| join |
| A database operator which makes it possible to retrieve data
from two or more tables in a single statement. |
| |
| kernel |
| In computer parlance refers to the core services provided by
the operating system (filesystem, memory management, CPU scheduling,
and device I/O). |
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kluge |
| A clever and hopefully temporary programming trick intended to
solve a particularly difficult problem in an expedient, if not clear,
manner. |
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linker |
| A tool that merges object files and library archives to build
an executable. |
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literal |
| The basic representation of any integer, floating point, or
character value. |
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little-endian |
| Method of storing data such that the low-order byte is at the
starting address of the memory location. |
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mangling/name-mangling |
| The process by which C++ types and classes are turned into
symbols in object files that are compatible with other languages. |
| |
| metaclass |
| Classes are objects in Smalltalk. A metaclass is
the class of a class object. |
| |
|
MIPS |
| Millions of Instructions Per Second,
a measurement of processing speed. |
| |
| mixin class |
| A class designed to be combined with other classes
through inheritance. Mixin classes are usually abstract. |
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multithreading |
| Functionality of a program that is designed to have parts of
its code execute concurrently. |
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munge |
| To make changes to a file, irrevocably, such as a comprehensive
rewrite of the code; often an unintentional process of corrupting a file or
memory block. |
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NOP |
| A machine instruction that does nothing. |
| |
|
NRE |
| Non-Recurring Engineering, typically used
to refer to one-time-only development, such as re-targeting to a new
architecture. |
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| object |
| A run-time entity that packages both data and the
procedures that operate on that data. |
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| object composition |
| Assembling or composing objects to get
more complex behavior. |
| |
| object diagram |
| A diagram that depicts a particular object structure at run-time. |
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|
object file |
| A binary-format file containing machine instructions and
possibly symbolic relocation information. Typically produced by an
assembler. |
| |
| object reference |
| A value that identifies another object. |
| |
| operation |
| An object's data can be manipulated only by its operations. An object
performs an operation when it receives a request. In C++, operations
are called member functions. Smalltalk uses the term
method. |
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|
overflow bit |
| A flag on some processors indicating an attempt to calculate a
result too large for a register to hold. |
| |
| overriding |
| Redefining an operation (inherited from a parent class) in a subclass. |
|
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| parameterized type |
| A type that leaves some constituent types unspecified. The
unspecified types are supplied as parameters at the point of use. In
C++, parameterized types are called templates. |
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|
parent class |
| The class from which another class inherits. Synonyms are
superclass (Smalltalk), base class (C++), and
ancestor class. |
| |
|
patch |
| A change in source code to correct or enhance processes.
Also a file that contains changes to source code. |
| |
|
path (pathname or full path) |
| A filename, fully specified relative to the root directory. |
| |
| phantom |
| Suppose transaction T1 retrieves the collectoin of all rows in
a database table that satisfy some condition. Suppose that transaction
T2 then inserts a new row satisfying that same condition. If
transaction T1 now repeats its retrieval request, it will see a row that it
did not previously see -- a "phantom". |
| |
| polymorphism |
| The ability to substitute objects of matching interface for one
another at run-time. |
| |
| private inheritance |
| In C++, a class inherited solely for its implementation. |
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| protocol |
| Extends the concept of an interface to include the allowable sequences
of requests. |
|
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| pseudo-ops |
| Assembler directives. |
| |
| pseudo registers |
| Pseudo registers can only contain scalar variables that cannot
be aliased. This means that global variables, local variables that
have their addressed taken, and aggregates cannot be stored in pseudo
registers. Because of the guarantee of no aliasing, pseudo regs are
ideal targets for optimization. |
| |
| receiver |
| The target object of a request. |
| |
| reentrancy |
| A characteristic of library functions which allows multiple
processes to use the same address space with assurance that the values
stored in those spaces will remain constant between calls. |
| |
| registers |
| Registers are settings representing values that serve as
temporary storage devices in a processor, allowing for faster access to
data. |
| |
| request |
| An object performs an operation when it receives a corresponding
request from another object. A common synonym for request is
message. |
|
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| root |
| In a hierarchy of items, the one item from which all other items
descend. |
| |
| RTOS |
| Real Time Operating System |
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