Xref: utzoo alt.folklore.computers:8409 comp.unix.internals:1718 comp.misc:11052
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!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 7 of 11
Message-ID: <1Z0vXL#7sj9YP9rwjO56VRwcB7MK5ZH=eric@snark.thyrsus.com>
Date: 3 Jan 91 21:06:02 GMT
Lines: 1030
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X tactics.
X
X n. A state of complete network overload; the
X network equivalent of ing. See also .
X
X /meem/ [coined on analogy with `gene' by Richard Dawkins] n. An
X idea considered as a . Used esp. in the prase `meme
X complex' denoting a group of mutually supporting memes which form
X an organized belief system, such as a religion. This dictionary is
X a vector of the "hacker subculture" meme complex; each entry
X might be considered a meme. However, "meme" is often misused to
X mean "meme complex". Use of the term connotes acceptance of the
X idea that in humans (and presumably other tool-and language-using
X sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has
X superseded biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits.
X Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious reasons.
X
X n. The spread of a successful but pernicious ,
X esp. one which `parasitizes' the victims into giving their all to
X propagate it. Astrology, BASIC, and the other guy's religion are
X often considered to be examples. This usage is given point by the
X historical fact that `joiner' ideologies like Naziism or various
X forms of millenarian Christianity have exhibited plague-like cycles
X of exponential growth followed by collapse to small `reservoir'
X populations.
X
X /me-me-tiks/ [from ] The study of memes. As of 1990,
X this is still an extremely informal and speculative endeavor,
X though the first steps towards at least statistical rigor have been
X made by H. Keith Henson and others. Memetics is a popular topic
X among hackers, who like to see themselves as the architects of the
X new information ecologies in which memes live and replicate.
X
X [C/UNIX programmers] n. An error in a program's
X dynamic-store allocation logic that causes it to fail to reclaim
X discarded memory, leading to attempted hogging of main store and
X eventual collapse due to memory exhaustion. Also (esp. at CMU)
X called . See , , , , , .
X
X /men`yoo-i'tis/ n. Notional disease suffered by software
X with an obsessively simple-minded menu interface and no escape.
X Hackers find this intensely irritating and much prefer the
X flexibility of command-line or language-style interfaces,
X especially those customizable via macros or a special-purpose
X language in which one can encode useful hacks. See
X , , .
X
X /mes-dos/ [UNIX hackers] n. Derisory term for MS-DOS. Often
X followed by the ritual expurgation "Just Say No!". See MS-DOS.
X Most hackers (even many MS-DOS hackers) loathe MS-DOS for its
X single-tasking nature, its limits on application size, its nasty
X primitive interface, and its ties to IBMness (see ). Also "mess-loss", "messy-dos", "mess-dog"
X "mess-loss" "mess-dross" and various combinations thereof.
X
X /meta@/ or /mayt'@/ [from analytic philosophy] adj. One level
X of description up. Thus, a meta-syntactic variable is a variable
X in notation used to describe syntax and meta-language is language
X used to describe language. This is difficult to explain out of
X context, but much hacker humor turns on deliberate confusion
X between meta-levels. See .
X
X /meta@ bit/ or /mayt'@ bit/ n. Bit 8 of an 8-bit
X character, on in values 128-255. Also called or . Some terminals and consoles (especially those designed for
X LISP traditions) have a META-shift key. Others (including,
X mirabile dictu, keyboards on IBM PC-class machines) have an ALT
X key. See also .
X
X n. 3-1/2 inch floppies, as opposed to 5-1/4
X or mini-floppies and the now-obsolescent 8-inch variety. This term
X may be headed for obsolescence as 5-1/4 inchers pass out of use,
X only to be revived if anybody floats a sub-3-inch floppy standard.
X See .
X
X n. Occasionally used to mean a DECtape, as opposed to a
X . A DECtape is a small reel of magnetic tape about four
X inches in diameter and an inch deep. Unlike normal drivers for
X standard magnetic tapes, microtape drivers allow "random access"
X to the data. In their heyday they were used in pretty much the
X same ways one would now use a floppy disk: as a small, portable way
X to save and transport files and programs. Apparently the term
X "microtape" was actually the official term used within DEC for
X these tapes until someone consed up the word "DECtape", which of
X course sounded sexier to the types.
