The New Hacker's Dictionary

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Node:smash the stack, Next:[12274]smiley, Previous:[12275]smash case, Up:[12276]= S =

smash the stack n.

[C programming] To corrupt the execution stack by writing past the end of a local array or other data structure. Code that smashes the stack can cause a return from the routine to jump to a random address, resulting in some of the most insidious data-dependent bugs known to mankind. Variants include `trash' the stack, [12277]scribble the stack, [12278]mangle the stack; the term **[12279]mung the stack is not used, as this is never done intentionally. See [12280]spam; see also [12281]aliasing bug, [12282]fandango on core, [12283]memory leak, [12284]memory smash, [12285]precedence lossage, [12286]overrun screw.

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Node:smiley, Next:[12287]smoke, Previous:[12288]smash the stack, Up:[12289]= S =

smiley n.

See [12290]emoticon.

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Node:smoke, Next:[12291]smoke and mirrors, Previous:[12292]smiley, Up:[12293]= S =

smoke vi.

1. To [12294]crash or blow up, usually spectacularly. "The new version smoked, just like the last one." Used for both hardware (where it often describes an actual physical event), and software (where it's merely

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colorful). 2. [from automotive slang] To be conspicuously fast. "That processor really smokes." Compare [12295]magic smoke.

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Node:smoke and mirrors, Next:[12296]smoke test, Previous:[12297]smoke, Up:[12298]= S =

smoke and mirrors n.

Marketing deceptions. The term is mainstream in this general sense. Among hackers it's strongly associated with bogus demos and crocked [12299]benchmarks (see also [12300]MIPS, [12301]machoflops). "They claim their new box cranks 50 MIPS for under $5000, but didn't specify the instruction mix -- sounds like smoke and mirrors to me." The phrase, popularized by newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin c.1975, has been said to derive from carnie slang for magic acts and `freak show' displays that depend on `trompe l'oeil' effects, but also calls to mind the fierce Aztec god Tezcatlipoca (lit. "Smoking Mirror") for whom the hearts of huge numbers of human sacrificial victims were regularly cut out. Upon hearing about a rigged demo or yet another round of fantasy-based marketing promises, hackers often feel analogously disheartened. See also [12302]stealth manager.

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Node:smoke test, Next:[12303]smoking clover, Previous:[12304]smoke and mirrors, Up:[12305]= S =

smoke test n.

1. A rudimentary form of testing applied to electronic equipment following repair or reconfiguration, in which power is applied and the tester checks for sparks, smoke, or other dramatic signs of fundamental failure. See [12306]magic smoke. 2. By extension, the first run of a piece of software after construction or a critical change. See and compare [12307]reality

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check.

There is an interesting semi-parallel to this term among typographers and printers: When new typefaces are being punch-cut by hand, a `smoke test' (hold the letter in candle smoke, then press it onto paper) is used to check out new dies.

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Node:smoking clover, Next:[12308]smoot, Previous:[12309]smoke test, Up:[12310]= S =

smoking clover n.

[ITS] A [12311]display hack originally due to Bill Gosper. Many convergent lines are drawn on a color monitor in such a way that every pixel struck has its color incremented. The lines all have one endpoint in the middle of the screen; the other endpoints are spaced one pixel apart around the perimeter of a large square. The color map is then repeatedly rotated. This results in a striking, rainbow-hued, shimmering four-leaf clover. Gosper joked about keeping it hidden from the FDA (the U.S.'s Food and Drug Administration) lest its hallucinogenic properties cause it to be banned.

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Node:smoot, Next:[12312]SMOP, Previous:[12313]smoking clover, Up:[12314]= S =

smoot /smoot/ n.

[MIT] A unit of length equal five feet seven inches. The length of the Harvard Bridge in Boston is famously 364.4 smoots plus or minus an ear (the ear stands for [12315]epsilon). This legend began with a fraternity prank in 1958 during which the body length of Oliver Smoot (class of '62) was actually used to measure out that distance. It is commemorated by

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smoot marks that MIT students repaint every few years; the tradition even survived the demolition and rebuilding of the bridge in the late 1980s. The Boston police have been known to use smoot markers to indicate accident locations on the bridge.

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SMOP /S-M-O-P/ n.

[Simple (or Small) Matter of Programming] 1. A piece of code, not yet written, whose anticipated length is significantly greater than its complexity. Used to refer to a program that could obviously be written, but is not worth the trouble. Also used ironically to imply that a difficult problem can be easily solved because a program can be written to do it; the irony is that it is very clear that writing such a program will be a great deal of work. "It's easy to enhance a FORTRAN compiler to compile COBOL as well; it's just an SMOP." 2. Often used ironically by the intended victim when a suggestion for a program is made which seems easy to the suggester, but is obviously (to the victim) a lot of work.

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Node:smurf, Next:[12319]SNAFU principle, Previous:[12320]SMOP, Up:[12321]= S =

smurf /smerf/ n.

1. [from the soc.motss newsgroup on Usenet, after some obnoxiously gooey cartoon characters] A newsgroup regular with a habitual style that is irreverent, silly, and cute. Like many other hackish terms for people, this one may be praise or insult depending on who uses it. In general, being referred to as a smurf is probably not going to make your day unless you've previously adopted the label yourself in a spirit of irony. Compare

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[12322]old fart. 2. [techspeak] A ping packet with a forged source address sent to some other network's broadcast address. All the machines on the destination network will send a ping response to the forged source address (the victim). This both overloads the victim's network and hides the location of the attacker.

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Node:SNAFU principle, Next:[12323]snail, Previous:[12324]smurf, Up:[12325]= S =

SNAFU principle /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ n.

[from a WWII Army acronym for `Situation Normal, All Fucked Up'] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." -- a central tenet of [12326]Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly:

In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void.

And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer."

And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it."

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The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong."

And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful."

The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!"

And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good.

After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the [12327]suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired. Compare [12328]Conway's Law.

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Node:snail, Next:[12329]snail-mail, Previous:[12330]SNAFU principle, Up:[12331]= S =

snail vt.

To [12332]snail-mail something. "Snail me a copy of those graphics, will you?"

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Node:snarf down, Next:[12355]snark, Previous:[12356]snarf & barf, Up:[12357]= S =

snarf down v.

To [12358]snarf, with the connotation of absorbing, processing, or understanding. "I'll snarf down the latest version of the [12359]nethack user's guide -- it's been a while since I played last and I don't know what's changed recently."

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Node:snark, Next:[12360]sneaker, Previous:[12361]snarf down, Up:[12362]= S =

snark n.

[Lewis Carroll, via the Michigan Terminal System] 1. A system failure. When a user's process bombed, the operator would get the message "Help, Help, Snark in MTS!" 2. More generally, any kind of unexplained or threatening event on a computer (especially if it might be a boojum). Often used to refer to an event or a log file entry that might indicate an attempted security violation. See [12363]snivitz. 3. UUCP name of snark.thyrsus.com, home site of the Jargon File versions from 2.*.* on (i.e., this lexicon).

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Node:sneaker, Next:[12364]sneakernet, Previous:[12365]snark,

Up:[12366]= S =

sneaker n.

An individual hired to break into places in order to test their security; analogous to [12367]tiger team. Compare [12368]samurai.