Xref: utzoo alt.folklore.computers:8412 comp.unix.internals:1721 comp.misc:11055
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 10 of 11
Message-ID: <1Z0vZq#97fgP6B90RRn1SXLOS4vBGxl=eric@snark.thyrsus.com>
Date: 3 Jan 91 21:08:16 GMT
Lines: 1030
---- Cut Here and unpack ----
#!/bin/sh
# This is a shell archive (shar 3.10)
# made 01/03/1991 21:08 UTC by eric@snark.thyrsus.com
# Source directory /usr2/eric/jargon
#
# existing files WILL be overwritten
#
# This shar contains:
# length mode name
# ------ ---------- ------------------------------------------
# 51368 -rw-r--r-- jsplit.aj
#
touch 2>&1 | fgrep '[-amc]' > /tmp/s3_touch$$
if [ -s /tmp/s3_touch$$ ]
then
TOUCH=can
else
TOUCH=cannot
fi
rm -f /tmp/s3_touch$$
# ============= jsplit.aj ==============
sed 's/^X//' << 'SHAR_EOF' > jsplit.aj &&
X Can also imply that the implementation is much simpler than the
X appearance would indicate, as in "Under the hood, we are just
X fork/execling the shell." 3. Inside a chassis, as in "Under the
X hood, this baby has a 40MHz 68030!"
X
X adj. 1. Said of a problem which, while ,
X can be solved simply by throwing sufficient resources at it. 2.
X Also said of problems for which a solution would neither advance
X the state of the art nor be fun to design and code. True hackers
X regard uninteresting problems as an intolerable waste of time, to
X be solved (if at all) by lesser mortals. See , ;
X oppose .
X
X n. Used to refer to the Unix operating system (trademark and/or
X copyright AT&T) in writing, but avoiding the need for the ugly (tm)
X typography. Also used to refer to any or all varieties of Unixoid
X operating systems. Ironically, lawyers now say (1990) that the
X requirement for superscript-tm has no legal force, but the asterisk
X usage is entrenched anyhow. It has been suggested that there may
X be a psychological connection to practice in certain religions
X where the name of the deity is never written out in full, e.g. JHWH
X or G-d is used. See also .
X
X v. 1. During the execution of a procedural language
X one is said to `unwind the stack' from a called procedure up to a
X caller when one discards the stack frame and any number of frames
X above it, popping back up to the level of the given caller. In C
X this is done with longjmp/setjmp; in LISP with THROW/CATCH. This
X is sometimes necessary when handling exceptional conditions. See
X also . 2. People can unwind the stack as well, by
X quickly dealing with a bunch of problems "Oh hell, let's do lunch.
X Just a second while I unwind my stack".
X
X [MIT, from the name of a LISP operator] n. A task you
X must remember to perform before you leave a place or finish a
X project. "I have an unwind-protect to call my advisor."
X
X /yoo'niks/ [In the authors' words, "A weak pun on MULTICS"]
X n. A popular interactive time-sharing system originally invented in
X 1969 by Ken Thompson after Bell Labs left the MULTICS project,
X mostly so he could play SPACEWAR on a scavenged PDP7. Dennis
X Ritchie, the inventor of C, is considered a co-author of the
X system. The turning point in UNIX's history came when it was
X reimplemented almost entirely in C in 1974, making it the first
X source-portable operating system. Fifteen years and a lot of
X changes later UNIX is the most widely used multiuser
X general-purpose operating system in the world. Many people (q.v.
X ) consider this the single most important victory yet
X of hackerdom over industry opposition. See , , .
X
X [ITS] n. According to a conspiracy theory long
X popular among and fans, UNIX's growth is the result
X of a plot hatched during the 70s at Bell Labs, whose intent was to
X hobble AT&T's competitors by making them dependent upon a system
X whose future evolution was to be under AT&T control. This would be
X accomplished by disseminating an operating system that is seemingly
X inexpensive and easily portable, but relatively unreliable and
X insecure. In this view, UNIX was designed to be one of the first
X computer viruses (see ), but a virus spread to computers
X indirectly by people and market forces, rather than directly
X through disks and networks. Adherents of this "UNIX virus"
X theory like to cite the fact that the well-known quotation "UNIX
X is snake oil" was uttered by DEC president Kenneth Olsen shortly
X before DEC began actively promoting its own family of UNIX
X workstations.
