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T /T/ 1. [from LISP terminology for 'true'] Yes. Used in reply to a question (particularly one asked using The '-P' convention). In LISP, the constant T means 'true', among other things. Some Lisp hackers use 'T' and 'NIL' instead of 'Yes' and 'No' almost reflexively. This sometimes causes misunderstandings. When a waiter or flight attendant asks whether a hacker wants coffee, he may absently respond 'T', meaning that he wants coffee; but of course he will be brought a cup of tea instead. Fortunately, most hackers (particularly those who frequent Chinese restaurants) like tea at least as well as coffee so it is not that big a problem. 2. See time T (also since time T equals minus infinity). 3. [techspeak] In transaction-processing circles, an abbreviation for the noun 'transaction'. 4. [Purdue] Alternate spelling of tee. 5. A dialect of LISP developed at Yale. (There is an intended allusion to NIL, "New Implementation of Lisp", another dialect of Lisp developed for the VAX) |
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tail recursion n. If you arent' sick of it already, see tail recursion. |
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talk mode n. A feature supported by Unix, ITS, and some other OSes that allows two or more logged-in users to set up a real-time on-line conversation. It combines the immediacy of talking with all the precision (and verbosity) that written language entails. It is difficult to communicate inflection, though conventions have arisen for some of these (see the section on writing style in the Prependices for details). |
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Talk mode has a special set of jargon words, used to save typing, which are not used orally. Some of these are identical to (and probably derived from) Morse-code jargon used by ham-radio amateurs since the 1920s. |
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are you ready to unlink? (this is the standard way to end a talk-mode conversation; the other person types BYE to confirm, or else continues the conversation) |
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are you busy? (expects ACK or NAK in return) |
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are you there? (often used on unexpected links, meaning also "Sorry if I butted in " (linker) or "What's up?" (linkee)) |
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