What's the Jargon File?

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11.4. What's the Jargon File?

The Jargon File is a comprehensive compendium of hacker slang illuminating many aspects of hackish tradition, folklore, and humor. In it are definitions of all that funky slang that computer hackers (including Internet users) tend to use. The Jargon File is a common heritage of the hacker culture. I highly recommended reading this file--it's educational and has high giggle value.

It is available online in many places. Among them

quartz.rutgers.edu:/etext/jargon/jarg300.txt.gz

Note: You can also get the Jargon File in book form. It's called the New Hacker's Dictionary and it contains the full text of the Jargon File (plus cartoons that aren't available in the online version). I recommend shelling out the big bucks for the book version because 1) it takes up less disk space; 2) it's easier to read in the bathroom; and 3) it looks mighty impressive on a bookshelf or coffee table. The New Hacker's Dictionary, Second Edition (ISBN 0-262-18154-1) is available from MIT Press. You should be able to find it at any major bookstore, or you can order by phone at (800) 356-0343 or (617) 625-8481.

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