doubled the speed of his program, but increased its size by only
X thirty percent.) 2. [UNIX] A DIFF (q.v.), especially a DIFF stored
X under the set of version-control tools called SCCS (Source Code
X Control System). 3. n. A small quantity, but not as small as
X EPSILON. The slang usage of DELTA and EPSILON stems from the
X traditional use of these letters in mathematics for very small
X numerical quantities, particularly in so-called "epsilon-delta"
X proofs in the differential calculus. DELTA is often used once
X EPSILON has been mentioned to mean a quantity that is slightly
X bigger than EPSILON but still very small. For example, "The cost
X isn't epsilon, but it's delta" means that the cost isn't totally
X negligible, but it is nevertheless very small. Compare WITHIN
X DELTA OF, WITHIN EPSILON OF: that is, close to and even closer to.
X
XDEMENTED adj. Yet another term of disgust used to describe a program.
X The connotation in this case is that the program works as designed,
X but the design is bad. For example, a program that generates large
X numbers of meaningless error messages implying it is on the point
X of imminent collapse.
X
XDEMIGOD n. Hacker with years of experience, a national reputation, and
X a major role in the development of at least one design, tool or
X game used by or known to more than 50% of the hacker community. To
X qualify as a genuine demigod, the person must recognizably identify
X with the hacker community and have helped shape it. Major demigods
X include Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie (co-inventors of UNIX and
X C) and Richard M. Stallman (inventor of EMACS). In their hearts of
X hearts most hackers dream of someday becoming demigods themselves,
X and more than one major software project has been driven to
X completion by the author's veiled hopes of apotheosis. See also
X NET.GOD, TRUE-HACKER.
X
XDEMON n. 1. [MIT] A portion of a program which is not invoked
X explicitly, but which lies dormant waiting for some condition(s) to
X occur. See DAEMON. The distinction is that demons are usually
X processes within a program, while daemons are usually programs
X running on an operating system. Demons are particularly common in
X AI programs. For example, a knowledge manipulation program might
X implement inference rules as demons. Whenever a new piece of
X knowledge was added, various demons would activate (which demons
X depends on the particular piece of data) and would create
X additional pieces of knowledge by applying their respective
X inference rules to the original piece. These new pieces could in
X turn activate more demons as the inferences filtered down through
X chains of logic. Meanwhile the main program could continue with
X whatever its primary task was. 2. [outside MIT] Often used
X equivalently to DAEMON, especially in the UNIX world where the
X latter spelling and pronunciation is considered mildly archaic.
X
XDEPRECATED n. Said of a program or feature that is considered
X obsolescent and in the process of being phased out, usually in
X favor of a specified replacement. Deprecated features can,
X unfortunately, linger on for many years.
X
XDE-REZZ, DEREZ /dee rez/ [from the movie TRON] 1. vi. To disappear or
X dissolve; the image that goes with it is of an object breaking up
X into raster lines and static and then dissolving. Occasionally
X used of a person who seems to have suddenly "fuzzed out" mentally
X rather than physically. Usage: extremely silly, also rare. This
X verb was actually invented as *fictional* hacker slang, and adopted
X in a spirit of irony by real hackers years after the fact. 2. vt.
X On a Macintosh, the data is compiled separately from the program,
X in small segments of the program file known as "resources". The
X standard resource compiler is Rez. The standard resource decompiler
X is DeRez. Usage: very common.
X
XDEVO /dee'vo/ [orig. in-house slang at Symbolics] n. A person in a
X development group. See also DOCO and MANGO.
X
XDICKLESS WORKSTATION n. Extremely pejorative hackerism for "diskless
X workstation", a class of botches including the Sun 3/50 and other
X machines designed exclusively to network with an expensive central
X disk server. These combine all the disadvantages of time-sharing
X with all the disadvantages of distributed personal computers.
X
XDIDDLE 1. vt. To work with in a not particularly serious manner. "I
X diddled a copy of ADVENT so it didn't double-space all the time."
X "Let's diddle this piece of code and see if the problem goes
X away." See TWEAK and TWIDDLE. 2. n. The action or result of
X diddling. See also TWEAK, TWIDDLE, FROB.
X
XDIFFS n. 1. Differences, especially difference in source code or
X documents. Includes additions. "Send me your diffs for the jargon
X file!" 2. (often in the singular DIFF) the output from the diff(1)
X utility, esp. when used as specification input to the patch(1)
X utility (which can actually perform the mods). This is a common
X method of distributing patches and source updates in the UNIX/C
X world.