X
X adj. Not or . Used of
X byte orders like 3-4-1-2 occasionally found in the packed-decimal
X formats of minicomputer manufacturers who shall remain nameless.
X
X /mil'i-lamp-sn/ n. How fast people can talk. Most
X people run about 200 millilampsons. Butler Lampson (a CS theorist
X and systems implementor highly regarded among hackers) goes at
X 1000. A few people speak faster.
X
X /mips/ [acronym] 1. A measure of computing speed; formally,
X "Millions of Instructions Per Second"; often rendered by hackers
X as "Meaningless Indication of Processor Speed". This joke
X expresses a nearly universal attitude about the value of
X claims, said attitude being one of the great cultural
X divides between hackers and s. 2. The corporate name
X of a RISC-chip maker; among other things, they supplied silicon for
X the DEC 3100 workstation series.
X
X [mit] n. An unintended property of a program that turns out
X to be useful; something that should have been a but turns out
X to be a . Usage: rare.
X
X /mis-fee'chr/ n. A feature which eventually screws
X someone, possibly because it is not adequate for a new situation
X which has evolved. It is not the same as a bug because fixing it
X involves a gross philosophical change to the structure of the
X system involved. A misfeature is different from a simple
X unforeseen side effect; the term implies that the misfeature was
X actually carefully planned to be that way, but future consequences
X or circumstances just weren't predicted accurately. This is
X different from just not having thought ahead about it at all.
X Often a former feature becomes a misfeature because a tradeoff was
X made whose parameters subsequently changed (possibly only in the
X judgment of the implementors). "Well, yeah, it's kind of a
X misfeature that file names are limited to six characters, but the
X original implementors wanted to save directory space and we're
X stuck with it for now."
X
X n. Pejorative hackerism for AT&T System V UNIX,
X generally used by partisans in a bigoted mood. See , .
X
X [seems to have been in use among model railroad fans years ago.
X Derived from Melville's "Moby Dick" (some say from "Moby
X Pickle").] 1. adj. Large, immense, complex, impressive. "A
X Saturn V rocket is a truly moby frob." "Some MIT undergrads
X pulled off a moby hack at the Harvard-Yale game." (see Appendix
X A). 2. n. obs. The maximum address space of a machine (see
X below). For a 68000 or VAX or most modern 32-bit architectures, it
X is 4294967296 8-bit bytes. 3. A title of address (never of
X third-person reference), usually used to show admiration, respect,
X and/or friendliness to a competent hacker. "Greetings, moby Dave.
X How's that address-book thing for the Mac going?" 4. adj. In
X backgammon, doubles on the dice, as in "moby sixes", "moby
X ones", etc. Compare this with (sense #2): double sixes
X are both bignums and moby sixes, but moby ones are not bignums (the
X use of term "moby" to describe double ones is sarcastic). , , : standard emphatic forms. : a spoonerism due to Greenblatt.
X
X This term entered hackerdom with the Fabritek 256K moby memory of
X the MIT-AI machine. Thus, a moby is classically, 256K 36-bit words,
X the size of a PDP-10 moby (it has two). Back when address
X registers were narrow, the term was more generally useful; because
X when a computer had virtual memory mapping it might actually
X have more physical memory attached to it than any one program could
X access directly. One could then say "This computer has six
X mobies" to mean that the ratio of physical memory to address space
X is six, without having to say specifically how much memory there
X actually is. That in turn implied that the computer could
X timeshare six "full-sized" programs without having to swap
X programs between memory and disk.
X
X Nowadays the low cost of processor logic means that registers are
X typically wider than the most memory you can cram onto a machine,
X so most systems have much *less* than 1 theoretical `native'
X moby of core. Also, more modern memory-management techniques make
X the `moby count' less significant. However, there is one series of
X popular chips for which the term could stand to be revived -- the
X Intel 8088 and 80286 with their incredibly brain-damaged
X segmented-memory design. On these, a `moby' would be the
X 1-megabyte address span of a paragraph-plus-offset pair.
X
X n. A general state, usually used with an adjective describing
X the state. Use of the word "mode" rather than "state" implies
X that the state is extended over time, and probably also that some
X activity characteristic of that state is being carried out. "No
X time to hack; I'm in thesis mode." Usage: in its jargon sense,
X "mode" is most often said of people, though it is sometimes
X applied to programs and inanimate objects. "The E editor normally
X uses a display terminal, but if you're on a TTY it will switch to
X non-display mode." This term is normally used in a technical sense
X to describe the state of a program. Extended usage --- for
X example, to describe people --- is definitely slang. In
X particular, see , , , ,
X and ; also .