X
X n. A piece of code or coding technique that depends on of
X the protected multi-tasking environment with relatively low
X process-spawn overhead that exists on UNIX systems. Common
X s include: gratuitous use of `fork(2)'; the assumption that
X certain undocumented but well-known features of UNIX libraries like
X `stdio(3)' are supported elsewhere; reliance on
X side-effects of system calls (use of `sleep(2)' with a zero argument
X to clue the scheduler that you're willing to give up your
X time-slice, for example); the assumption that freshly-allocated
X memory is empty, the assumption that it's safe to never free()
X memory, etc.
X
X [ITS] n. 1. A derogatory pun on "UNIX wizard", common
X among hackers who use UNIX by necessity, but would prefer
X alternatives. The implication is that, while the person in
X question may consider mastery of UNIX arcana to be a wizardly
X skill, the only real skill involved is the ability to tolerate, and
X the bad taste to wallow in, the incoherence and needless complexity
X that are alleged to infest many UNIX programs. "This shell script
X tries to parse its arguments in 69 bletcherous ways. It must have
X been written by a real UNIX weenie." 2. A derogatory term for
X anyone who engages in uncritical praise of UNIX. Often appearing
X in the context "stupid UNIX weenie". See , .
X
X adj. 1. Working, in order. "The down escalator is up." 2.
X : v. To create a working version and start it. "They
X brought up a down system."
X
X /uhp'lohd/ v. 1. To transfer code or data over a digital comm
X line from a smaller `client' system to a larger `host' one. Oppose
X . 2. [speculatively] To move the essential patterns and
X algorithms which make up one's mind from one's brain into a
X computer. Only those who are convinced that such patterns and
X algorithms capture the complete essence of the self view this
X prospect with aplomb.
X
X n. See .
X
X /yoos'net/ or /yooz'net/ [from "Users' Network"] n. A
X distributed bulletin board system supported mainly by UNIX
X machines, international in scope and probably the largest
X non-profit information utility in existence. As of early 1990 it
X hosts over 700 topic groups and distributes up to 15 megabytes of
X new technical articles, news, discussion, chatter, and
X every day. See .
X
X n. 1. Someone doing "real work" with the computer, who uses a
X computer as a means rather than an end. Someone who pays to use a
X computer. See . 2. A programmer who will believe
X anything you tell him. One who asks silly questions. (This is
X slightly unfair. It is true that users ask questions (of
X necessity). Sometimes they are thoughtful or deep. Very often
X they are annoying or downright stupid, apparently because the user
X failed to think for two seconds or look in the documentation before
X bothering the maintainer.) See . 3. Someone who uses a
X program from the outside, however skillfully, without getting into
X the internals of the program. One who reports bugs instead of just
X going ahead and fixing them. Basically, there are two classes of
X people who work with a program: there are implementors (hackers)
X and users (losers). The users are looked down on by hackers to a
X mild degree because they don't understand the full ramifications of
X the system in all its glory. (The few users who do are known as
X .) The term is a relative one: a consummate hacker
X may be a user with respect to some program he himself does not
X hack. A LISP hacker might be one who maintains LISP or one who
X uses LISP (but with the skill of a hacker). A LISP user is one who
X uses LISP, whether skillfully or not. Thus there is some overlap
X between the two terms; the subtle distinctions must be resolved by
X context.
X
X adj. Programmer-hostile. Generally used by hackers in
X a critical tone, to describe systems which hold the user's hand so
X obsessively that they make it painful for the more experienced and
X knowledgeable to get any work done. See , , , .
X
X adj. Emphatic form of . Connotes a
X system so verbose, inflexible, and determinedly simple-minded that
X it is nearly unusable. "Design a system any fool can use and only
X a fool will want to use it".
X
X /yoo-ess-jee yoo'niks/ n. Refers to AT&T UNIX versions
X after , especially System III and System V releases 1, 2
X and 3. So called because at that time AT&T's support crew was
X called the `UNIX Support Group'. See .
X
X n. The store-and-forward network consisting of all the
X world's UNIX machines (and others running some clone of the UUCP
X (UNIX-to-UNIX Copy Program) software). Any machine reachable via a
X is on UUCPNET. See .