X
XDIKE vt. To remove or disable a portion of something, as a wire from a
X computer or a subroutine from a program. A standard slogan runs:
X "When in doubt, dike it out." (The implication is that it is
X usually more effective to attack software problems by reducing
X complexity rather than increasing it). The word "dikes" is
X widely used among mechanics and engineers to mean "diagonal
X cutters", a heavy-duty metal-cutting device; to "dike something
X out" means to use such cutters to remove something. Among hackers
X this term has been metaphorically extended to non-physical objects
X such as sections of code.
X
XDING /ding/ n.,v. 1. Synonym for FEEP (q.v.). Usage: rare among
X hackers, but commoner in THE REAL WORLD. 2. DINGED: What happens
X when someone in authority gives you a minor bitching about
X something, esp. something you consider trivial. "I was dinged for
X having a messy desk".
X
XDINOSAUR n. Any hardware requiring raised flooring and special power.
X Used especially of old minis and mainframes when contrasted with
X newer microprocessor-based machines. In a famous quote from the
X '88 UNIX EXPO, Bill Joy compared the mainframe in the massive IBM
X display with a grazing dinosaur, "with a truck outside pumping its
X bodily fluids through it". IBM was not amused. Compare BIG IRON.
X
XDINOSAUR PEN n. A traditional mainframe computer room complete with
X raised flooring, special power, its own ultra-heavy-duty air
X conditioning, and a side order of Halon fire extinguishers. See
X BOA.
X
XDISCORDIANISM /dis-kor'di-uhn-ism/ n. The veneration of ERIS, aka
X Discordia; widely popular among hackers. Popularized by Robert
X Anton Wilson's _Illuminatus!_ trilogy as a sort of self-subverting
X dada-Zen for Westerners --- it should on no account be taken
X seriously but is far more serious than most jokes. Usually
X connected with an elaborate conspiracy theory/joke involving
X millenia-long warfare between the anarcho-surrealist partisans of
X Eris and a malevolent, authoritarian secret society called the
X Illuminati. See Appendix C, CHURCH OF THE SUB-GENIUS, and HA HA
X ONLY SERIOUS.
X
XDISPLAY HACK n. A program with the same approximate purpose as a
X kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks
X include MUNCHING SQUARES, SMOKING CLOVER, the BSD UNIX rain(6)
X program, worms(6) on miscellaneous UNIXes, and the X kaleid
X program. Display hacks can also be implemented without programming
X by creating text files containing numerous escape sequences for
X interpretation by a video terminal; one notable example displayed,
X on any VT100, a christmas tree with twinkling lights and a toy
X train circling its base.
X
XDOCO /do'ko/ [orig. in-house slang at Symbolics] n. A documentation
X writer. See also DEVO and MANGO.
X
XDO PROTOCOL [from network protocol programming] vt. To perform an
X interaction with somebody or something that follows a clearly
X defined procedure. For example, "Let's do protocol with the
X check" at a restaurant means to ask the waitress for the check,
X calculate the tip and everybody's share, generate change as
X necessary, and pay the bill.
X
XDODGY adj. Syn. with FLAKEY (q.v.). Preferred outside the U.S.
X
XDOGWASH [From a quip in the "urgency" field of a very optional
X software change request, about 1982. It was something like,
X "Urgency: Wash your dog first."] n. A project of minimal
X priority, undertaken as an escape from more serious work. Also, to
X engage in such a project. Many games and much FREEWARE gets
X written this way.
X
XDON'T DO THAT, THEN [from an old doctor's office joke about a patient
X with a trivial complaint] interj. Stock response to a user
X complaint. "When I type control-S, the whole system comes to a
X halt for thirty seconds." "Don't do that, then." Compare RTFM.
X
XDONGLE /don-gl/ n. 1. A security device for commercial microcomputer
X programs consisting of a serialized EPROM and some drivers in an
X RS-232 connector shell. Programs that use a dongle query the port
X at startup and programmed intervals thereafter, and terminate if it
X does not respond with the dongle's programmed validation code.
