Xref: utzoo alt.folklore.computers:8408 comp.unix.internals:1717 comp.misc:11051
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!cbmvax!snark!eric
From: eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.unix.internals,comp.misc
Subject: The Jargon File v2.3.1 03 JAN 1991, part 5 of 11
Message-ID: <1Z0vVX#4fNfh10cP8nb9bprKD9pDnw1=eric@snark.thyrsus.com>
Date: 3 Jan 91 21:04:27 GMT
Lines: 1030
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X Sometimes used as a generic even for file transfers not using
X . "Lemme get this copy of Wuthering Heights FTP'd from
X uunet."
X
X excl. Sometimes uttered in response to egregious
X misbehavior, esp. in software, and esp. of those which seem
X unfairly persistent (as though designed in by the imp of the
X perverse). Often theatrically elaborated: "Aiighhh! Fuck me with
X a piledriver and sixteen feet of curare-tipped wrought-iron fence
X *and no lubricants!*" The phrase is sometimes heard
X abbreviated FMH in polite company.
X
X /fud worz/ n. [from `Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt']
X Political posturing engaged in by hardware and software vendors
X ostensibly committed to standardization but actually willing to
X fragment the market to protect their own share. The OSF vs. UNIX
X International conflict, for example.
X
X 1. v. To perform in an incomplete but marginally acceptable
X way, particularly with respect to the writing of a program. "I
X didn't feel like going through that pain and suffering, so I fudged
X it." 2. n. The resulting code.
X
X n. A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way
X to produce the desired result. The terms "tolerance" and
X "slop" are also used, though these usually indicate a one-sided
X leeway, such as a buffer which is made larger than necessary
X because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to be, and it is
X better to waste a little space than to lose completely for not
X having enough. A fudge factor, on the other hand, can often be
X tweaked in more than one direction. A good example is the
X typically needed in floating-point calculations: two numbers being
X compared for equality must be allowed to differ by a small amount;
X if that amount is too small, a computation may never terminate,
X while if it is too large, results will be needlessly inaccurate.
X Fudge factors are frequently adjusted incorrectly by programmers
X who don't fully understand their import.
X
X vi. To eat or drink hurriedly in order to get back to
X hacking. "Food-p?" "Yeah, let's fuel up." "Time for a
X !". See also .
X
X /fuhg'lee/ adj. Emphatic form of ; funky + ugly (or
X possibly a contraction of "fuckin' ugly"). Unusually for hacker
X slang, this may actually derive from black street-jive. To say it
X properly, the first syllable should be growled rather than spoken.
X Usage: humorous. "Man, the ASCII-to-EBCDIC code in that printer
X driver is *fuggly*." See also .
X
X adj. Said of something which functions, but in a slightly
X strange, klugey way. It does the job and would be difficult to
X change, so its obvious non-optimality is left alone. Often used to
X describe interfaces. The more bugs something has that nobody has
X bothered to fix because workarounds are easier, the funkier it is.
X and UUCP are funky. The Intel i860's exception handling is
X extraordinarily funky. Most standards acquire funkiness as they
X age. "The new mailer is installed, but is still somewhat funky;
X if it bounces your mail for no reason, try resubmitting it."
X "This UART is pretty funky. The data ready line is active-high in
X interrupt mode, and active-low in DMA mode." See .
X
X n. (also `play money') 1. Notional `dollar' units of
X computing time and/or storage handed to students at the beginning
X of a computer course by professors; also called "purple money"
X (in implicit opposition to real or "green" money). When your
X funny money ran out, your account froze and you needed to go to a
X professor to get more. Formerly a common practice, this has now
X been made sufficiently rare by the plunging cost of timesharing
X cycles that it has become folklore. The amounts allocated were
X almost invariably too small, even for the non-hackers who wanted to
X slide by with minimum work. In extreme cases the practice led to
X small-scale black markets in bootlegged computer accounts. 2. By
X extension, phantom money or quantity tickets of any kind used as a
X resource-allocation hack within a system.
X
X n. In floating-point arithmetic, the maximum difference allowed
X between two quantities for them to compare equal. Has to be set
X properly relative to the FPU's precision limits. See .
X
X [TCP/IP hackers] n. A DEC LSI-11 running a particular suite
X of homebrewed software by Dave Mills and assorted co-conspirators,
X used in the early 80's for Internet protocol testbedding and
X experimentation. These were used as NSFnet backbone sites in its
X early 56KB-line days; a few of these are still active on the
X Internet as of early 1990, doing odd jobs such as network time
X service.
X
X {= G =}
X
X /gay'bree-@l/ [for Dick Gabriel, SAIL volleyball fanatic]
X n. An unnecessary (in the opinion of the opponent) stalling
X tactic, e.g., tying one's shoelaces or hair repeatedly, asking the
X time, etc. Also used to refer to the perpetrator of such tactics.
