WhatIs

/tär ən(d) fe-t͟hər/

[from UNIX 'tar(1)']

vt. To create a transportable archive from a group of files by first sticking them together with 'tar(1)' (the Tape ARchiver) and then compressing the result (see compress). The latter action is dubbed 'feathering' by analogy to what you do with an airplane propeller to decrease wind resistance, or with an oar to reduce water resistance; smaller files, after all, slip through comm links more easily.

/taŋ(k)t/

adj. Same as down, used primarily by UNIX hackers.

See also hosed.

Popularized as a synonym for drunk by Steve Dallas in the late lamented "Bloom County" comic strip.

/tȯl kärd/

n. A PC/AT-size expansion card (these can be larger than IBM PC or XT cards because the AT case is bigger).

See also short card.

When IBM introduced the PS/2 model 30 (its last gasp at supporting the ISA) they made the case lower and many industry-standard tall cards wouldn't fit; this was felt to be a reincarnation of the connector conspiracy, done with less style.

/tȯk-ər si-stəm/

n. British hackerism for software that enables real-time chat or talk mode.

/tȯk mōd/

n. A feature supported by UNIX, ITS, and some other OSes that allows two or more logged-in users to set up a real-time online conversation. It combines the immediacy of talking with all the precision (and verbosity) that written language entails. It is difficult to communicate inflection, though conventions have arisen for some of these (see the section on writing style in the Prependices for details).

/tāl ri-kər-zhən/

n. If you aren't sick of it already, see tail recursion.

/tē/

1. [from LISP terminology for true] Yes. Used in reply to a question (particularly one asked using the -P convention). In LISP, the constant T means true, among other things. Some hackers use T and NIL instead of Yes and No almost reflexively. This sometimes causes misunderstandings. When a waiter or flight attendant asks whether a hacker wants coffee, he may well respond T, meaning that he wants coffee; but of course he will be brought a cup of tea instead.

/sis-vī(-ə)l/

n. See Missed'em-five.

/si-stəmz jäk/

n. See jock, (sense 2).

/si-stəm maŋ-g(ə-)lər/

n. Humorous synonym for 'system manager', poss. from the fact that one major IBM OS had a root account called SYSMANGR. Refers specifically to a systems programmer in charge of administration, software maintenance, and updates at some site. Unlike admin, this term emphasizes the technical end of the skills involved.