Greybeard Definition

greybeard

    Greybeard
     
    An aging [unix hacker] type with an impressive [unix beard] that has now turned grey. Originally a young [neckbeard], these [Gandalf] resembling [curmudgeons] are renowned for their knowledge of theoretical computer science, arcane unix and complete inability to use a remotely contemporary computer.
     
    Typically employed in academia, they are a dying breed from an antediluvian age of 8" [floppies], magnetic tape and timeshared computing. Despite having invented multiuser OSes and the internet, Greybeards prefer to live in the past, where they consider [Fortran] to be a high level programming language. Typical Greybeard computers are dated [Sun workstations] or old PCs running a command line only [BSD] variant, Greybeards shun GUIs, unless they're horrible and dated, like CDE or [Amiga] Workbench.
     
    Some, like Edsger Dijkstra do most of their computer science as entirely theoretical exercises on paper and haven't programmed a computer since 1972.
     
    Contacting a greybeard can be dificult, due to their anti-social and neo-luddite nature. Your best bet is to give up on texting, facebook or the phone and instead try the unix finger command or [HAM radio].
     
    Famous greybeards include: Dennis Ritchey, Brian Kernighan, Ken Thompson, Richard M. Stallman, Edsger Dijkstra.
     
    Note: an actual beard can be optional, as demonstrated by Donald Knuth and Clifford Stoll.
     
     
    Example: The professor for my CS 320 class is a total greybeard! All his handouts are typset in LaTeX, he uses the chalkboard instead showing slides and the computer in his office is a Sun workstation! He only accepts classwork in Lisp and checks his email once a week!

    Source: http://pastebin.com/kMZ4hDf2

was your professor Mr Stone?

Enjoyable read, but including Dennis Ritchey but not Brian Kernighan?

There is no way you were taught by a Greybeard, he would have enforced a per line character limit on this. xD

There is no way you were taught by a Greybeard, he would have enforced a per line character limit on this. xD

Good point. Does it claim I was taught by a Greybeard?

There is no way you were taught by a Greybeard, he would have enforced a per line character limit on this. xD

Good point. Does it claim I was taught by a Greybeard?

No. No it does not. Oof.

I would welcome any edits to get it to the essence. I have completely forgot I posted this.

Ah no worries, I was just being a bit cheeky that day, it was a lovely read.

Appreciate it!