X Also, "pulling a Gabriel", "Gabriel mode".
X
X vi. Equivalent to , but connotes more disgust. "Hey,
X this is Fortran code. No wonder the C compiler gagged." See also
X .
X
X n. The use of large numbers of loosely-coupled programmers
X in an attempt to wedge a great many features into a product in a
X short time. While there have been memorable gang bangs (ref: that
X over-the-weekend assembler port mentioned in Steven Levy's
X "Hackers"), most are perpetrated by large companies trying to
X meet deadlines and produce enormous buggy masses of code entirely
X lacking in orthogonality (see ). When market-driven
X managers make a list of all the features the competition have and
X assign one programmer to implement each, they often miss the
X importance of maintaining strong invariants, like relational
X integrity.
X
X vi., (also "garbage collection", n.) See .
X
X /gar'plee/ n. [Stanford] Another meta-syntactic variable (see
X ) popular among SAIL hackers.
X
X [as in "gas chamber"] interj. 1. A term of disgust and hatred,
X implying that gas should be dispensed in generous quantities,
X thereby exterminating the source of irritation. "Some loser just
X reloaded the system for no reason! Gas!" 2. A term suggesting
X that someone or something ought to be flushed out of mercy. "The
X system's wedging every few minutes. Gas!" 3. vt. .
X "You should gas that old crufty software." 4. GASEOUS adj.
X Deserving of being gassed. Usage: primarily used by Geoff
X Goodfellow at SRI, but spreading; became particularly popular after
X the Moscone/Milk murders in San Francisco, when it was learned that
X Dan White (who supported Proposition 7) would get the gas chamber
X under 7 if convicted. He was eventually found not guilty by reason
X of insanity.
X
X /jee-see/ [from LISP terminology; "Garbage Collect"] 1. vt. To
X clean up and throw away useless things. "I think I'll the
X top of my desk today." When said of files, this is equivalent to
X . 2. vt. To recycle, reclaim, or put to another use. 3. n.
X An instantiation of the garbage collector process. `Garbage
X collection' is computer science jargon for a particular class of
X strategies for dynamically reallocating computer memory. One such
X strategy involves periodically scanning all the data in memory and
X determining what is no longer useful; useless data items are then
X discarded so that the memory they occupy can be recycled and used
X for another purpose. Implementations of the LISP language usually
X use garbage collection. In slang, the full phrase is sometimes
X heard but the acronym is more frequently used because it's shorter.
X Note that there is an ambiguity in usage that has to be resolved by
X context: "I'm going to garbage-collect my desk" usually means to
X clean out the drawers, but it could also mean to throw away or
X recycle the desk itself.
X
X Warning: in X programming, a "GC" may be a graphics context. This
X technical term has nothing to do with the jargon !
X
X n. A quick and dirty of System/360 DOS that emerged
X from GE about 1970; originally called GECOS (the General Electric
X Comprehensive Operating System) and later kluged to support
X primitive timesharing and transaction processing. After the buyout
X of GE's computer division by Honeywell the name was changed to
X General Comprehensive Operating System (GCOS). Other OS groups at
X Honeywell began referring to it as `God's Chosen Operating System',
X allegedly in reaction to the GCOS crowd's uninformed and snotty
X attitude about the superiority of their product. All this might be
X of zero interest, except for two facts: 1) the GCOS people won the
X political war, resulting in the orphaning and eventual death of
X Honeywell , and 2) GECOS/GCOS left one permanent mark
X on UNIX. Some early UNIX systems at Bell Labs were used as front
X ends to GCOS machines; the field added to /etc/passwd to carry GCOS
X ID information was called `the GECOS field' and survives today as
X the pw_gecos member used for the user's full name and other
X human-id information. GCOS itself played a major rule in keeping
X Honeywell a dismal also-ran in the mainframe market, and was itself
X ditched for UNIX in the late 1980s when Honeywell retired its aging
X designs.
X
X n. See GCOS
X
X /g@-dahn'kn/ adj. Wild-eyed; impractical; not
X well-thought-out; untried; untested. "Gedanken" is a German word
X for "thought". A thought experiment is one you carry out in your
X head. In physics, the term "gedanken experiment" is used to
X refer to an experiment that is impractical to carry out, but useful
X to consider because you can reason about it theoretically. (A
X classic gedanken experiment of relativity theory involves thinking
X about a man flying through space in an elevator.) Gedanken
X experiments are very useful in physics, but you have to be careful.