X
X One also often hears the verbs "enable" and "disable" used in
X connection with slang modes. Thus, for example, a sillier way of
X saying "I'm going to crash" is "I'm going to enable crash mode
X now." One might also hear a request to "disable flame mode,
X please".
X
X /mod'yuh-low/ prep. Except for. From mathematical
X terminology: one can consider saying that 4=22 "except for the
X 9's" (4=22 mod 9) (the precise meaning is a bit more complicated,
X but that's the idea). "Well, LISP seems to work okay now, modulo
X that bug." "I feel fine today modulo a slight headache."
X
X vt. To hack together hardware for a particular task,
X especially a one-shot job. Connotes an extremely and
X consciously temporary solution.
X
X 1. n. A ridiculously program or system,
X esp. one which is buggy or only marginally functional. 2. The
X quality of being monstrous (see `Peculiar nouns' in the discussion
X of jargonification). See also .
X
X /morz law/ n. The observation that the logic density of
X silicon integrated circuits has closely followed the curve (bits
X per inch ^ 2) = 2 ^ (n - 1962); that is, the amount of
X information storable in one square inch of silicon has roughly
X doubled yearly every year since the technology was invented.
X
X /mor'i-ah/ n. Together with and , one of the
X large PD Dungeons-and-Dragons simulation games, available for a
X wide range of machines and operationg systems. Extremely addictive
X and a major consumer of time better used for hacking.
X
X /moh-tahs/ [USENET, Member Of The Appropriate Sex] n. A
X potential or (less often) actual sex partner. See ,
X , .
X
X /moh-tohs/ [from the 1970 census forms via USENET, Member Of
X The Opposite Sex] n. A potential or (less often) actual sex
X partner. See , , Less common than or
X , which has largely displaced it.
X
X /motss/ [from the 1970 census forms via USENET, Member Of The
X Same Sex] n. Esp. one considered as a possible sexual partner, e.g.
X by a gay or lesbian. The gay-issues newsgroup on USENET is called
X soc.motss. See and , which derive from it. Also
X see .
X
X vt. 1. To attach a removable physical storage volume to a
X machine. In elder days and on mainframes this verb was used almost
X exclusively of tapes; nowadays it is more likely to refer to a disk
X or disk pack. 2. By extension, to attach any removable device such
X as a sensor, robot arm, or subsystem (see Appendix A).
X 3. [UNIX] To make a volume of some sort available for
X use. The volume in question may or may not be removable and may be
X just one partition of a physical device.
X
X vi. To manipulate a computer's pointing device (almost
X always a mouse in this usage, but not necessarily) and its
X selection or command buttons before a computer program is ready to
X accept such input, in anticipation of the program accepting the
X input. Handling this properly is rare, but it can help make a
X program usable by real users, assuming they are
X familiar with the behavior of the user interface. Point-and-click
X analog of "type ahead".
X
X vi. To explore public portions of a large system, esp.
X a network such as Internet via or , looking for
X interesting stuff to .
X
X n. A tennis-elbow-like fatigue syndrome resulting from
X excessive use of a .
X
X /mow'so/ n. [by analogy with `typo'] An error in mouse usage
X resulting in an inappropriate selection or graphic garbage on the
X screen. Compare .
X
X /em-es-dos/ [MicroSoft Disk Operating System] n. A of
X for the 8088 crufted together in six weeks by hacker Tim
X Paterson, who is said to have regretted it ever since. Numerous
X features including vaguely UNIX-like but rather broken support for
X subdirectories, I/O redirection, and pipelines were hacked in in
X 2.0 and subsequent versions; as a result, there are two
X incompatible versions of many system calls, and MS-DOS programmers
X can never agree on basic things like what to use as an option
X switch or whether to be case-sensitive. Now the
X highest-unit-volume OS in history. Often known simply as DOS,
X which annoys people familiar with other similarly-abbreviated
X operating systems. See , .