X
X {= V =}
X
X /vad'ing/ [from VAD, a permutation of ADV (i.e. ),
X used to avoid a particular sysadmin's continual search-and-destroy
X sweeps for the game] n. A leisure-time activity of certain hackers
X involving the covert exploration of the "secret" parts of large
X buildings --- basements, roofs, freight elevators, maintenance
X crawlways, steam tunnels and the like. A few go so far as to learn
X locksmithing in order to synthesize vadding keys. The verb is `to
X vad'. The most extreme and dangerous form of vadding is , aka , a sport played by wrasslin' down a
X thousand-pound elevator car with a three-foot piece of string, and
X then exploiting this mastery in various stimulating ways (such as
X elevator hopping, shaft exploration, rat-racing and the
X ever-popular drop experiments). Kids, don't try this at home!
X
X adj. Ordinary flavor, standard. See . When used of
X food, very often does not mean that the food is flavored with
X vanilla extract! For example, "vanilla-flavored wonton soup" (or
X simply "vanilla wonton soup") means ordinary wonton soup, as
X opposed to hot and sour wonton soup. Applied to hardware and
X software. As in "Vanilla Version 7 UNIX can't run on a vanilla
X 11/34". Also used to orthogonalize TTL nomenclature; for instance
X a 74V00 is what TI calls a 7400, as distinct from a 74LS00, etc.
X This word differs from in that the latter means "the
X thing you always use (or the way you always do it) unless you have
X some strong reason to do otherwise", whereas simply
X means "ordinary". For example, when hackers go on a , hot-and-sour wonton soup is the wonton soup to
X get (because that is what most of them usually order) even though
X it isn't the wonton soup.
X
X /van'@-var/ n. A bogus technological prediction or
X foredoomed engineering concept, esp. one which fails by implicitly
X assuming that technologies develop linearly, incrementally, and in
X isolation from one another when in fact the learning curve tends to
X be highly nonlinear, revolutions are common, and competition is the
X rule. The prototype was Vannevar Bush's prediction of "electronic
X brains" the size of the Empire State Building with a
X Niagara-Falls-equivalent cooling system for their tubes and relays,
X at a time when the semiconductor effect had already been
X demonstrated. Other famous vannevars have included magnetic-bubble
X memory, LISP machines and a paper from the late 1970s that
X purported to prove limits on maximum areal densities for ICs less
X than were in fact exceeded routinely five years later.
X
X n. Products announced far in advance of any shipment
X (which may or may not actually take place).
X
X /veir/ or /vahr/ n. Short for "variable". Compare ,
X .
X
X /vaks/ n. 1. [from Virtual Address eXtension] The most
X successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly
X excepting its immediate ancestor the PDP-11. Between its release in
X 1978 and eclipse by s after about 1986 the VAX was
X probably the favorite hacker machine of them all, esp. after the
X 1982 release of 4.2BSD UNIX (see ). Esp. noted for its
X large, assembler-programmer-friendly instruction set, an asset
X which became a liability after the RISC revolution following about
X 1985. 2. A major brand of vacuum cleaner in Britain. Cited here
X because its alleged sales pitch, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!"
X became a sort of battle-cry of RISC partisans. Ironically, the
X slogan was actually that of a rival brand called Electrolux.
X
X /vak'sn/ [from "oxen", perhaps influenced by "vixen"] n.
X pl. The plural standardly used among hackers for the DEC VAX
X computers. "Our installation has four PDP-10's and twenty
X ." See .
X
X n. A piece of code that excebits in critical
X areas. Compare , .
X
X /vak`soh-sen'trizm/ [analogy with "ethnocentrism"] n.
X A notional disease said to afflict C programmers who persist in
X coding according to certain assumptions valid (esp. under UNIX) on
X , but false elsewhere (this can create substantial
X portability problems). Among these are:
X
X 1. The assumption that dereferencing a null pointer is safe because
X it is all bits zero, and location 0 is readable and zero (it may
X instead cause an illegal-address trap on non-VAXEN, and even on
X VAXEN under OSs other than BSD UNIX).
X
X
X 2. The assumption that pointer and integer types are the same size,
X and that pointers can be stuffed into integer variables and drawn
X back out without being truncated or mangled.