X Thus, users could make as many copies of the program as they want
X but must pay for each dongle. The idea was clever but initially a
X failure, as users disliked tying up a serial port this way. Most
X dongles on the market today (1990) will pass through the port, and
X monitor for "magic codes" (and combinations of status lines) with
X minimal if any interference with devices further down the line
X (this innovation was necessary to allow daisy chained dongles for
X multiple pieces of software). The devices are still not widely
X used, as the industry has trended away from copy-protection schemes
X in general. 2. By extension, any physical electronic key or
X transferrable ID required for a program to function. See
X DONGLE-DISK.
X
XDONGLE-DISK /don'g@l disk/ n. See DONGLE; a DONGLE-DISK is a floppy
X disk with some coding which allows an application to identify it
X uniquely. It can therefore be used as a DONGLE. Also called a
X "key disk".
X
XDONUTS n. Collective noun for any set of memory bits. This is really
X archaic and may no longer be live slang; it dates from the days of
X ferrite-core memories in which each bit was represented by a
X donut-shaped magnetic flip-flop. Compare CORE.
X
XDOORSTOP n. Used to describe equipment that is non-functional and
X halfway expected to remain so, especially obsolescent equipment
X kept around for political reasons or ostensibly as a backup.
X "When we get another Wyse-50 in here that ADM3 will turn into a
X doorstop." Compare BOAT ANCHOR.
X
XDOT FILE [UNIX] n. A file that is not visible to normal
X directory-browsing tools (on UNIX, files named beginning with a dot
X are normally invisible).
X
XDOUBLE BUCKY: adj. Using both the CTRL and META keys. "The command
X to burn all LEDs is double bucky F." See also META BIT,
X COKEBOTTLE, QUADRUPLE BUCKY, SPACE-CADET KEYBOARD. The following
X lyrics were written on May 27, 1978, in celebration of the Stanford
X keyboard. A typical MIT comment was that the Stanford BUCKY BITS
X (control and meta shifting keys) were nice, but there weren't
X enough of them; you could only type 512 different characters on a
X Stanford keyword. An obvious thing was simply to add more shifting
X keys, and this was eventually done; one problem, is that a keyboard
X with that many shifting keys is hard on touch-typists, who don't
X like to move their hands away from the home position on the
X keyboard. It was half-seriously suggested that the extra shifting
X keys be pedals; typing on such a keyboard would be very much like
X playing a full pipe organ. This idea is mentioned below, in a
X parody of a very fine song by Jeffrey Moss called "Rubber
X Duckie", which was published in "The Sesame Street Songbook".
X
X Double Bucky
X
X Double bucky, you're the one!
X You make my keyboard lots of fun.
X Double bucky, an additional bit or two:
X (Vo-vo-de-o!)
X Control and meta, side by side,
X Augmented ASCII, nine bits wide!
X Double bucky! Half a thousand glyphs, plus a few!
X Oh,
X I sure wish that I
X Had a couple of
X Bits more!
X Perhaps a
X Set of pedals to
X Make the number of
X Bits four:
X Double double bucky!
X Double bucky, left and right
X OR'd together, outta sight!
X Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of
X Double bucky, I'm happy I heard of
X Double bucky, I'd like a whole word of you!
X
X --- The Great Quux (with apologies to Jeffrey Moss)
X
X[This is, by the way, an excellent example of computer FILK --- ESR]
X
XDOUBLED SIG /duh'b@ld sig/ [USENET] n. A SIG BLOCK (q.v.) that has
X been included twice in a USENET article or, less frequently, in an
X electronic mail message. An article or message with a doubled sig
X can be caused by improperly configured software. More often,
X however, it reveals the author's lack of experience in electronic
X communication. See BIFF, PSEUDO.
X
XDOWN 1. adj. Not working. "The up escalator is down." That is
X considered a humorous thing to say, but "The elevator is down"
X always means "The elevator isn't working" and never refers to
X what floor the elevator is on. 2. GO DOWN vi. To stop functioning;
X usually said of the SYSTEM. The message every hacker hates to hear
X from the operator is, "The system will go down in five minutes."
X 3. TAKE DOWN, BRING DOWN vt. To deactivate purposely, usually for
X repair work. "I'm taking the system down to work on that bug in
X the tape drive."
X
XDOWNLOAD vt. To transfer data or (esp.) code from a larger `host'
X system (esp. a mainframe) over a digital comm link to a smaller
X `client' system, esp. a microcomputer or specialized peripheral
X device. Oppose UPLOAD.
