The Computer Contradictionary

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The Computer Contradictionary by Stan Kelly-Bootle is a satirical list of definitions of computer industry terms. It is an example of "cynical lexicography" in the tradition of Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary. It was originally published as The Devil's DP Dictionary, in New York, by McGraw-Hill in 1981, ISBN 0070340226. DP stood for "data processing", a term formerly used to describe the software and hardware industries. It was re-edited under the new title in Boston by MIT Press, in 1995, ISBN 0262611120.

Kelly-Bootle adds in the "Guide": The meaning of an entry should always be ascertained before consulting this dictionary.

[edit] Examples

Infinite loop. See: Loop, infinite

Loop, infinite. See: Infinite loop

Recursion. See: Recursion