The terminology tag has no wiki summary.
3
votes
3answers
281 views
Is Linus Torvalds a hacker? [closed]
Maybe wrong place for the question, but I couldn't find the answer.
The wiki says he's software engineer and hacker. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds)
Is it true?
I must tell I haven't ...
34
votes
2answers
2k views
Why do some Linux files have a 'd' suffix?
I am new to Linux. I observed some of the binary files and configuration file name s end with a d.
What is reason for putting a d at the end of the file name?
Like httpd, ospfd, pppd, syslogd, ...
3
votes
4answers
128 views
Command 'date +FORMAT' — What are %a, %A, %b, etc. called?
The date command outputs the current date and time like this: Fri Apr 12 15:04:03 UTC 2013.
To have the output date-time in a custom format we can use date +FORMAT, for example, like this: date ...
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Definition of sane
Does sane have a technical definition in a unix / linux context?
I mean in situations such as this:
checking whether build environment is sane... yes
1
vote
1answer
94 views
What is the proper use of the term 'session'?
[I hesitated whether to post this in meta or here. But although this involves terminology, it is of general use, not only on this website.]
It looks like at least in Xfce 4.10 (with the session ...
4
votes
2answers
256 views
what is OS hardening in linux or unix?
The term OS hardening itself is misleading/vague to me as i am reading to understand it online here.
It seems to me that its something related to making linux/unix box more secure.
4
votes
4answers
243 views
What is “lightweight”?
Is there a technical definition, or at least some benchmark notion, of the word "lightweight"?
Is it just some arbitrary "doesn't consume a lot of computer resources"?
Or perhaps "the application ...
3
votes
2answers
101 views
What does the term static variable mean in unix speak?
From the section 2.7 of the book - The Linux programing Interface named Process memory layout :
Data is defined as the
static variables used by the program.
What is the significance of the word ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
What does d signify in processes like syslogd and httpd?
Why there is a "d" after the name of processes like syslogd and httpd ? What is its significance ?
3
votes
3answers
473 views
In Unix speak what is the difference between a shell script and an executable?
I have seen this question on this site and this prompted me to ask this question . I want to know in Unix speak what is the difference between an executable and a shell script ?
1
vote
2answers
123 views
Official Description UNC (Universal Naming Convention)
Can anybody point to a man page or specification that defines the Universal Naming Convention (UNC)? I'm looking for the original source of the idea
0
votes
2answers
153 views
Home directory vs Working directory
In unix like systems what is the difference between a home directory and working directory ?
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Is 'device' synonymous with 'drive' in Unix-like OS's?
In Unix/Linux terminology, are the words 'device' and 'drive' synonymous?
2
votes
1answer
212 views
What should look for in log files if I think limited memory or disk space is causing a crash?
Troubleshooting /var/log files for a recent series of crashes, what should I look for in the files if I believe low memory or disk space are to blame? Is there a general term used in the Linux ...
1
vote
3answers
169 views
Why FreeBsd is using man word for various functions?
Ok, I'm a newbie in FreeBsd and for your info I only know MS windows before this. I wonder why FreeBsd love to use man in various places, for example:
FreeBsd Man Pages - This interface will allow ...
1
vote
2answers
231 views
Computer terminal and virtual console [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the exact difference between a 'terminal', a 'shell', a 'tty' and a 'console'?
I was wondering what relations and differences ...
12
votes
2answers
528 views
What is a socket?
Could someone explain to me what a socket is? I see it in many acronyms in context of SSL, etc.
Also, why is it called a socket? Is it purely because it was what a name they invented? Or was it the ...
8
votes
6answers
492 views
Why was the word “shell” used to descibe a command-line interface?
I'm curious about the term "shell." I think I know what it is (though the distinction between "shell" and "terminal" is still fuzzy) but why was the word "shell" chosen to describe this type of ...
4
votes
2answers
854 views
What is the referent of a file descriptor?
My understanding is that a file descriptor is an integer which is a key in the kernel's per-process mapping to objects such as open()ed files, pipes, sockets, etc.
Is there a proper, short, and ...
22
votes
5answers
2k views
Why do /usr and /tmp directories for Linux miss vowels in their spellings?
I have often started to think about this but never found a good answer. Why are these two Unix directories not /user and /temp instead?
All the other directories under root seem to be exactly what ...
11
votes
6answers
647 views
What does the name of the unix command apropos mean?
Apropos is a tool to search the headers of the man pages for a string.
What does the name apropos mean?
4
votes
1answer
446 views
What does 'uni' mean in unistd.h
What does uni mean in unistd.h
Does it mean unix? or universal?
What is it?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
21
votes
8answers
3k views
What does etc stand for?
What does the "etc" folder in the root directory stand for? I think knowing this will help me remember where certain files are located.
Update: Might be useful for others, the folder is used for ...
5
votes
1answer
367 views
As we call `#!/bin/perl` 'shebang', what we call `-*- perl -*-`?
The first line of a script may be in format of #! interpreter, so the shell will execute the script using the specific interpreter. This is so called shebang or shbang.
Similarly, there can be some ...
27
votes
5answers
15k views
What is a Superblock, Inode, Dentry and a File?
From the article Anatomy of Linux File Systems by Tim Jones, I read that Linux views all the file systems from the perspective of a common set of objects and these objects are superblock, inode, ...
2
votes
2answers
271 views
15
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between a job and a process?
What is the difference between a "job" and a "process"?
4
votes
1answer
297 views
Difference between references of Linux “utilities”, “commands” and “programs”
I read uses of the word "utilities" for commands/programs such as 'ls', 'chmod', 'mv', etc.
Is "commands" is Linux referring to the same things as top, ps, etc., or are those something different? ...
27
votes
5answers
1k views
Why is there a * When There is Mention of Unix Throughout the Internet?
I've noticed that throughout the Internet, within forums and blog posts, Unix always has a * in the word, whether it is *nix or Un*x, as I noticed at the welcoming banner at the Unix StackExchange ...