X
XDRAGON n. [MIT] A program similar to a "daemon" (q.v.), except that
X it is not invoked at all, but is instead used by the system to
X perform various secondary tasks. A typical example would be an
X accounting program, which keeps track of who is logged in,
X accumulates load-average statistics, etc. Under ITS, many
X terminals displayed a list of people logged in, where they are,
X what they're running, etc. along with some random picture (such as
X a unicorn, Snoopy, or the Enterprise) which is generated by the
X "NAME DRAGON". See PHANTOM. Usage: rare outside MIT --- under
X UNIX and most other OSs this would be called a `background DEMON'
X or `DAEMON' (q.v).
X
XDRAGON BOOK, THE n. Aho, Sethi and Ullman's classic compilers text
X _Principles_Of_Compiler_Design_, so called because of the cover
X design depicting a knight slaying a dragon labelled "compiler
X complexity". See also BLUE BOOK, RED BOOK, GREEN BOOK, SILVER
X BOOK, PURPLE BOOK, ORANGE BOOK, WHITE BOOK, PINK-SHIRT BOOK.
X
XDRAIN [IBM] v. Syn. for FLUSH (sense 4).
X
XDREAD HIGH BIT DISEASE n. A condition endemic to PRIME (formerly
X PR1ME) minicomputers which results in all the characters having
X their high (\200) bit ON rather than OFF. This of course makes
X transporting files to other systems much more difficult, not to
X mention talking to true eightbit devices. It is reported that
X PRIME adopted the reversed eight bit convention in order to save 25
X cents/serial line/machine. This probably qualifies as one of the
X most CRETINOUS design tradeoffs ever made. See META BIT.
X
XDRECNET /drek'net/ [fr. Yiddish `dreck'] n. Deliberate distortion of
X DECNET, a networking protocol used in the VMS community. So-called
X because DEC helped write the Ethernet specification, and then
X (either stupidly or as a malignant customer-control tactic)
X violated that spec in the design of DRECNET (among other things,
X they implemented the wrong HEARTBEAT speed). See also CONNECTOR
X CONSPIRACY.
X
XDROOL-PROOF PAPER n. Documentation which has been obsessively dumbed
X down, to the point where only a CRETIN could bear to read it, is
X said to have succumbed to the "drool-proof paper syndrome" or to
X have been "written on drool-proof paper". For example, this is
X an actual quote from Apple's LaserWriter manual: "Do not expose
X your LaserWriter to open fire or flame."
X
XDROP ON THE FLOOR vt. To react to an error condition by silent
X discarding messages or other valuable data. Example: "The gateway
X ran out of memory, so it just started dropping packets on the
X floor." Also frequently used of faulty mail and netnews relay
X sites that lose messages. See also BLACK HOLE.
X
XDRUGGED adj., also ON DRUGS. 1. Conspicuously stupid, heading towards
X BRAIN DAMAGE. Often accompanied by a pantomime of toking a joint.
X 2. Of hardware, very slow relative to normal preformance.
X
XDRUNK MOUSE SYNDROME n. A malady exhibited by the mouse pointing
X device of some workstations. The typical symptom is for the mouse
X cursor on the screen to move to random directions and not in sync
X with the moving of the actual mouse. Can usually be corrected by
X unplugging the mouse and plugging it back again. Another
X recommended fix is to the rotate optical mouse pad 90
X degrees.
X
XDUMBASS ATTACK /duhm'ass @-tak'/ [Purdue] n. A novice's mistake made
X by the experienced, especially one made by running as root under
X UNIX, eg. typing "rm *" or mkfs on a mounted file system. Compare
X ADGER.
X
XDUSTY DECK n. Old software (especially applications) with which one is
X obliged to remain compatible. The term implies that the software
X in question is a holdover from card-punch days. Used esp. when
X referring to old scientific and number-crunching software, much of
X which was written in FORTRAN and very poorly documented but would
X be too expensive to replace. See FOSSIL.
X
XDWIM /dwim/ [Do What I Mean] 1. adj. Able to guess, sometimes even
X correctly, what result was intended when provided with bogus input.
X Often suggested in jest as a desired feature for a complex program;
X also occasionally described as the single instruction the ideal
X computer would have (back when proof of program correctness were in
X vogue, there were also jokes about DWIMC: Do What I Mean,
X Correctly). A related term, more often seen as a verb, is DTRT (Do
X The Right Thing), see RIGHT THING, THE. 2. n. The INTERLISP
X function that attempts to accomplish this feat by correcting many
X of the more common errors. See HAIRY.