X
X [acronym for "Multi-user Interactive Dungeons"] n. A class of
X experiments accessible via . These are
X real-time chat forums with structure; they have multiple
X `locations' like an adventure game and may include traps, puzzles,
X magic, a simple economic system, and the capability for characters
X to build more structure onto the database that represents the
X existing world. However, there is no notion that corresponds to
X `winning' an adventure game, and interaction is primarily social.
X The acronym MUD is often lower-cased and/or verbed; thus, one may
X speak of "going mudding", etc.
X
X /muhl-ti'sh@n/ [coined at Honeywell, c.1970] n.
X Competent user of .
X
X /muhl'tiks/ n. [from "MULTiplexed Information and Computing
X Service"] An early (late 1960s) timesharing operating system
X co-designed by a consortium including MIT, GE and Bell
X Laboratories, very innovative for its time (among other things, it
X introduced the idea of treating all devices uniformly as special
X files). All the members but GE eventually pulled out after
X determining that had bloated MULTICS to the
X point of practical unusability (the `lean' predecessor in question
X is said to have been ). Honeywell commercialized Multics
X after buying out GE's computer group, but it was never very
X successful (among other things, one was required to enter a
X password to log out). One of the developers left in the lurch by
X the project's breakup was Ken Thompson, a circumstance which led
X directly to the birth of . For this and other reasons
X aspects of the Multics design remain a topic of occasional debate
X among hackers. See also .
X
X /mum'bl@j/ n. The topic of one's mumbling (see ).
X "All that mumblage" is used like "all that stuff" when it is
X not quite clear what it is or how it works, or like "all that
X crap" when "mumble" is being used as an implicit replacement for
X obscenities.
X
X interj. 1. Said when the correct response is either too
X complicated to enunciate or the speaker has not thought it out.
X Often prefaces a longer answer, or indicates a general reluctance
X to get into a big long discussion. "Don't you think that we could
X improve LISP performance by using a hybrid reference-count
X transaction garbage collector, if the cache is big enough and there
X are some extra cache bits for the microcode to use?" "Well,
X mumble... I'll have to think about it." 2. Sometimes used as an
X expression of disagreement. "I think we should buy a ."
X "Mumble!" Common variant: . 3. Yet another
X metasyntactic variable, like .
X
X [often confused with `mung', q.v.] vt. To transform
X information in a serial fashion, often requiring large amounts of
X computation. To trace down a data structure. Related to
X and nearly synonymous with , but connotes less pain.
X
X n. A dating back to the PDP-1, which
X employs a trivial computation (involving XOR'ing of x-y display
X coordinates --- see items 146-148) to produce an
X impressive display of moving, growing, and shrinking squares. The
X hack usually has a parameter (usually taken from toggle switches)
X which when well-chosen can produce amazing effects. Some of these,
X (re)discovered recently on the LISP machine, have been christened
X , , and . More
X generally, suppose a graphics program produces an impressive and
X ever-changing display of some basic form foo on a display terminal,
X and does it using a relatively simple program; then the program (or
X the resulting display) is likely to be referred to as "munching
X foos" (this is a good example of the use of the word as a
X metasyntactic variable).
X
X /muhnch'kin/ n. A teenage-or-younger micro enthusiast
X bashing BASIC or something else equally constricted. A term of
X mild derision --- munchkins are annoying but some grow up to be
X hackers after passing through a . The term
X is also used. See also .
X
X [from SF fandom] n. 1. A person who is not in science
X fiction fandom. 2. A person who is not in the computer industry.
X In this sense, most often an adjectival modifier as in "in my
X mundane life..."
X
X /muhng/ alt. `munge' /muhnj/ [in 1960 at MIT, "Mash Until No
X Good"; sometime after that the derivation from the recursive
X acronym "Mung Until No Good" became standard] vt. 1. To make
X changes to a file, often large-scale, usually irrevocable.
X Occasionally accidental. See . 2. To destroy, usually
X accidentally, occasionally maliciously. The system only mungs
X things maliciously; this ia a consequence of Murphy's Law. See
X , , . Reports from suggest that
X the pronunciation /muhnj/ is now usual in speech, but the spelling
X `mung' is still common in program comments. 3. The kind of beans of
X which the sprouts are used in Chinese food. (That's their real
X name! Mung beans! Really!)
