:retrocomputing: /ret'-roh-k*m-pyoo'ting/ n. Refers to emulations
of way-behind-the-state-of-the-art hardware or software, or
implementations of never-was-state-of-the-art; esp. if such
implementations are elaborate practical jokes and/or parodies,
written mostly for {hack value}, of more `serious' designs.
Perhaps the most widely distributed retrocomputing utility was the
`pnch(6)' or `bcd(6)' program on V7 and other early UNIX
versions, which would accept up to 80 characters of text argument
and display the corresponding pattern in {{punched card}} code.
Other well-known retrocomputing hacks have included the programming
language {INTERCAL}, a {JCL}-emulating shell for UNIX, the
card-punch-emulating editor named 029, and various elaborate PDP-11
hardware emulators and RT-11 OS emulators written just to keep an
old, sourceless {Zork} binary running.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
of way-behind-the-state-of-the-art hardware or software, or
implementations of never-was-state-of-the-art; esp. if such
implementations are elaborate practical jokes and/or parodies,
written mostly for {hack value}, of more `serious' designs.
Perhaps the most widely distributed retrocomputing utility was the
`pnch(6)' or `bcd(6)' program on V7 and other early UNIX
versions, which would accept up to 80 characters of text argument
and display the corresponding pattern in {{punched card}} code.
Other well-known retrocomputing hacks have included the programming
language {INTERCAL}, a {JCL}-emulating shell for UNIX, the
card-punch-emulating editor named 029, and various elaborate PDP-11
hardware emulators and RT-11 OS emulators written just to keep an
old, sourceless {Zork} binary running.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
Related:
- retrocomputing /ret'-roh-k*m-pyoo'ting/ n.
Refers to
emulations of way-behind-the-state-of-the-art hardware or software,
or implementations of never-was-state-of-the-art; esp... - Zork: /zork/ n. The second of the great early experiments in computer
fantasy gaming;
see {ADVENT}. Originally written on MIT-DM during... - bit-paired keyboard n.,obs.
(alt. `bit-shift
keyboard') A non-standard keyboard layout that seems to have
originated with the Teletype ASR-33 and remained common for several
years on early computer equipment.
The ASR-33 was a mechanical device (see EOU), so... - Zork /zork/ n.
The second of the great early experiments
in computer fantasy gaming;
see ADVENT. Originally written on MIT-DM during... - hacker humor
A distinctive style of shared
intellectual humor found among hackers,
having the following marked characteristics: 1... - nethack: /net'hak/ [UNIX] n. A dungeon game similar to
{rogue} but more elaborate,
distributed in C source over {USENET} and very popular... - display hack: n. A program with the same approximate purpose as a
kaleidoscope:
to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks include... - TECO /tee'koh/ n.,v. obs.
1. [originally an acronym for
`[paper] Tape Editor and COrrector';
later, `Text Editor and COrrector'] n. A text editor... - Infocom n.
A now-legendary games company, active from
1979 to 1989,
that commercialized the MDL parser technology used...
