The Jargon File

(version 4.4.7)

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Jargon File

I. Introduction

1. Hacker Slang and Hacker Culture

2. Of Slang, Jargon, and Techspeak

3. Revision History

4. Jargon Construction

Verb Doubling

Soundalike Slang

The -P Convention

Overgeneralization

Spoken inarticulations

Anthropomorphization

Comparatives

5. Hacker Writing Style

6. Email Quotes and Inclusion Conventions

7. Hacker Speech Style

8. International Style

9. Crackers, Phreaks, and Lamers

10. Pronunciation Guide

11. Other Lexicon Conventions

12. Format for New Entries

II. The Jargon Lexicon

Glossary

III. Appendices

A. Hacker Folklore

The Meaning of ‘Hack’

TV Typewriters: A Tale of Hackish Ingenuity

A Story About ‘Magic’

Some AI Koans

Tom Knight and the Lisp Machine

Moon instructs a student

Sussman attains enlightenment

Drescher and the toaster

OS and JEDGAR

The Story of Mel

B. A Portrait of J. Random Hacker

General Appearance

Dress

Reading Habits

Other Interests

Physical Activity and Sports

Education

Things Hackers Detest and Avoid

Food

Politics

Gender and Ethnicity

Religion

Ceremonial Chemicals

Communication Style

Geographical Distribution

Sexual Habits

Personality Characteristics

Weaknesses of the Hacker Personality

Miscellaneous

C. Helping Hacker Culture Grow

Bibliography