X
XDYNNER /din'r/ 32 bits, by analogy with NYBBLE and BYTE. Usage: rare
X and extremely silly. See also PLAYTE.
X
X {= E =}
X
XEARTHQUAKE [IBM] n. The ultimate REAL WORLD shock test for computer
X hardware. Hacker sources at IBM deny the rumor that the Bay Area
X quake of 1989 was initiated by the company to test QA at its
X California plants.
X
XEASTER EGG n. 1. A message hidden in the object code of a program as a
X joke, intended to be found by persons disassembling or browsing the
X code. 2. A message, graphic, or sound-effect emitted by a program
X (or, on a PC, the BIOS ROM) in response to some undocumented set of
X commands or keystrokes, intended as a joke or to display program
X credits. One well-known early easter egg found in a couple of OSs
X and SOS (q.v.) caused them to respond to the command `make love'
X with `not war?'. Many personal computers (other than the IBM PC)
X have much more elaborate eggs hidden in ROM, including lists of the
X developers' names, political exhortations, snatches of music, and
X (in one case) graphics images of the entire development team.
X
XEASTER EGGING [IBM] n. The act of replacing unrelated parts more or
X less at random in hopes that a malfunction will go away. Hackers
X consider this the normal operating mode of FIELD CIRCUS techs and
X do not love them for it.
X
XEAT FLAMING DEATH, X! expl. A construction popularized among hackers
X by the infamous DEC WARS comic (q.v.); supposed to derive from a
X famously turgid line in a WWII-era anti-Nazi propaganda comic
X in which X was "non-Aryan mongrels" or something of the sort.
X Used in humorously overblown expressions of hostility. "Eat
X flaming death, EBCDIC users!"
X
XEIGHTY-COLUMN MIND [IBM] n. The sort said to be employed by persons
X for whom the transition from card to tape was traumatic (nobody has
X dared tell them about disks yet). It is said that these people,
X like (according to an old joke) the founder of IBM, will be buried
X `9-EDGE-FORWARD-FACE-DOWN'. These people are thought by most
X hackers to dominate IBM's customer base, and its thinking.
X
XEL CAMINO BIGNUM /el' k@-mee'noh big'num/ n. El Camino Real. El
X Camino Real is the name of a street through the San Francisco
X peninsula that originally extended (and still appears in places)
X all the way down to Mexico City. Navigation on the San Francisco
X peninsula is usually done relative to El Camino Real, which is
X assumed to run north and south even though it doesn't really in
X many places (see LOGICAL). El Camino Real runs right past Stanford
X University, and so is familiar to hackers. The Spanish word
X "real" (which has two syllables (ree-ahl')) means "royal"; El
X Camino Real is "the royal road". Now the English word "real"
X is used in mathematics to describe numbers (and by analogy is
X misused in computer jargon to mean floating-point numbers). In the
X FORTRAN language, for example, a "real" quantity is a number
X typically precise to seven decimal places, and a "double
X precision" quantity is a larger floating-point number, precise to
X perhaps fourteen decimal places. When a hacker from MIT visited
X Stanford in 1976 or so, he remarked what a long road El Camino Real
X was. Making a pun on "real", he started calling it "El Camino
X Double Precision" --- but when the hacker was told that the road
X was hundreds of miles long, he renamed it "El Camino Bignum", and
X that name has stuck. (See BIGNUM.)
X
XELEGANT [from mathematical usage] adj. Combining simplicity, power,
X and a certain ineffable grace of design. Higher praise than
X `clever', `winning' or even CUSPY.
X
XELEPHANTINE adj. Used of programs or systems which are both
X conspicuous HOGs (due perhaps to poor design founded on BRUTE FORCE
X AND IGNORANCE) and exceedingly HAIRY in source form. An
X elephantine program may be functional and even friendly, but (like
X the old joke about being in bed with an elephant) it's tough to
X have around all the same, esp. a bitch to maintain. In extreme
X cases, hackers have been known to make trumpeting sounds or perform
X expressive zoomorphic mime at the mention of the offending program.
X Usage: semi-humorous. Compare "has the elephant nature" and the
X somewhat more pejorative MONSTROSITY. See also SECOND-SYSTEM
X SYNDROME.
