Greybeard Definition
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 |
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Kaos-Industries
commented
Oct 1, 2018
Enjoyable read, but including Dennis Ritchey but not Brian Kernighan? |
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jon2kx
commented
Oct 10, 2019
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There is no way you were taught by a Greybeard, he would have enforced a per line character limit on this. xD |
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Good point. Does it claim I was taught by a Greybeard? |
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jon2kx
commented
Oct 17, 2019
No. No it does not. Oof. |
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I would welcome any edits to get it to the essence. I have completely forgot I posted this. |
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jon2kx
commented
Oct 17, 2019
Ah no worries, I was just being a bit cheeky that day, it was a lovely read. |
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Appreciate it! |
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knoebber commentedNov 21, 2017
was your professor Mr Stone?