X
X n. A common extracurricular interest of hackers (compare
X , ; see also ). It is
X widely believed among hackers that there is a substantial
X correlation between whatever mysterious traits underlie hacking
X ability (on the one hand) and musical talent and sensitivity (on
X the other). It is certainly the case that hackers, as a rule, like
X music and often develop musical appreciation in unusual and
X interesting directions. Folk music is very big in hacker circles;
X so is the sort of elaborate instrumental jazz/rock that used to be
X called `progressive' and isn't recorded much any more. Also, the
X hacker's musical range tends to be wide; many can listen with equal
X appreciation to (say) Talking Heads, Yes, Spirogyra, Scott Joplin,
X King Sunny Ade, The Pretenders, or one of Bach's Brandenburg
X Concerti. It is also apparently true that hackerdom includes a
X much higher concentration of talented amateur musicians than one
X would expect from a similar-sized control group of types.
X
X vt. To quietly enter a command not meant for the ears of
X ordinary mortals. Frequently in "mutter an ".
X
X {= N =}
X
X /en/ adj. 1. Some large and indeterminate number of objects;
X "There were N bugs in that crock!"; also used in its original
X sense of a variable name. 2. An arbitrarily large (and perhaps
X infinite) number; "This crock has N bugs, as N goes to infinity".
X 3. A variable whose value is specified by the current context. For
X example, when ordering a meal at a restaurant N may be understood
X to mean however many people there are at the table. From the
X remark "We'd like to order N wonton soups and a family dinner for
X N-1." you can deduce that one person at the table wants to eat
X only soup, even though you don't know how many people there are. A
X silly riddle: "How many computers does it take to shift the bits
X in a register? N+1: N to hold all the bits still, and one to shove
X the register over." 4. NTH: adj. The ordinal counterpart of N.
X "Now for the Nth and last time..." In the specific context
X "Nth-year grad student", N is generally assumed to be at least 4,
X and is usually 5 or more. See also ,
X .
X
X [like a trophy] adj. Said of a bug finally
X eliminated after protracted and even heroic effort.
X
X [from the ASCII mnemonic for 0010101] interj. 1. On-line joke
X answer to ACK? (see ) -- "I'm not here". 2. On line answer
X to a request for chat -- "I'm not available". 3. Used to
X politely interrupt someone to tell them you don't understand their
X point or that they have suddenly stopped making sense. See ,
X sense #3. "And then, after we recode the project in COBOL..."
X "Nak Nak Nak! I thought I heard you say COBOL!"
X
X /nan'o-ay-kr/ n. An areal unit (about 2mm.sq.) of
X "real-estate" on a VLSI chip. The term derives its amusement
X value from the fact that VLSI nanoacres have costs in the same
X range as real acres once one figures in design and
X fabrication-setup costs.
X
X /nan'oh-bot/ n. A robot of microscopic proportions,
X presumably built by means of . As yet, only used
X informally (and speculatively!). Also sometimes called a
X `nanoagent'.
X
X /nan'oh-k@m-pyoo-tr/ n. A computer whose switching
X elements are molecular in size. Designs for mechanical
X nanocomputers which use single-molecule sliding rods for their
X logic have been proposed. The controller for a would be
X a nanocomputer.
X
X /nan'-oh-tek-naw`l@-ji/ n. A hypothetical
X fabrication technology in which objects are designed and built with
X the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.
X The first unequivocal nano-fabrication experiments are taking place
X now (1990), for example with the deposition of individual xenon
X atoms on a nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain very
X large computer company by two of its physicists. Nanotechnology
X has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture ever since the term
X was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book `Engines of Creation',
X where he predicted that nanotechnology could give rise to
X replicating assemblers, permitting an exponential growth of
X productivity and personal wealth. See also , ,
X .
X
X n. 1. A protocol packet or item of email (the latter is
X also called a `letterbomb') that takes advantage of misfeatures or
X security holes on the target system to do untoward things. 2.
X Disapproving mail, esp. from a net.god, pursuant to a violation of
X . Compare . 3. (deprecated) An error reply
X by mail from a ; in particular, a .
X
X /nee-oh-fil'-ee-uh/ n. The trait of being excited and
X pleased by novelty. Common trait of most hackers, SF fans, and
X members of several other connected "leading-edge" subcultures
X including the pro-technology "Whole-Earth" wing of the ecology
X movement, space activists, theater people, the membership of MENSA,
X and the /neo-pagan underground. All these groups
X overlap heavily and (where evidence is available) seem to share
X characteristic hacker tropisms for SF, and .