X
X
X 3. The assumption that a data type of any size may begin at any
X byte address in memory (for example, that you can freely construct
X and dereference a pointer to a word-sized object at an odd
X address). On many (esp. RISC) architectures better optimized for
X HLL execution speed this is invalid and can cause an illegal
X address fault or bus error.
X
X
X 4. The (related) assumption that there is no `padding' at the end
X of types and that in an array you can thus step right from the last
X byte of a previous component to the first byte of the next one.
X
X
X 5. The assumption that memory address space is globally flat and
X that the array reference foo[-1] is necessarily valid This is not
X true on segment-addressed machines like Intel chips (yes,
X segmentatation is universally considered a way to
X design but that is a separate issue).
X
X
X 6. The assumption that objects can be arbitrarily large with no
X special considerations (again, not true on segmented
X architectures);
X
X
X 7. The assumption that the parameters of a routine are stored in
X memory, contiguously, and in strictly ascending or descending order
X (fails on many RISC architectures).
X
X
X 8. The assumption that bits and addressable units within an object
X are ordered in the same way and that this order is a constant of
X nature (fails on machines).
X
X
X 9. The assumption that it is meaningful to compare pointers to
X different objects not located within the same array, or to objects
X of different types (the former fails on segmented architectures,
X the latter on word-oriented machines or others with multiple
X pointer formats).
X
X
X 10. The assumption that a pointer to any one type can freely be cast
X into a pointer to any other type (fails on word- oriented machines
X pr others with multiple pointer formats).
X
X
X 11. The assumption that "int" is 32 bits (fails on 286-based
X systems under some compilers), or (nearly equivalently) the
X assumption that sizeof(int) == sizeof(long).
X
X
X 12. The assumption that argv[] is writeable (fails in some
X embedded-systems C environments).
X
X
X 13. The assumption that characters are signed (fails on the 68000
X series and elsewhere).
X
X
X 14. The assumption that all pointers are the same size and format,
X which means you don't have to worry about getting the types correct
X in calls (fails on word-oriented machines or others with multiple
X pointer formats).
X
X
X Note that a programmer can be validly be accused of vaxocentrism
X even if he/she has never seen a VAX. The terms "vaxocentricity"
X and "all-the-world's-a-VAX syndrome" have been used synonymously.
X
X /vee'b@l-fes-tr/ [from the "Born Loser" comix via
X Commodore; prob originally from Mad Magazine's "Veeblefeetzer" c.
X 1960] n. Any obnoxious person engaged in the alleged professions
X of marketing or management. Antonym of . Compare ,
X .
X
X [after the plant] n. See .
X
X /ver'bee-@j/ [IBM] n. Documentation.
X
X alt. V7 /vee-se'vn/ n. The 1978 unsupported release of
X ancestral to all current commercial versions. Before
X the release of the POSIX/SVID standards V7's features were often
X treated as a UNIX portability baseline. See , ,
X . Some old-timers impatient with commercialization and
X kernel bloat still maintain that V7 was the Last True UNIX.
X
X /vee ie/, *not* /vie/ and *never* /siks/ [from `Visual
X Interface'] n. A screen editor by Bill Joy for
X an early version. Became the de-facto standard UNIX editor
X and a nearly undisputed hacker favorite until the rise of
X after about 1984. Tends to frustrate new users no end, as it will
X neither take commands while accepting input text nor vice versa,
X and the default setup provides no indication of which mode one is
X in. Nevertheless it is still widely used (about half the
X respondents in a USENET poll preferred it), and even EMACS fans
X often resort to it as a mail editor and for small editing jobs
X (mainly because it starts up faster than bulky EMACS). See
X .
X
X adj. Unused, in reference to an instantiation of a program.
X "Let's bring up a virgin system and see if it crashes again."
X Esp. useful after contracting a through . Also, by
X extension, unused buffers and the like within a program.
X
X [from SF] n. A cracker program that propagates itself by
X `infecting' (embedding itself in) other trusted programs,
X especially operating systems. See , .
X
X adj. 1. Common alternative to , but never used with
X compass directions. 2. Performing the functions of. Virtual
X memory acts like real memory but isn't. This word is nearly
X synonymous with , but is never used of directions. Note
X that for any thing X, a logical X is either a real X or a virtual
X X, but not both.