X
XEMACS /ee'maks/ [from Editing MACroS] n. The ne plus ultra of hacker
X editors, a program editor with an entire LISP interpreter inside
X it. Originally written by Richard Stallman in TECO at the MIT-AI
X lab, but the most widely used versions now run under UNIX. It
X includes facilities to run compilation subprocesses and send and
X receive mail; many hackers spend up to 80% of their tube time
X inside it. Some versions running under window managers iconify as
X a kitchen sink, perhaps to suggest the one feature the editor
X doesn't include. See also VI.
X
XEMAIL /ee-mayl/ vt.,n. Electronic mail automatically passed through
X computer networks and/or via modems common-carrier lines. Contrast
X SNAIL-MAIL. See NETWORK ADDRESS.
X
XEMOTICON /ee-moh'ti-cahn/ n. An ASCII glyph used to indicate an
X emotional state in email or news. Hundreds have been proposed, but
X only a few are in common use. These include:
X
X :-) Smiley face (indicates laughter)
X :-( Frowney face (indicates sadness, anger or upset)
X ;-) Half-smiley (ha ha only serious), aka winkey face.
X :-/ Wry face
X
X Of these, the first two are by far the most frequently encountered.
X Hyphenless forms of them are common on CompuServe, GEnie and BIX;
X see also BIXIE. On USENET, "smiley" is often used as a generic
X (synonym for emoticon) as well as specifically for the happy-face
X emoticon.
X
X Note for the NEWBIE: overuse of the smiley is a mark of loserhood!
X More than one per paragraph is a sure sign that you've gone over
X the line.
X
XEMPIRE n. Any of a family of military simulations derived from a game
X written by Peter Langston many years ago. There are 5 or 6
X multi-player variants of varying degrees of sophistication, and one
X single-player version implemented for both UNIX and VMS which is
X even available as MS-DOS freeware. All are notoriously addictive.
X
XENQ /enkw/ [from the ASCII mnemonic for 0000101] 1. An on-line
X convention for querying someone's availability. After opening a
X TALK MODE connection to someone apparently in heavy hack mode, one
X might type "SYN SYN ENQ?" (the SYNs representing notional
X synchronization bytes) expecting a return of ACK or NAK depending
X on whether or not the person felt interruptible. See ACK; compare
X PING, FINGER, and the usage of `FOO?' listed under TALK MODE.
X
XEOF /ee-oh-ef/ [UNIX/C] n. End Of File. 1. Refers esp. to whatever
X pseudo-character value is returned by C's sequential input
X functions (and their equivalents in other environments) when the
X logical end of file has been reached (this was 0 under V6 UNIX, is
X -1 under V7 and all subsequent versions and all non-UNIX C library
X implementations). 2. Used by extension in non-computer contexts
X when a human is doing something that can be modelled as a
X sequential read and can't go further. "Yeah, I looked for a list
X of 360 mnemonics to post as a joke, but I hit EOF pretty fast, all
X the library had was a JCL manual."
X
XEPOCH, THE [UNIX] n. The time and date corresponding to zero in an
X operating system's clock and timestamp values. Under most UNIX
X versions, 00:00 of January 1st 1970 GMT. System time is measured
X in seconds or TICKS past the era. Syn. with EPOCH. See TICKS,
X WALL TIME. Note that weird problems may ensue when the clock wraps
X around, and that this is actually not a rare event; on systems
X counting 10 TICKS per second, a 32 bit count of ticks is only good
X for 6.8 years.
X
XEPSILON [from standard mathematical notation for a small quantity] 1.
X n. A small quantity of anything. "The cost is epsilon." 2. adj.
X Very small, negligible; less than marginal. "We can get this
X feature for epsilon cost." 3. WITHIN EPSILON OF: Close enough to
X be indistinguishable for all practical purposes. This is even
X closer than being WITHIN DELTA OF. Example: "That's not what I
X asked for, but it's within epsilon of what I wanted."
X Alternatively, it may mean not close enough, but very little is
X required to get it there: "My program is within epsilon of
X working." See ASYMPTOTIC.
X
XEPSILON SQUARED n. A quantity even smaller than EPSILON, as small in
X comparison to it as it is to something normal. If you buy a
X supercomputer for a million dollars, the cost of the
X thousand-dollar terminal to go with it is EPSILON, and the cost of
X the ten-dollar cable to connect the two is EPSILON SQUARED.
X
XERA, THE n. Syn. for EPOCH.