X
X /net'hak/ n. See , sense #12.
X
X /net'ee-ket, net'i-ket/ [portmanteau "network
X ettiquette"] n. Conventions of politeness recognized on ,
X such as: avoidance of cross-posting to inappropriate groups, or
X refraining from commercial pluggery on the net.
X
X /neep neep/ [onomatopoeic, from New York SF fandom] n. One
X who is fascinated by computers. More general than , as it
X need not imply more skill than is required to boot games on a PC.
X The gerund applies specifically to the long
X conversations about computers that tend to develop in the corners
X at most SF-convention parties. Fandom has a related proverb to the
X effect that "Hacking is a conversational black hole!"
X
X /net dot/ pref. [USENET] Prefix used to describe people and
X events related to USENET. From the time before the , when all non-local newsgroups had names beginning
X "net.". Includes net.god(s) (q.v.), net.goddesses (various
X charismatic women with circles of on-line admirers), net.lurkers,
X (see ), net.parties (a synonym for sense #2 (q.v.))
X and many similar constructs. See also .
X
X (net god) n. Used to refer to anyone who satisfies some
X combination of the following conditions: has been visible on USENET
X for more than five years, ran one of the original backbone sites,
X moderated an important newsgroup, wrote news software, or knows
X Gene, Mark, Rick, Mel, Henry, Chuq, and Greg personally. See
X .
X
X n. Those USENET readers who feel it is their
X responsibility to pounce on and any posting which they
X regard as offensive, or in violation of their understanding of
X . Generally used sarcastically or pejoratively. Also
X spelled `net police'. See also , .
X
X n. As used by hackers, means an address on (almost always a or ). An
X essential to be taken seriously by hackers; in particular, persons
X or organizations claiming to understand, work with, sell to, or
X recruit from among hackers that *don't* display net addresses
X are quietly presumed to be clueless poseurs and mentally flushed
X (see , sense #3). Hackers often put their net addresses on
X their business cards and wear them prominently in contexts where
X they expect to meet other hackers face-to-face (see also
X ). This is mostly functional, but is also
X a connotative signal that one identifies with hackerdom (like lodge
X pins among Masons or tie-died T-shirts among Grateful Dead fans).
X Net addresses are often used in email text as a more concise
X substitute for personal names; indeed, hackers may come to know
X each other quite well by network names without ever learning each
X others' `legal' monikers. See also .
X
X n. 1. The union of all the major academic and
X noncommercial/hacker-oriented networks such as Internet, the old
X ARPANET, NSFNet, BITNET and the virtual UUCP and
X "networks", plus the corporate in-house networks that gate to
X them. A site is generally considered `on the network' if it can be
X reached through some combination of Internet-style (@-sign) and
X UUCP (bang-path) addresses. See , ,
X . 2. A fictional conspiracy of libertarian
X hacker-subversives and anti-authoritarian monkeywrenchers described
X in Robert Anton Wilson's novel `Schrodinger's Cat', to which many
X hackers have subsequently decided they belong (this is an example
X of ).
X
X n. [C programmers] The second edition of K&R's "The C
X Programming Language" (Prentice-Hall 1988, ISBN 0-13-110362-8),
X describing ANSI Standard C. See .
X
X /n[y]oo'bee/ n. [orig. fr. British military & public-school
X slang contraction of "new boy"] A USENET neophyte. This term
X originated in the "talk.bizarre" but is now in wide
X use. Criteria for being considered a newbie vary wildly; a person
X can be called a newbie in one newsgroup while remaining a respected
X participant in another. The label "newbie" is sometimes applied
X as a serious insult, to a person who has been around USENET for a
X long time, but who carefully hides all evidence of having a clue.
X See .
X
X /n[y]oo'grp wohrz/ [USENET] n. Salvos of dueling
X `newgrp' and `rmgroup' messages sometimes exchanged by persons on
X opposite sides of a dispute over whether a should be
X created netwide. These usually settle out within a week or two as
X it becomes clear whether the group has a natural constituency
X (usually, it doesn't). At times, especially in the completely
X anarchic `alt' hierarchy, the names of newsgroups themselves become
X a form of comment or humor; cf. the spinoff of
X alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork from alt.tv.muppets in early 1990,
X or any number of specialized abuse groups named after particularly
X notorious s.
