Glossary

Filter:
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Return to List
/T/*
  • [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 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 well respond `T', meaning that he wants coffee; but of course he will be brought a cup of tea instead. As it happens, most hackers (particularly those who frequent Chinese restaurants) like tea at least as well as coffee -- so it is not that big a problem.
  • See time T (also since time T equals minus infinity).
  • [Techspeak] In transaction-processing circles, an abbreviation for the noun `transaction'.
  • A dialect of LISP developed at Yale.