X It was a gedanken experiment that led Aristotle to conclude that
X heavy things always fall faster than light things (he thought about
X a rock and a feather); this was accepted until Galileo proved
X otherwise. Among hackers, however, the word has a pejorative
X connotation. It is said of a project, especially one in artificial
X intelligence research, which is written up in grand detail
X (typically as a Ph.D. thesis) without ever being implemented to any
X great extent. Such a project is usually perpetrated by people who
X aren't very good hackers or find programming distasteful or are
X just in a hurry. A gedanken thesis is usually marked by an obvious
X lack of intuition about what is programmable and what is not, and
X about what does and does not constitute a clear specification an
X algorithm.
X
X vi. To temporarily enter techno-nerd mode while in a
X non-hackish context, for example at parties held near computer
X equipment. Especially used when you need to do something highly
X technical and don't have time to explain: "Pardon me while I geek
X out for a moment."
X
X n. (also "gender bender" and "sex changer") A
X cable connector shell with either two male or two female connectors
X on it, used to correct the mismatches that result when some
X didn't understand the RS232C specification and the distinction
X between DTE and DCE. Used esp. for RS-232C parts in either the
X original D-25 or the IBM PC's bogus D-9 format.
X
X n. Pejorative name for some versions of the
X project or General Public License, which requires
X that any tools or s incorporating copylefted code must be
X source-distributed on the same counter-commercial terms as GNU
X stuff. Thus it is alleged that the copyleft `infects' software
X generated with GNU tools, which may in turn infect other software
X that reuses any of its code. FSF's official position as of January
X 1991 is that only "programs textually incorporating significant
X amounts of GNU code" fall under the GPL and that the infection is
X not passed on to third parties unless actual GNU source is
X transmitted (as in, for example, use of the Bison parser skeleton).
X Nevertheless, widespread suspicion that the language is
X `boobytrapped' has caused many developers to avoid using GNU tools
X and the license.
X
X vt. To produce something according to an algorithm or
X program or set of rules, or as a (possibly unintended) side effect
X of the execution of an algorithm or program. The opposite of
X . This term retains its mechanistic connotations (though
X often humorously) when used of human behavior. "The guy is
X rational most of the time, but mention nuclear energy around him
X and he'll generate flamage."
X
X imp. Hacker-standard way of suggesting that the person
X to whom you are speaking has succumbed to terminal geekdom (see
X ). Often heard on . This exhortation was
X originally uttered by William Shatner on a Saturday Night Live
X episode in a speech which ended "Get a *life*!".
X
X imp. Typical hacker response to news that
X somebody is having trouble getting work done on a system that is a)
X single-tasking, b) has no Winchester, or c) has an address space
X smaller than 4 megabytes. This is as of 1990; note that the
X threshold for `real computer' rises with time, and it may well be
X (for example) that machines with character-only displays will be
X considered `unreal' in a few years. See and .
X
X /jee eff ar/ vt. [acronym, ITS] From "Grim File Reaper", an
X ITS utility. To remove a file or files according to some
X program-automated or semi-automatic manual procedure, especially
X one designed to reclaim mass storage space or reduce namespace
X clutter. Often generalized to pieces of data below file level.
X "I used to have his phone number but I guess I ed it." See
X also , .
X
X /jig/, rarely /gig/ n. Short for "gigabyte" (1024 megabytes);
X esp. used in describing amounts of or mass storage. "My
X machine just got upgraded to a quarter-gig". See also .
X
X /ji'ga/ pref. See .
X
X /gie'goh/ [acronym] 1. Garbage In, Garbage out -- Usually said
X in response to lusers who complain that a program didn't complain
X about faulty data. Also commonly used to describe failures in
X human decision making due to faulty, incomplete or imprecise data.
X 2. Garbage In, Gospel Out -- this more recent expansion is a
X sardonic comment on the tendency human beings have to put excessive
X trust in "computerized" data.
X
X /jill'yun/ n. 10^9. [From giga, following construction of
X mega/million and notional tera/trillion] Same as an American
X billion or a British `milliard'.
X
X /glark/ vt. To figure something out from context. "The System
X III manuals are pretty poor, but you can generally glark the
X meaning from context". Interestingly, the original sentence was
X "This gubblick contains many nonsklarkish English flutzpahs, but
X the overall pluggandisp can be glorked [sic] from context." by
X David Moser, quoted by Douglas Hofstadter in his `Metamagical
X Themas' column in the January 1981 Scientific American. It is
X conjectured that hackish usage mutated the verb to `glark' because
X was already an established jargon term.
X
X [IBM] n. Synonym for .