X
X n. 1. Computer simulations that involve 3D graphics
X and use devices such as the Dataglove to allow the user interact
X with the simulation. See . 2. A form of network
X interaction incorporating aspects of role-playing games,
X interactive theater, improvisational comedy and "true
X confessions" magazines. In a "virtual reality" forum (such as
X USENET's alt.callahans newsgroup or the MUD experiments on
X Internet) interaction between the participants is written like a
X shared novel complete with scenery, "foreground characters" which
X may be personae utterly unlike the people who write them, and
X common "background characters" manipulable by all parties. The
X one iron law is that you may not write irreversible changes to a
X character without the consent of the person who "owns" it.
X Otherwise anything goes. See , .
X
X n. One who hacks vision, in the sense of an Artificial
X Intelligence researcher working on the problem of getting computers
X to "see" things using TV cameras. (There isn't any problem in
X sending information from a TV camera to a computer. The problem
X is, how can the computer be programmed to make use of the camera
X information? See .)
X
X /vee em ess/ n. DEC's proprietary operating system for their VAX
X minicomputer; one of the seven or so environments that loom largest
X in hacker folklore. Many UNIX fans generously concede that VMS
X would probably be the hacker's favorite commercial OS if UNIX
X didn't exist; though true, this makes VMS fans furious. One major
X hacker gripe with it is its slowness, thus the following limerick:
X
X There once was a system called VMS
X Of cycles by no means abstemious.
X It's chock-full of hacks
X And runs on a VAX
X And makes my poor stomach all squeamious.
X ---The Great Quux
X
X See also , , , .
X
X [from George Bush's "voodoo economics"] n. Use
X by guess or cookbook of an , system feature or
X algorithm which one does not truly understand. The implication is
X that the technique may not work, and if it doesn't one will never
X know why. Compare , , .
X
X n. [From the old Star Trek TV series via
X Commodore Amiga hackers] The keyboard combination that forces a
X soft-boot or jump to ROM monitor (on machines that support such a
X feature). On many micros this is Ctrl-Alt-Del; on Macintoshes, it
X is -! Also called .
X
X n. Pejorative hackerism for "venture
X capitalist", deriving from the common practice of pushing
X contracts that deprive inventors of both control over their own
X innovations and most of the money they ought to have made from
X them.
X
X {= W =}
X
X /wab'it/ [almost certainly from Elmer Fudd's immortal line
X "you wascal wabbit!"] n. 1. A legendary early hack reported on a
X System/360 at RPI and elsewhere around 1978. The program would
X reproduce itself twice every time it was run, eventually crashing
X the system. 2. By extension, any hack that includes infinite
X self-replication but is not a or . See also /wol'doh/ [probably taken from the story "Waldo", by
X Heinlein, which is where the term was first used to mean a remote
X mechanical agent controlled by a human limb] At Harvard
X (particularly by Tom Cheatham and students) this is used instead of
X as a meta-syntactic variable and general nonsense word.
X See , , , .
X
X n.,vt. Traversal of an actual or data structure,
X especially a linked-list data structure in . See also
X , , .
X
X n. An occasional failure mode of magnetic-disk drives
X back in the days when they were 14" wide s. Those
X old parts carried terrific angular momentum; the
X combination of a misaligned spindle or worn bearings and stick-slip
X interactions with the floor could cause them to "walk" across a
X room, lurching alternate corners forward a couple of millimeters at
X a time. There is a legend about a drive that walked over to the
X only door to the computer room and jammed it shut; the staff had to
X cut a hole in the wall in order to get at it! Walking could also be
X induced by certain patterns of drive access (a fast seek across the
X whole width of the disk, followed by a slow seek in the other
X direction). It is known that some bands of old-time hackers
X figured out how to induce disk-accessing patterns that would do
X this to particular drive models and held disk-drive races. This is
X not a joke!
X
X [WPI] interj. 1. An indication of confusion, usually spoken
X with a quizzical tone. "Wall??" 2. A request for further
X explication. Compare .
X
X It is said that "WALL?" really came from "talking to a blank
X wall". It was initially used in situations where, after one
X carefully answered a question, the questioner stared at you
X blankly, having understood nothing that was explained. One would
X then throw out a "HELLO, WALL?" to elicit some sort of response
X from the questioner. Later, confused questioners began voicing
X "WALL?" themselves.
X
X There is an anecdote about a child in a hospital who is addressed
X by a nurse over an intercom and replies "What do you want, Wall?"