X
XERIC CONSPIRACY n. Notional group of mustachioed hackers named Eric
X first pinpointed as a sinister conspiracy by an infamous
X talk.bizarre posting c. 1986; this was doubtless influenced by the
X numerous `Eric' jokes in the Monty Python oeuvre. There do indeed
X seem to be considerably more mustachioed hacker-Erics than the
X frequency of these three traits can account for unless they are
X correlated in some arcane way. Well known examples include Eric
X Allman of BSD fame, Erik Fair (coauthor of NNTP) and your editor
X [ESR]; your editor has heard from about fourteen others by email.
X
XERIS /e'r@s/ pn. The Greco-Roman goddess of Chaos, Discord, Confusion
X and Things You Know Not Of; aka Discordia. Not a very friendly
X deity in the Classical original, she was re-invented as a more
X benign personification of creative anarchy starting in 1959 by the
X adherents of DISCORDIANISM and has since been a semi-serious
X subject of veneration in several `fringe' cultures including
X hackerdom. See DISCORDIANISM, CHURCH OF THE SUB-GENIUS.
X
XEROTICS /ee-ro'tiks/ n. Reported from Scandinavia as English-language
X university slang for electronics. Often used by hackers, maybe
X because of its exciting aspects.
X
XESSENTIALS n. Things necessary to maintain a productive and secure
X hacking environment. "A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, a
X 20-megahertz 80386 box with 8 meg of core and a 300-megabyte disk
X supporting full UNIX with source and X windows and EMACS and UUCP
X to a friendly Internet site, and thou."
X
XEVIL adj. As used by hackers, implies that some system, program,
X person or institution is sufficiently mal-designed as to be not
X worth the bother of dealing with. Unlike the adjectives in the
X CRETINOUS/LOSING/BRAIN-DAMAGED series, EVIL does not imply
X incompetence or bad design, but rather a set of goals or design
X criteria fatally incompatible with the speaker's. This is more an
X esthetic and engineering judgement than a moral one in the
X mainstream sense. "We thought about adding a BLUE GLUE interface
X but decided it was too evil to deal with." "TECO is neat, but it
X can be pretty evil if you're prone to typos." Often pronounced
X with the first syllable lengthened, as /eeeevil/.
X
XEXAMINING THE ENTRAILS n. The process of rooting through a core dump
X or hex image in the attempt to discover the bug that brought your
X program or system down. Compare RUNES, INCANTATION, BLACK ART.
X
XEXCH /eks'ch@, ekstch/ vt. To exchange two things, each for the other;
X to swap places. If you point to two people sitting down and say
X "Exch!", you are asking them to trade places. EXCH, meaning
X EXCHange, was originally the name of a PDP-10 instruction that
X exchanged the contents of a register and a memory location.
X
XEXCL /eks'kl/ n. Abbreviation for "exclamation point". See BANG,
X SHRIEK, WOW.
X
XEXE /ex'ee/ An executable binary file. Some operating systems
X (notably MS-DOS) use the extension .EXE to mark such files. This
X usage is also occasionally found among UNIX programmers even though
X UNIX executables don't have any required extension.
X
XEXEC /eg'zek/ [shortened from "executive" or "execute"] vt.,n. 1.
X [UNIX] Synonym for CHAIN, derives from the exec(2) call. 2. (obs)
X The command interpreter for an OS (see SHELL); term esp. used on
X mainframes, and prob. derived from UNIVAC's archaic EXEC 2 and EXEC
X 8 operating systems.
X
X {= F =}
X
XFALL OVER [IBM] vi. Yet another synonym for CRASH or LOSE. `Fall over
X hard' equates to CRASH AND BURN.
X
XFALL THROUGH vu. 1. To exit a loop by exhaustion, i.e. by having
X fulfilled its exit condition rather than via a break or exception
X condition that exits from the middle of it. This usage appears to
X be *really* old, as in dating from the '40s and '50s. It may no
X longer be live slang. 2. In C, `fall-through' is said to occur when
X the flow of execution in a switch statement reaches a `case' label
X for the second or subsequent time, passing a point where one would
X normally expect to find a `break'. A trivial example:
X
X switch (color)
SHAR_EOF
chmod 0644 jsplit.ac || echo "restore of jsplit.ac fails"
if [ $TOUCH = can ]
then
touch -am 1215215290 jsplit.ac
fi
exit 0