X
X /glas tee-tee-wie/ or /glas ti-tee/ n. A terminal which
X has a display screen but which, because of hardware or software
X limitations, behaves like a teletype or other printing terminal ,
X thereby combining the disadvantages of both: like a printing
X terminal, it can't do fancy display hacks, and like a display
X terminal, it doesn't produce hard copy An example is Lear-Siegler
X the ADM-3 (without cursor control). See , . See
X Appendix A for an interesting true story about glass TTYs.
X
X /glich/ [from German "glitchen" to slip, via Yiddish
X "glitshen", to slide or skid] 1. n. A sudden interruption in
X electric service, sanity,, continuity, or program function.
X Sometimes recoverable. An interruption in electric service is
X specifically called a "power glitch". This is of grave concern
X because it usually crashes all the computers. More common in
X slang, though, a hacker who got to the middle of a sentence and
X then forgotten how he or she intended to complete it might say,
X "Sorry, I just glitched". 2. vi. To commit a glitch. See
X . 3. vt. [Stanford] To scroll a display screen several
X lines at a time. This derives from some oddities in the terminal
X behavior under the mutant TOPS-10 formerly used at SAIL. 4. (obs.)
X Same as , sense #2.
X
X /glob/, *not* /glohb/ [UNIX, from "glob", the name of a
X subprogram that translated wildcards in archaic Bourne Shell
X versions] v. To expand special characters in a wildcarded name (the
X action is "globbing"). The UNIX conventions for filename
X wildcarding have become sufficiently pervasive that many hackers
X use some of them in written English, especially in email or news on
X technical topics. Those commonly encountered include:
X
X * wildcard for any string (see UN*X).
X ? wildcard for any character (generally only read this way
X at the beginning or in the middle of a word).
X [] wildcard matching one character from a specified set.
X {} alternation of comma-separated alternatives. Thus,
X `{foo,bar}baz' would be read as `foobar' or `foobaz'.
X
X Some examples: "He said his name was [KC]arl" (expresses
X ambiguity). "That got posted to talk.politics.*" (all the
X talk.politics subgroups on ). Other examples are given
X under the entry for `X'. as a noun refers to the act of
X expanding a string using these conventions. It is also used as a
X verb.
X
X /glork/ 1. interj. Term of mild surprise, usually tinged with
X outrage, as when one attempts to save the results of two hours of
X editing and finds that the system has just crashed. 2. Used as a
X name for just about anything. See . 3. vt. Similar to
X , but usually used reflexively. "My program just glorked
X itself."
X
X adj. Both and in the sense of complex.
X "Yeech --- the tuned assembler implementation of BitBlt is really
X gnarly!" From a similar but less specific usage in surfer slang.
X
X /gnoo/, *not* /noo/ 1. [acronym for "GNU's Not UNIX!"] A
X UNIX-workalike development effort of the Free Software Foundation
X headed by Richard Stallman (rms@prep.ai.mit.edu). GNU EMACS and
X the GNU C compiler, two tools designed for this project, have
X become very popular in hackerdom. See , ,
X . 2. Noted UNIX hacker John Gilmore
X (gnu@hoptoad.com), ironically enough one of the best-known and
X most vocal opponents of the "information should not be property"
X philosophy behind GNU (sense #1).
X
X /gnoo'maks/ [contraction of "Gnu Emacs"] Often-heard
X abbreviated name for the project's flagship tool, .
X Used esp. in contrast with .
X
X [from cyberpunk SF, refers to flattening of EEG traces
X upon brain-death] vi., also adjectival . 1. To die,
X terminate, or fail, esp. irreversibly. In hacker parlance this is
X used of machines only, human death being considered somewhat too
X serious a matter to employ jargon-jokes about. 2. To go completely
X quiescent; said of machines undergoing controlled shutdown. "You
X can suffer file damage if you shut down UNIX but power off before
X the system has gone flatline." 3. A particular failure mode of
X video tubes in which vertical scan is lost, so all one sees is a
X bright horizontal line bisecting the screen.
X
X vt. To consume or to obtain. The phrase tends to
X imply "consume", while tends to imply "obtain".
X "The output spy gobbles characters out of a output buffer."
X "I guess I'll gobble down a copy of the documentation tomorrow."
X See also .
X
X /gonk/ vt.,n. 1. To prevaricate or to embellish the truth
X beyond any reasonable recognition. In German the term is
X (fictively) "gonken", in spanish the verb becomes "gonkar".
X "You're gonking me. That story you just told me is a bunch of
X gonk." In German, "Du Gonkst mir" (You're pulling my leg).
X See also . 2. [British] To grab some sleep at an odd
X time.
X
X /gon'kyoo-lay-tr/ [from the old "Hogan's Heroes" TV
X series] n. A pretentious piece of equipment that actually serves no
X useful purpose. Usually used to describe one's least favorite
X piece of computer hardware. See .
