:display hack: n. A program with the same approximate purpose as a
kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks
include {munching squares}, {smoking clover}, the BSD UNIX
`rain(6)' program, `worms(6)' on miscellaneous UNIXes,
and the {X} `kaleid(1)' program. Display hacks can also be
implemented without programming by creating text files containing
numerous escape sequences for interpretation by a video terminal;
one notable example displayed, on any VT100, a Christmas tree with
twinkling lights and a toy train circling its base. The {hack
value} of a display hack is proportional to the esthetic value of
the images times the cleverness of the algorithm divided by the
size of the code. Syn. {psychedelicware}.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks
include {munching squares}, {smoking clover}, the BSD UNIX
`rain(6)' program, `worms(6)' on miscellaneous UNIXes,
and the {X} `kaleid(1)' program. Display hacks can also be
implemented without programming by creating text files containing
numerous escape sequences for interpretation by a video terminal;
one notable example displayed, on any VT100, a Christmas tree with
twinkling lights and a toy train circling its base. The {hack
value} of a display hack is proportional to the esthetic value of
the images times the cleverness of the algorithm divided by the
size of the code. Syn. {psychedelicware}.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
Related:
- display hack n.
A program with the same approximate
purpose as a kaleidoscope:
to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks include... - munching squares: n. A {display hack} dating back to the PDP-1
(ca.
1962, reportedly discovered by Jackson Wright), which... - munching squares n.
A display hack dating back to the
PDP-1 (ca.
1962, reportedly discovered by Jackson Wright), which... - 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... - psychedelicware /si:`k*-del'-ik-weir/ n.
[UK] Syn.
display hack. See also smoking clover... - neat hack: n. 1. A clever technique. 2. A brilliant practical
joke,
where neatness is correlated with cleverness, harmlessness... - 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... - neat hack n.
[very common] 1. A clever technique.
2. A brilliant practical joke, where neatness is... - hack value: n. Often adduced as the reason or motivation for
expending effort toward a seemingly useless goal,
the point being that the accomplished goal is a...
From the same category:
- Your lamp has run out of
power... - If I said you had a beautiful graphic,
would you..... - Storage is a Weapon.
--
Amdahl ESS,... - It's amazing how many people you could be friends
with
if only they'd make the first approach... - We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844...