X
X /n[y]oo'lien/ n. 1. [UNIX] The ASCII LF character (0001010),
X used under as a text line terminator. A Bell-Labs-ism
X rather than a Berkeleyism; interestingly (and unusually for UNIX
X slang) it is said originally to have been an IBM usage (though it
X appears in the ASCII standard). 2. More generally, any magic
X character sequence or operation (like Pascal's writeln() function)
X required to terminate a text record. See , .
X
X /n[y]oos'froop/ [USENET] n. Silly written-only synonym for
X , originated as a typo but now in regular use on
X USENET'S talk.bizarre and other not-real-tightly-wrapped groups.
X
X [USENET] n. One of USENET's large collection of topic
X groups. Among the best-known are comp.lang.c (the C-language
X forum), comp.1.wizards (for UNIX wizards), rec.arts.sf-lovers
X (for science-fiction fans) and talk.politics.misc (miscellaneous
X political discussions and ).
X
X n. A + 1; 5 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. See also .
X
X n. See (of people).
X
X [from LISP terminology for "false"] No. Usage: used in reply
X to a question, particularly one asked using the "-P" convention.
X See T.
X
X n. Non-Maskable Interrupt. See .
X
X [Great Britain; from the children's books] adj. Small and
X unuseful, but demonstrating a point. Noddy programs are often
X written when learning a new language or system. The archetypal
X noddy program is . Noddy code may be used to
X demonstrate a feature or bug of a compiler, but would not be used
X in a real program. May be used of real hardware or software to
X imply that it isn't worth using. "This editor's a bit noddy."
X
X n. An astoundingly stupid way
X to do something. This term is generally used in deadpan sarcasm,
X as its impact is greatest when the person speaking looks completely
X serious. Compare . See also .
X
X adj. [scientific computation] Behaving in an erratic and
X unpredictable fashion. When used to describe the behavior of a
X machine or program, it suggests that said machine or program is
X being forced to run far outside of design specifications. This
X behavior may be induced by unreasonable inputs, or may be triggered
X when a more mundane bug sends the computation far away from its
X expected course. When describing the behavior of a person,
X suggests a tantrum or a . "When you talk to Bob, don't
X mention the drug problem or he'll go nonlinear for hours."
X
X adj. Requiring real thought or significant computing
X power. Often used as an understated way of saying that a problem
X is quite difficult. See , , .
X
X /noh-op/ alt. NOP (nop) [no operation] n. 1. A machine
X instruction that does nothing (sometimes used in assembler-level
X programming as filler for data areas). 2. A person who contributes
X nothing to a project, or has nothing going on upstairs, or both.
X As in "he's a no-op.". 3. Any operation or sequence of operations
X with no effect, such as circling the block without finding a
X parking space, or putting money into a vending machine and having
X it fall immediately into the coin-return box, or asking someone for
X help and being told to go away. "Oh well, that was a no-op."
X
X /en pee/ pref. Extremely. Used to modify adjectives describing
X a level or quality of difficulty. "Getting this algorithm to
X perform correctly in every case is NP-annoying." This is
X generalized from the computer science terms "NP-hard" and
X "NP-complete". NP is the set of Nondeterministic-Polynomial
X algorithms, those which can be completed by a nondeterministic
X finite state machine in an amount of time that is a polynomial
X function of the size of the input.
X
X vt. 1. To intentionally delete the entire contents of a given
X directory or storage volume. "On UNIX, rm -r /usr will nuke
X everything in the usr filesystem." Never used for accidental
X deletion. Oppose . 2. Syn. for , applied to
X smaller things such as files, features or code sections. 3. Used of
X processes as well as files; frequently an alias for "kill -9" on
X UNIX.
X
X n. A input/output device connected to the ; when you write to it nothing happens, when you reaad from
X it you get a zero-length record full of nothing. Useful for
X discarding unwanted output or using interactive programs in a
X non-interactive way. See .
X
X [scientific computation] n. Results of a computation that may
X not be physically significant, but at least indicate that the
X program is running. May be used to placate management, grant
X sponsors, etc. means running a program because
X output---any output, not necessarily meaningful output---is needed
X as a demonstration of progress. See .
X
X