X
X /gon'zo/ [from Hunter S. Thompson] adj. Overwhelming;
X outrageous; over the top; very large, esp. used of collections of
X source code, source files or individual functions. Has some of the
X connotations of and , q.v.
X
X adj. Often capitalized; always pronounced as if
X capitalized. 1. Self-evidently wonderful to anyone in a position
X to notice: "The Trailblazer's 19.2Kbaud PEP mode with on-the-fly
X Lempel-Ziv compression is a Good Thing for sites relaying
X netnews." 2. Something which can't possibly have any ill side
X effects and may save considerable grief later: "Removing the
X self-modifying code from that shared library would be a Good
X Thing." 3. When said of software tools or libraries, as in "YACC
X is a Good Thing", specifically connotes that the thing has
X drastically reduced a programmer's work load. Oppose .
X
X n. The side-effect that destroyed touch-screens as a
X mainstream input technology despite a promising start in the early
X eighties. It seems the designers of all those touch-menu
X systems failed to notice that humans aren't designed to hold their
X arms in front of their faces making small motions. After more than
X a very few selects the arm begins to feel sore, cramped, and
X oversized, hence "gorilla arm". This is now considered a classic
X Horrible Example and cautionary tale to human-factors designers;
X "remember the gorilla arm" is shorthand for "how's this gonna
X fly in *real* use?"
X
X /gorp/ [CMU, perhaps from a brand of dried hiker's food?]
X Another metasyntactic variable, like and .
X
X /goz'maks/ [contraction of "Gosling Emacs"] n. The first
X -in-C implementation, predating but now largely eclipsed by
X . Originally freeware; a commercial version is now
X modestly popular as "UniPress Emacs".
X
X /goss'p@r'iz'm/ A hack, invention, or saying by
X arch-hacker R. William (Bill) Gosper. This notion merits its own
X term because there are so many of them. Many of the entries in
X are Gosperisms; see also .
X
X /grawlt/ n. Yet another meta-syntactic variable, invented by
X Mike Gallaher and propagated by the documentation. See
X .
X
X n. A hypothetical substance composed of of
X sub-micron-sized Von Neumann machines (self-replicating robots)
X programmed to make copies of themselves out of whatever is
X available. The image that goes with the term is one of the entire
X biosphere of Earth being eventually converted to robot goo. This
X is the simplest of the disaster scenarios and is
X easily refuted by arguments from energy requirements and elemental
X abundances.
X
X n. The on which all of the groups on the
X had their names changed from the net.* format to the
X current multiple-hierarchies scheme.
X
X [from SF fandom] vi.,n. A mass expedition to an oriental
X restaurant, esp. one where food is seved family-style and shared.
X There is a common heuristic about the amount of food to order
X expressed as "For N people, get N - 1 entrees.". See , , .
X
X n. 1. One of the three standard PostScript references
X (`PostScript Language Program Design', Adobe Systems,
X Addison-Wesley 1988 QA76.73.P67P66 ISBN 0-201-14396-8); see also
X , ). 2. `Smalltalk-80: Bits of History,
X Words of Advice', Glenn Krasner, Addison-Wesley 1983,
X QA76.8.S635S58, ISBN 0-201-11669-3 (this is also associated with
X blue and red books). 3. The `X/Open Compatibility Guide'. Defines
X an international standard environment that is a proper
X superset of POSIX/SVID; also includes descriptions of a standard
X utility toolkit, systems administrations features, and the like.
X This grimoire is taken with particular seriousness in Europe. See
X . 4. The IEEE 1003.1 POSIX Operating Systems
X Interface standard has been dubbed "The Ugly Green Book". 5. Any
X of the 1992 standards which will be issued by the CCIT 10th plenary
X assembly. Until now, hese have changed color each review cycle
X (1984 was , 1988 ); however, it is rumored
X that this convention is going to be dropped befor 1992. These
X include, among other things, the X.400 email spec and the Group 1
X through 4 fax standards. See also , , , , , , ,
X , .
X
X n. 1. Meta-information imbedded in a file such as the
X length of the file or its name; as opposed to keeping such
X information in a separate description file or record. Name comes
X from an IBM user's group meeting where these two approaches were
X being debated and the diagram of the file on the blackboard had the
X "green bytes" drawn in green. 2. By extension, the
X non-data bits in any self-describing format. "A GIF file
X contains, among other things, green bytes describing the packing
X method for the image."
X
X [IBM] n. Apparently random flashing streaks on the
X face of 3278-9 terminals while a programmable symbol set is being
X loaded. This hardware bug was left deliberately unfixed, as some
X bright spark suggested that this would let the user know that
X `something is happening'. It certainly does. 2. [proposed] Any bug
X perverted into an alleged feature by adroit rationalization or
X marketing. E.g. "Motorola calls the CISC cruft in the 8800
X architecture `compatibility logic', but I call it green
X lightning".