X
X n. 1. `Real world' time (what the clock on the wall shows)
X as opposed to the system clock's idea of time. 2. The real running
X time of a program, as opposed to the number of required to
X execute it (on a timesharing system these will differ, as no one
X program gets all the ).
X
X n. 1. A file containing a listing (e.g., assembly listing)
X or transcript, esp. a file containing a transcript of all or part
X of a login session. (The idea was that the LPT paper for such
X listings was essentially good only for wallpaper, as evidenced at
X Stanford where it was used as such to cover windows.) Usage: not
X often used now, esp. since other systems have developed other terms
X for it (e.g., PHOTO on TWENEX). However, the UNIX world doesn't
X have an equivalent term, so perhaps will take hold
X there. The term probably originated on ITS, where the commands to
X begin and end transcript files were :WALBEG and :WALEND, with
X default file DSK:WALL PAPER. 2. The background pattern used on
X graphical workstations (this is jargon under the "Windows"
X graphical user interface to MS-DOS). 3. n. The
X file that contains the wallpaper information before it is actually
X printed on paper. (Sometimes you don't intend ever to produce a
X real paper copy of the file, because you can look at the file
X directly on your terminal, but it is still called a "wallpaper
X file".)
X
X n. Old-style hard disks in floor-standing cabinets.
X So called because of the size of the cabinet and the
X "top-loading" access to the media packs -- and, of course, they
X were always set on "spin cycle". The washing-machine idiom
X transcends language barriers; it's even used in Russian hacker
X jargon. See . The thick channel cables connecting
X these were called "bit hoses" (see HOSE).
X
X [Cambridge University] A "naive user", one who deliberately
X or accidentally does things which are stupid or ill-advised.
X Roughly synonymous with .
X
X adj. 1. To be stuck, incapable of proceeding without help.
X This is different from having crashed. If the system has crashed,
X then it has become totally non-functioning. If the system is
X wedged, it is trying to do something but cannot make progress; it
X may be capable of doing a few things, but not be fully operational.
X For example, the system may become wedged if the disk controller
X fries; there are some things you can do without using the disks,
X but not many. Being wedged is slightly milder than being .
X Also see , , . 2. This term is sometimes
X used to describe a condition. 3. Often refers to
X humans suffering misconceptions. 4. [UNIX] Specifically used to
X describe the state of a TTY left in a losing state by abort of a
X screen-oriented program or one that has messed with the line
X discipline in some obscure way. 5. (wedj'i-tood) n.
X The quality or state of being wedged.
X
X /weeb'l/ [Cambridge University] interj. Use to denote
X frustration, usually at amazing stupidity. "I stuck the disk in
X upside down." "Weeble..." Compare .
X
X n. Refers to development projects or algorithms that have no
X possible relevance or practical application. Comes from "off in
X the weeds". Used in phrases like "lexical analysis for microcode
X is serious weeds..."
X
X [ITS] n. A derogatory term for , derived from .
X
X adj. 1. [primarily ] Said of software
X conforming to system interface guidelines and standards. Well
X behaved software uses the operating system to do chores such as
X keyboard input, allocating memory and drawing graphics. Oppose
X . 2. Software that does its job quietly and without
X counterintuitive effects. Esp. said of software having an
X interface spec sufficiently simple and well-defined that it can be
X used as a tool by other software.
X
X adj. Said of a computer installation, this means it
X has reliable email links with the network and/or relays a large
X fraction of available newsgroups.
X
X [prob. from the novels of Rudy Rucker] n. 1. The human
X brain, as opposed to computer hardware or software (as in "Wetware
X has at most 7 +/- 2 registers"). 2. Human beings (programmers,
X operators, administrators) attached to a computer system, as
X opposed to the system's hardware or software.
X
X n. The question mark character (`?'). See . Usage:
X rare, used particularly in conjunction with .
X
X [from Twenex, q.v.] n. A privileged user or (sense
X #2). The term was invented on the TENEX operating system, and
X carried over to , Xerox-IFS, and others. It entered the
X UNIX culture from and has been gaining popularity there
X (esp. at university sites). Privilege bits are sometimes called
X "wheel bits". The state of being in a privileged logon is
X sometimes called "wheel mode". See also .
