<programming> One of a sequence of copies of a program, each
	incorporating new modifications.  Each version is usually
	identified by a number, commonly of the form X.Y where X is
	the major version number and Y is the release number.
	Typically an increment in X (with Y reset to zero) signifies a
	substantial increase in the function of the program or a
	partial or total re-implementation, whereas Y increases each
	time the progam is changed in any way and re-released.

	Version numbers are useful so that the user can know if the
	program has changed ({bugs} have been fixed or new functions
	added) since he obtained his copy and the programmer can tell
	if a bug report relates to the current version.  It is thus
	always important to state the version when reporting bugs.
	Statements about compatibility between different software
	components should always say which versions they apply to.

	See {change management}.

	(1997-12-07)

<communications> Any collaborative {website} that users can
	easily modify via the web, typically without restriction.  A
	wiki allows anyone, using a {web browser}, to edit, delete or
	modify content that has been placed on the site, including the
	work of other authors.  This has been found to work
	surprisingly well since contributors tend to be more numerous
	and persistent than vandals and old versions of pages are
	always available.

	Text is entered using a simple {mark-up language} which is
	then rendered as {HTML}.  A feature common to many of the
	different implementations is that any word in mixed case
	LikeThis is automatically turned into a link to a page of that
	name, which may or may not exist (similar to the linking in
	this dictionary).

	In contrast, a {web log}, typically authored by an individual,
	does not allow visitors to change the original posted
	material, only add comments.

	Wiki wiki means "quick" in Hawaiian. The first wiki was
	created by {Ward Cunningham} in 1995.

	{wiki.org (http://wiki.org/)}.

	(2005-07-21)

<programming> A computer system or process that requests a
	service of another computer system or process (a "{server}")
	using some kind of {protocol} and accepts the server's
	responses.  A client is part of a {client-server} software
	architecture.

	For example, a {workstation} requesting the contents of a file
	from a {file server} is a client of the file server.

	(1997-10-27)

<operating system> ("Linus Unix") /li'nuks/ (but see below)
	An implementation of the {Unix} {kernel} originally written
	from scratch with no proprietary code.

	The kernel runs on {Intel} and {Alpha} hardware in the general
	release, with {SPARC}, {PowerPC}, {MIPS}, {ARM}, {Amiga},
	{Atari}, and {SGI} in active development.  The SPARC, PowerPC,
	ARM, {PowerMAC} - {OSF}, and 68k ports all support {shells},
	{X} and {networking}.  The Intel and SPARC versions have
	reliable {symmetric multiprocessing}.

	Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds
	the copyright on a large part of it.  The rest of the
	copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or
	their employers).  Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the
	kernel as a whole is available under the {GNU} {General Public
	License}.  The GNU project supports Linux as its kernel until
	the research {Hurd} kernel is completed.

	This kernel would be no use without {application programs}.
	The GNU project has provided large numbers of quality tools,
	and together with other {public domain} software it is a rich
	Unix environment.  A compilation of the Linux kernel and these
	tools is known as a Linux distribution.  Compatibility modules
	and/or {emulators} exist for dozens of other computing
	environments.

	The kernel version numbers are significant: the odd numbered
	series (e.g. 1.3.xx) is the development (or beta) kernel which
	evolves very quickly.  Stable (or release) kernels have even
	major version numbers (e.g. 1.2.xx).

	There is a lot of commercial support for and use of Linux,
	both by hardware companies such as {Digital}, {IBM}, and
	{Apple} and numerous smaller network and integration
	specialists.  There are many commercially supported
	distributions which are generally entirely under the GPL.  At
	least one distribution vendor guarantees {Posix} compliance.
	Linux is particularly popular for {Internet Service
	Providers}, and there are ports to both parallel
	supercomputers and {embedded} {microcontrollers}.  {Debian} is
	one popular {open source} distribution.

	The pronunciation of "Linux" has been a matter of much debate.
	Many, including Torvalds, insist on the short I pronunciation
	/li'nuks/ because "Linus" has an /ee/ sound in Swedish
	(Linus's family is part of Finland's 6% ethnic-Swedish
	minority) and Linus considers English short /i/ to be closer
	to /ee/ than English long /i:/ dipthong.  This is consistent
	with the short I in words like "linen".  This doesn't stop
	others demanding a long I /li:'nuks/ following the english
	pronunciation of "Linus" and "minus".  Others say /li'niks/
	following {Minix}, which Torvalds was working on before Linux.

	{More on pronunciation
	(http://www.foldoc.org/pub/linux-pronunciation)}.

	{LinuxHQ (http://www.linuxhq.com/)}.  {slashdot
	(http://slashdot.org/)}.  {freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/)}.
	{Woven Goods (http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/)}.  {Linux
	Gazette (http://www.ssc.com/lg)}.

	{funet Linux Archive (ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux)}, {US
	mirror (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/)}, {UK Mirror
	(ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/Linux/)}.

	(2000-06-09)

Basic support services for computing, particularly national
	networks.

	See also {information superhighway}.

	(1995-06-27)

In {object-oriented} systems, a set of {class}es that embodies
	an abstract design for solutions to a number of related
	problems.

	(1995-01-30)

<operating system, programming> The process of carrying out
	the {instructions} in a computer program by a computer.

	See also {dry run}.

	(1996-05-13)

<testing> The process of exercising a product to identify
	differences between expected and actual behaviour.  Typically
	testing is bottom-up: {unit testing} and {integration testing}
	by developers, {system testing} by testers, and {user
	acceptance testing} by users.

	{Test coverage} attempts to assess how complete a test has
	been.

	2. The second stage in a {generate and test} search
	{algorithm}.

	[{Jargon File}]

	(2003-09-24)

1. <hardware> An electrical conductor.  For distances larger
	than a breadbox, a single line may consist of two electrical
	conductors in twisted, parallel, or concentric arrangement
	used to transport one logical signal.

	By extension, a (usually physical) medium such as an {optical
	fibre} which carries a signal.

	(1995-09-29)

<data> A data structure holding many values, possibly of
	different types, which is usually accessed sequentially,
	working from the head to the end of the tail - an "ordered
	list".  This contrasts with a (one-dimensional) {array}, any
	element of which can be accessed equally quickly.

	Lists are often stored using a cell and pointer arrangement
	where each value is stored in a cell along with an associated
	pointer to the next cell.  A special pointer, e.g. zero, marks
	the end of the list.  This is known as a (singly) "linked
	list".  A doubly linked list has pointers from each cell to
	both next and previous cells.

	An unordered list is a {set}.

	(1998-11-12)