X
X /grep/ [from the qed/ed editor idiom g/re/p (Global search for
X Regular Expression and Print) via `grep(1)'] vt. To rapidly
X scan a file or file set looking for a particular string or pattern.
X By extension, to look for something by pattern. "Grep the bulletin
X board for the system backup schedule, would you?"
X
X vt. 1. [MIT and Berkeley] To format code, especially LISP
X code, by indenting lines so that it looks pretty. This usage was
X associated with the MACLISP community and is now rare;
X was and is the generic term for such operations. 2.
X [UNIX] To generate the formatted version of a document from the
X nroff, troff, TeX or Scribe source. 3. To run seemingly
X interminably, performing some tedious and inherently useless task.
X Similar to , . 3. excl. Roughly,
X "Isn't the machine slow today!"
X
X n. A mythical accessory to a terminal. A crank on the
X side of a monitor, which when operated makes a zizzing noise and
X causes the computer to run faster. Usually one does not refer to a
X grind crank out loud, but merely makes the appropriate gesture and
X noise. See , and .
X
X Historical note: At least one real machine actually had a grind
X crank --- the R1, a research machine built towards the the end of
X the days of the great vacuum tube computers in 1959. R1 (also
X known as "The Rice Institute Computer" - TRIC, and later as "The
X Rice University Computer" - TRUC) had a single step/free run
X switch for use when debugging programs. Since single stepping
X through a large program was rather tedious, there was also a crank
X with a cam and gear arrangement that repeatedly pushed the single
X step button. This allowed one to "crank" through a lot of code,
X then slow down to single step a bit when you got near the code of
X interest, poke at some registers using the "console typewriter",
X and then keep on cranking.
X
X /grich/ 1. n. A complaint (often caused by a ). 2.
X vi. To complain. Often verb-doubled: "Gritch gritch". 3. A
X synonym for (as verb or noun).
X
X /grok/ [from the novel "Stranger in a Strange Land", by
X Robert Heinlein, where it is a Martian verb meaning literally "to
X drink" and metaphorically "to be one with"] vt. 1. To
X understand, usually in a global sense. Connotes intimate and
X exhaustive knowledge. Contrast , similar supernal
X understanding as a single brief flash. 2. Used of programs, may
X connote merely sufficient understanding, e.g., "Almost all C
X compilers grok void these days."
X
X /gronk/ [popularized by the cartoon strip "B.C." by Johnny
X Hart, but the word apparently predates that] vt. 1. To clear the
X state of a wedged device and restart it. More severe than "to
X ". 2. To break. "The teletype scanner was gronked,
X so we took the system down." 3. : adj. Of people, the
X condition of feeling very tired or sick. Oppose , which
X means about the same as used of hardware but connotes
X depression or mental/emotional problems in people. 4. :
X vi. To cease functioning. Of people, to go home and go to sleep.
X "I guess I'll gronk out now; see you all tomorrow."
X
X vi. 1. To work interminably and without apparent progress.
X Often used transitively with "over" or "through". "The file
X scavenger has been grovelling through the file directories for ten
X minutes now." Compare and . Emphatic form:
X . 2. To examine minutely or in complete detail.
X "The compiler grovels over the entire source program before
X beginning to translate it." "I grovelled through all the
X documentation, but I still couldn't find the command I wanted."
X
X [Cambridge] n. Code which is `dead' (can never be accessed)
X due to changes in other parts of the program. The preferred term
X in North America is ,
X
X /gruhn'jee/ adj. Incredibly dirty, greasy, or grubby.
X Anything which has been washed within the last year is not really
X grungy. Also used metaphorically; hence some programs (especially
X crocks) can be described as grungy. Now (1990) also common in
X mainstream slang.
X
X /guh'bish/ [a portmanteau of "garbage" and "rubbish"?]
X n. Garbage; crap; nonsense. "What is all this gubbish?" The
X opposite portmanteau "rubbage" is also reported.
X
X n. decorated with a message telling one how
X long and hard the author worked on this program and intimating that
X one is a no-good freeloader if one does not immediately send the
X poor suffering martyr gobs of money.
X
X /guhm'bee/ [from a class of Monty Python characters, poss.
X themselves named after a '60s claymation character] n. An act of
X minor but conspicuous stupidity, often in or .
X
X [from the :GUN command on ITS] vt. To forcibly terminate a
X program or job (computer, not career). "Some idiot left a
X background process running soaking up half the cycles, so I gunned
X it." Compare .
X
X /ger'fl/ interj. An expression of shocked disbelief. "He
X said we have to recode this thing in FORTRAN by next week.