X
X [Stanford University] A period in during
X which student wheels hack each other by attempting to log each
X other out of the system, delete each other's files, and otherwise
X wreak havoc, usually at the expense of the lesser users.
X
X n. Syn. .
X
X (sometimes `wizzy') [Sun] adj. A program; usually
X feature-rich and well presented.
X
X Bell Labs, Wouldn't It Be Nice If] n. What most requirements
X documents/specifications consist entirely of. Compare .
X
X n. 1. A meta-thing. Used to stand for a real object in
X didactic examples (especially database tutorials). Legend has it
X that the original widgets were holders for buggy whips. 2. [poss.
X from "window gadget"] A user interface object in X Window System
X graphical user interfaces.
X
X n. [scientific computation] In solving partial differential
X equations by finite difference and similar methods, wiggles are
X sawtooth (up-down-up-down) oscillations at the shortest wavelength
X representable on the grid. If an algorithm is unstable, this is
X often the most unstable waveform, so it grows to dominate the
X solution. Alternatively, stable (though inaccurate) wiggles can be
X generated near a discontinuity by a Gibbs phenomenon.
X
X n. [acronymic from Window, Icon, Mouse, Pointer] A
X graphical-user-interface based environment, as described by a
X hacker who prefers command-line interfaces for their superior
X flexibility and extensibility.
X
X [from MIT jargon] 1. v. To succeed. A program wins if no
X unexpected conditions arise. 2. Success, or a specific instance
X thereof. A pleasing outcome. A . 3. : n.
X Serendipity. Emphatic forms: "moby win", "super win",
X "hyper-win" (often used interjectively as a reply). For some
X reason "suitable win" is also common at MIT, usually in reference
X to a satisfactory solution to a problem. 4. v. To
X experience serendipity. "I went shopping and won big; there was a
X two-for-one sale." 5. interj. Expresses pleasure at a
X . Oppose .
X
X /win'@j/ n. The situation when a lossage is corrected, or
X when something is winning. Quite rare. Usage: also quite rare.
X
X 1. n. An unexpectedly good situation, program, programmer or
X person. 2. : Often sarcastic, but also used as high
X praise.
X
X /win'i-tood/ n. The quality of winning (as opposed to
X , which is the result of winning). "That's really great!
X Boy, what winnitude!"
X
X n. [prob. from notional SF slang for an electrical brain
X stimulation junkie] 1. A hardware hacker, especially one who
X concentrates on communications hardware. 2. An expert in local
X area networks. A wirehead can be a network software wizard too,
X but will always have the ability to deal with network hardware,
X down to the smallest component. Wireheads are known for their
X ability to lash up an Ethernet terminator from spare resistors, for
X example.
X
X n. A list of desired features or bug fixes that probably
X won't get done for a long time, usually because the person
X responsible for the code is too busy or can't think of a clean way
X to do it.
X
X n. 1. A person who knows how a complex piece of software or
X hardware works (that is, who s it); esp. someone who can
X find and fix bugs quickly in an emergency. This term differs
X somewhat from . Someone is a hacker if he has general
X hacking ability, but is only a wizard with respect to something if
X he has specific detailed knowledge of that thing. A good hacker
X could become a wizard for something given the time to study it. 2.
X A person who is permitted to do things forbidden to ordinary
X people. For example, an Adventure wizard at Stanford may play the
X Adventure game during the day, which is forbidden (the program
X simply refuses to play) to most people because it uselessly
X consumes too many s. 3. A UNIX expert, esp. a UNIX systems
X programmer. This usage is well enough established that "UNIX
X Wizard" is a recognized job title at some corporations and to most
X headhunters. See .
X
X n. Abelson and Sussman's "Structure and Interpretation
X of Computer Programs", an excellent CS text used in introductory
X courses at MIT. So called because of the wizard on the cover of
X the MIT Press edition.
X
X [from nethack] n. A special access mode of a program or
X system, usually passworded, that permits some users godlike
X privileges. Generally not used for operating systems themselves
X ( or would be used instead).
X
X adj. Pertaining to wizards. A wizardly is one
X that only a wizard could understand or use properly.
