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The Computer Contradictionary

Satirical dictionary of computer industry terms From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Computer Contradictionary
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The Computer Contradictionary is a non-fiction book by Stan Kelly-Bootle that compiles 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.[1] Rather than offering a factual account of usage, its definitions are largely made up by the author.[2]

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The book was published in May 1995 by MIT Press and is an update of Kelly-Bootle's The Devil's DP Dictionary which appeared in 1981.[3]

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Examples

Endless loop. See: Loop, endless
Loop, endless. See: Endless loop
Recursion. See: Recursion

Reception

The Los Angeles Times, which praised the book, wrote that it was "smartly-titled" but was an "awfully stupid book".[4] ACM Computing Reviews recommended dipping into it because "a dictionary is a difficult read".[3]

References

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