X Gurfle!" Compare .
X
X n. 1. [UNIX] An expert. Implies not only skill but a
X history of being a knowledge resource for others. Less often, used
X (with a qualifier) for other experts on other systems, as in "VMS
X guru". 2. Amiga equivalent of "panic" in UNIX. When the system
X crashes a cryptic message "GURU MEDITATION #XXXXXXXX.YYYYYYYY"
X appears, indicating what the problem was. An Amiga guru can figure
X things out from the numbers. Generally a event must be
X followed by a .
X
X {= H =}
X
X [from SF fandom] A method of "marking" common words in the
X linguist's sense, i.e. calling attention to the fact that they are
X being used in a nonstandard, ironic or humorous way. Orig. in the
X fannish catchphrase "Bheer is the One True Ghod" from decades
X ago. H-infix marking of "Ghod" and other words spread into the
X Sixties counterculture via underground comix, and into early
X hackerdom either from the counterculture or SF fandom (all three
X overlapped heavily at the time). More recently, the h infix has
X become an expected feature of benchmark names, i.e. Whetstone,
X Dhrystone, Rhealstone, etc; this is prob. patterning on the
X original Whetstone name but influenced by the
X fannish/counterculture H infix.
X
X [from SF fandom, orig. as mutation of HHOK, "Ha
X Ha Only Kidding"] A phrase that aptly captures the flavor of much
X hacker discourse (often seen abbreviated as HHOS). Applied
X especially to parodies, absurdities and ironic jokes that are both
X intended and perceived to contain a possibly disquieting amount of
X truth, or truths which are constructed on in-joke and self-parody.
X The jargon file contains many examples of ha-ha-only-serious in
X both form and content. Indeed, the entirety of hacker culture is
X often perceived as ha-ha-only-serious by hackers themselves; to
X take it either too lightly or too seriously marks a person as an
X outsider or one in . For further enlightenment on
X this subject, consult any Zen master. See also and
X .
X
X 1. n. Originally a quick job that produces what is needed, but
X not well. 2. n. An incredibly good, and perhaps very
X time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed.
X 3. The result of a hack (sense 1 or 2); 3. : A clever
X technique. Also, a brilliant practical joke, where neatness is
X correlated with cleverness, harmlessness, and surprise value.
X Example: the Caltech Rose Bowl card display switch circa 1961. 4.
X : A crock (occasionally affectionate). vt. 5. With
X "together", to throw something together so it will work. 6. To
X bear emotionally or physically. "I can't hack this heat!" 7. To
X work on something (typically a program). In specific sense: "What
X are you doing?" "I'm hacking TECO." In general sense: "What
X do you do around here?" "I hack TECO." (The former is
X time-immediate, the latter time-extended.) More generally, "I
X hack x" is roughly equivalent to "x is my major interest (or
X project)". "I hack solid-state physics." 8. To pull a prank
X on. See definition 3 and (def #6). 9. v.i. To waste time
X (as opposed to ). "Watcha up to?" "Oh, just hacking."
X 10. , : To hack, but generally implies that the
X result is meanings 1-2. 11. [UNIX] A dungeon game similar to
X but more elaborate, distributed in C source over
X and very popular at UNIX sites and on PC-class machines. Recent
X versions are called `nethack'. 12. Short for , which see.
X
X Constructions on this term abound. They include: : A
X farewell. : A friendly greeting among hackers.
X : A somewhat pointless but friendly comment, often used
X as a temporary farewell. For more on the meaning of see
X Appendix A.
X
X [poss by analogy with "Big Mac Attack"] n. Nearly
X synonymous with though the latter implies an
X all-nighter more strongly.
X
X n. Often adduced as the reason or motivation for
X expending effort toward a seemingly useless goal, the point being
X that the accomplished goal is a hack. For example, MacLISP has
X features for reading and printing roman numerals, which was
X installed purely for hack value. As a musician once said of jazz,
X if you don't understand hack value there is no way it can be
X explained.
X
X [originally, someone who makes furniture with an axe] n. 1. A
X person who enjoys learning the details of programming systems and
X how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users who
X prefer to learn only the minimum necessary. 2. One who programs
X enthusiastically (even obsessively), or who enjoys programming
X rather than just theorizing about programming. 3. A person capable
X of appreciating . 4. A person who is good at
X programming quickly. Not everything a hacker produces is a hack.
X 5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently does
X work using it or on it; example: "A UNIX hacker". (Definitions 1
X to 5 are correlated, and people who fit them congregate.) 6. An
X expert of any kind. One might be an astronomy hacker, for example.
X 7. (deprecated) A malicious or inquisitive meddler who tries to
X discover information by poking around. Hence "password hacker",
X "network hacker". See .