X
X [Waste Of Money, Brains and Time] adj. Applied to problems
X which are both profoundly in themselves and
X unlikely to benefit anyone interesting even if solved. Often used
X in fanciful constructions such as "wrestling with a wombat". See
X also , . Also note the rather different
X usage as a meta-syntactic variable under
X
X /won'kee/ [from Australian slang] adj. Yet another approximate
X synonym for . Specifically connotes a malfunction which
X produces behavior seen as crazy, humorous, or amusingly perverse.
X "That was the day the printer's font logic went wonky and
X everybody's listings came out in Elvish." Also in "wonked out".
X See , .
X
X [from `tapeworm' in John Brunner's "Shockwave Rider", via
X XEROX PARC] n. A cracker program that propagates itself over a
X network, reproducing itself as it goes. See . Perhaps the
X best known example was RTM's `Internet Worm' in '88, a `benign' one
X that got out of control and shut down hundreds of Suns and VAXen
X nationwide. See also , , .
X
X adj. In an infinite loop. Often used by older
X computer types.
X
X See .
X
X v. (also n. `wraparound' and v. shorthand "wrap") 1.
X This is "jargon" in its normal computer usage, i.e., describing
X the action of a counter that starts over at 0 or at after its maximum value has been reached, and continues
X incrementing, either because it is programmed to do so, or because
X of an overflow like a car's odometer starting over at 0. 2. To
X gradually and continuously by maintaining a steady
X wake-sleep cycle somewhat longer than 24 hours, e.g. living 6 long
X days in a week.
X
X [a play on "read-only memory"] n. Code
X sufficiently arcane, complex, or ill-structured that it cannot be
X modified or even comprehended by anyone but the original author. A
X .
X
X n. A language with syntax (or semantics)
X sufficiently dense and bizarre that any routine of significant size
X is . A sobriquet often applied to APL,
X though INTERCAL certainly deserves it more.
X
X n. The obvoius antonym to "read-only memory".
X In frustration with the long and seemingly useless chain of
X approvals required of component specifications, during which no
X actual checking seemed to occur, an engineer at Signetics created a
X specification for a write-only memory, and included it with a bunch
X of other specifications to be approved. This inclusion only came
X to the attention of Signetics when regular customers started
X calling and asking for pricing information. Signetics published a
X corrected edition of the data book, and requested the return of the
X "erroneous" ones. Later, about 1974, Signetics bought a double
X page spread in Electronics magazine's April issue, and used the
X spec as an April Fools' day joke. Instead of the more conventional
X characteristic curves, the 25120 "fully encoded, 9046 x N, Random
X Access, write-only-memory" data sheet included diagrams of "bit
X capacity vs. Temp.", "Iff vs. Vff", "Number of pins remaining
X vs. number of socket insertions" and "AQL vs. selling price".
X The 25120 required a 6.3 VAC VFF supply, a +10V VCC, and VDD of 0V,
X +/- 2%.
X
X n. A design, action or decision which is clearly
X incorrect or inappropriate. Often capitalized; always emphasized
X in speech as if capitalized. The opposite of the Right Thing; more
X generally, anything that is not the Right Thing. In cases were
X "the good is the enemy of the best", the merely good, while good,
X is nevertheless the Wrong Thing.
X
X /wuh'guh wuh'guh/ n. Imaginary sound that a computer
X program makes as it labors with a tedious or difficult task.
X Compare , (sense #4).
X
X /wiz'ee-wig/ adj. User interface (usu. text or graphics
X editor) characterized as being "what you see is what you get;" as
X opposed to one which uses more-or-less obscure commands which do
X not result in immediate visual feedback. The term can be mildly
X derogatory, as it is often used to refer to dumbed-down interfaces
X targeted at non-programmers, while a hacker has no fear of obscure
X commands. On the other hand, EMACS was one of the very first
X WYSIWYG editors, replacing (actually, at first overlaying) the
X extremely obscure, command-based TECO.
X
X {= X =}
X
X /eks/ n. 1. Used in various speech and writing contexts in roughly
X its algebraic sense of "unknown within a set defined by context"
X (compare `N'). Thus: the abbreviation 680x0 stands for 68000,
X 68010, 68020, 68030 or 68040, and 80x86 stands for 80186, 80286
X 80386 or 80486 (note that a UNIX hacker might write these as
X 680[01234]0 and 80[1234]86 or 680?0 and 80?86 respectively; see
X GLOB). 2. An over-sized, over-featured, over-engineered window
X system developed at MIT and widely used on UNIX systems.
X
X