Related:

• alt: n. A tiny bit of near-random data inserted where too much regularity would be undesirable
  a data {frob} (sense 1). For example, the Unix crypt(3) man page mentions that "the salt string is used to perturb the DES algorithm in one of 4096 different ways....
• magic number n. [Unix/C; common] 1. In source code
  some non-obvious constant whose value is significant to the operation of a program and that is inserted inconspicuously in-line (hardcoded), rather than expanded in by a symbol set by a commented #define....
• pathological adj. 1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, esp.
  one that exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using....
• frob: /frob/ 1. n. [MIT] The {TMRC} definition was "FROB = a protruding arm or trunnio
  by metaphoric extension, a `frob' is any random small thing...
• frob /frob/ 1. n. [MIT; very common] The TMRC definition was "FROB = a protruding arm or trunnio
  by metaphoric extension, a `frob' is any random small thing...
• bit bucket n. [very common] 1. The universal data sink (originally, the mythical receptacle used to catch bits when they fall off the end of a register during a shift instruction).
  Discarded, lost, or destroyed data is said to have `gone to the bit bucket'....
• letterbomb 1. n. A piece of email containing live data intended to do nefarious things to the recipient's machine or terminal.
  It used to be possible, for example, to send letterbombs that would lock up some specific kinds of terminals when they are viewed, so thoroughly that the user must cycle power (see cycle, sense 3) to unwedge them....
• microtape: /mi:'kroh-tayp/ n. Occasionally used to mean a DECtape, as opposed to a {macrotape}.
  A DECtape is a small reel, about 4 inches in diameter, of magnetic tape about an inch wide....
• demon n. 1. [MIT] A portion of a program that is not invoked explicitly, but that lies dormant waiting for some condition(s) to occur.
  See daemon. The distinction is that demons are usually processes within a program, while daemons are usually programs running on an operating system....