X
X n. 1. What one is in when hacking, of course. 2. More
X specifically, a Zen-like state of total focus on The Problem which
X may be achieved when one is hacking. Ability to enter such
X concentration at will correlates strongly with wizardliness; it is
X one of the most important skills learned during .
X Sometimes amplified as "deep hack mode". Being yanked out of hack
X mode (see ) may be experienced as an almost
X physical shock, and the sensation of being in it is more than a
X little habituating. The intensity of this experience is probably
X by itself sufficient explanation for the existence of hackers, and
X explains why many resist being promoted out of positions where they
X can do code.
X
X [analogy with "bombing run" or "speed run"] n. A
X hack session extended long outside normal working times, especially
X one longer than 12 hours. May cause you to "change phase the hard
X way" (see ).
X
X /hak'ish/ adj. (also n.) 1. Being or involving
X a hack. 2. Of or pertaining to hackers or the hacker subculture.
X See also . It is better to be described as hackish by
X others than to describe oneself that way. Hackers consider
X themselves somewhat of an elite, though one to which new members
X are gladly welcome. It is a meritocracy based on ability. There
X is a certain self-satisfaction in identifying yourself as a hacker
X (but if you claim to be one and are not, you'll quickly be labelled
X ).
X
X n. The quality of being or involving a hack.
X (The word is considered silly; the standard term is
X .)
X
X n. The complications which make something hairy. "Decoding
X commands requires a certain amount of hair." Often seen in
X the phrase , which connotes extreme complexity.
X Also in (tending to promote hair growth): "GNU elisp
X encourages lusers to write complex editing modes." "Yeah, it's
X pretty hairiferous all right." (or just: "Hair squared!")
X
X adj. 1. Overly complicated. " is incredibly hairy."
X 2. Incomprehensible. " is incredibly hairy." 3. Of
X people, high-powered, authoritative, rare, expert, and/or
X incomprehensible. Hard to explain except in context: "He knows
X this hairy lawyer who says there's nothing to worry about."
X
X /hak'mem/ n. MIT AI Memo 239 (February 1972). A legendary
X collection of neat mathematical and programming hacks contributed
X by many people at MIT and elsewhere. (The title of the memo really
X is "HAKMEM", which is an acronym of sorts for "hacks memo".)
X Some of them are very useful techniques or powerful theorems, but
X most fall into the category of mathematical and computer trivia. A
X sampling of the entries (with authors), slightly paraphrased:
X
X Item 41 (Gene Salamin) There are exactly 23,000 prime numbers less
X than 2 to the 18th power.
X
X Item 46 (Rich Schroeppel) The most *probable* suit
X distribution in bridge hands is 4-4-3-2, as compared to 4-3-3-3,
X which is the most *evenly* distributed. This is because the
X world likes to have unequal numbers: a thermodynamic effect saying
X things will not be in the state of lowest energy, but in the state
X of lowest disordered energy.
X
X Problem 81 (Rich Schroeppel) Count the magic squares of order 5
X (that is, all the 5-by-5 arrangements of the numbers from 1 to 25
X such that all rows, columns, and diagonals add up to the same
X number). There are about 320 million, not counting those that
X differ only by rotation and reflection.
X
X Item 174 (Bill Gosper and Stuart Nelson) 21963283741 is the only
X number such that if you represent it on the as both an
X integer and a floating-point number, the bit patterns of the two
X representations are identical.
X
X HAKMEM also contains some rather more complicated mathematical and
X technical items, but these examples show some of its fun flavor.
X
X /hak'speek/ n. Generally used term to describe a method of
X spelling to be found on many British academic bulletin boards and
X talker systems. Syllables and whole words in a sentence are
X replaced by single ASCII characters which are phonetically similar
X or equivalent, whilst multiple letters are usually dropped. Hence
X `for' becomes `4', `two', `too' and `to' become `2', `ck' becomes
X `k'. "Before I see you tomorrow" becomes "b4 i c u 2moro".
X First appeared in London about 1986, and was probably caused by the
X slow speed of available talker systems, which operated on archaic
X machines with outdated operating systems, and no standard methods
X of commuinication. Has become rarer nowadays. See also .
X
X n. A particularly slick little piece of code that does one
X thing well; a small, self-contained hack. The image is of a
X hamster happily spinning its exercise wheel.
X
X n. 1. The practice of translating s from an
X into custom hand-optimized assembler, as opposed to trying to
X coerce the compiler into generating better code. Both the term and
X the practice are becoming uncommon. See , ; syn. with
X v. . 2. More generally, manual construction or patching of
X data sets that would normally be ground out by a translation
X utility and interpreted by another program, and aren't really
X designed to be read or modified by humans.
X
X