Questions about English used for talking about programming, but not about programming languages themselves.
1
vote
2answers
37 views
What is the meaning of “down-level”
What does the word down-level mean?
I read an article here and it says:
But the versions for some browsers (like IE 10) aren't within those
ranges any more. Therefore, ASP.NET sees them as ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
What is the correct capitalization of code examples when beginning a sentence? [duplicate]
I am writing a technical book and a lot of it is structured as explanations of code examples.
For instance:
var links = data.map(function (d) {
return {source: nick_id(d.from),
...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Programming terminology difficulty [closed]
I'm programming a simple tile-based game (a game that is built up on the concept of squares for collision detection and map design). You can come in contact with a tile and you can collide with a ...
4
votes
1answer
60 views
Provenance of 'deprecated' (in the programming sense)
What are some early uses of "deprecation" in computer science? When did the word enter common usage in the field of programming? Are there any particularly well-known examples of early deprecations ...
1
vote
4answers
81 views
The ( changed ) meaning or classification of words in programming [closed]
I am facing a bit of a dilemma / problem .
I am an amateur programmer ( profile ) , and in programming languages some terms are accepted , known to everyone and frequently used everywhere .
My doubt ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Does the word “raytracer” exist?
If not, is it well readable anyway?
"Ray tracer" seems to be used more frequently but this is not my question.
An example sentence could be:
A raytracer is a computer program that uses an ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
A term for non-player targetted information
I'm looking for a term that would describe the information that is not supposed to be known by players, not essential for their gaming experience.
Like a game object (or feature) that isn't actually ...
1
vote
1answer
154 views
dividend/divisor vs. numerator/denominator [closed]
From Wikipedia:
In the expression a ÷ b = c, a is called the dividend or numerator, b the divisor or denominator and the result c is called the quotient.
What's most common (in the context of ...
-1
votes
2answers
85 views
Do you “program with language X” or “program using language X” or something else?
What is the correct way of saying the following sentences (python is the name of the language and numpy is one of the libraries):
I made this program with Python using numpy library.
I program ...
1
vote
2answers
134 views
“Release”, “free”, or “delete allocated memory”?
release the allocated memory.
free the allocated memory.
delete the allocated memory.
What are the differences between them?
3
votes
6answers
677 views
Why do programmers always use 'we' when really they mean 'me' or 'you'? [closed]
Something I've noticed a lot from reading articles on stack overflow is that programmers tend to use the term 'we' a heck of a lot. I'm a programmer myself and I must admit, of all the times I've ...
-2
votes
4answers
110 views
Verb to describe “to enable or to disable”
I'm looking for a word that describes "to enable or to disable". This related question found the hypernyms mode and state, but I am looking for a verb. I.e. a word for "(potentially) change ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Is “signup for registration” redundant?
I'm writing a document for an exercise-project spec. The line goes:
A simple registration website where visitors can view registered users and signup for registration themselves.
Is this being ...
-1
votes
3answers
189 views
“Not empty” set in one word? [closed]
Is there a single word which means "not empty"? That is, a word which one might use to describe a field with one or more cows in it, as opposed to an "empty" field with none?
Full or even ...
0
votes
1answer
135 views
“Upload to” vs. “upload on”
Which preposition should follow the verb to upload — to, on, or something else?
0
votes
3answers
136 views
One word for simplicity, expressiveness, and error avoidance? [closed]
Is there a good word to describe all three of them? Currently, I'm writing my thesis, and it's about designing an API. So one of my goals is to achieve all of these: simplicity, expressiveness and ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
“As of this patch…” , “From this patch onward…”?
I want to express that the new patch of the software I am writing enables the system to do "X".
Which of the following options are preferable:
As of this patch, the system is able to do X.
...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
What's an antonym to “legacy”?
I am struggling to find out what the best and shortest way is to describe the opposite of a legacy system (especially in software architecture, where legacy means the system used previously).
I need ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
“A” or “an” for symbols that start with @ [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
I'm writing about concepts in programming languages, and for instance in the Java language, so-called annotations are declared with an "@" ...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
Is “catenate” used in IT parlance?
When I was doing my IT degree in the 80s we learned that, in programming terms, concatenation was the act of joining two strings together.
Recently I was reading a technical manual and came across ...
1
vote
4answers
217 views
What's the meaning of boilerplate in programming?
I am not very clear about the word boilerplate when it comes to programming. How is it different to other similar terms such as template and prototype? I would appreciate some examples that clearly ...
-1
votes
1answer
77 views
Is there a forum or discussion group to discuss programmatically editing English grammar and spelling in texts? [closed]
I am a programmer and my current project has me scanning and analyzing texts to see what elements can be corrected automatically. For example, change i to I, ur to your, etc. Basically getting rid ...
1
vote
0answers
214 views
Alternatives for computer programming terms, for better understanding [closed]
There are several words in computer science which seem quite easy to understand, but when you just mix them with their application, they look more and more complex. I have seen many people who are new ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Synonyms for “Inspect”
We have software which currently has these menu items: Map, Talk, Inspect, Analyze, Report, Team. We realize that the word Inspect word is not clear enough for most people. We have all the raw data ...
11
votes
4answers
534 views
What does randomically mean?
I've just read an O’Reilly book and encoutered the word randomically. I highly suspect this is a made up word, but a quick google found it in use here, here, and here. Is this some obscure technical ...
0
votes
1answer
124 views
Small Question Regarding Article the or a [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any simple rules for article usage (“a” vs “the” vs none)
I always don't understand which one to use, a or the or nothing.
I got a ...
15
votes
6answers
509 views
Where does the phrase “run code” or “run software” come from? Why “run”?
Historically speaking, it makes sense to me someone would say run "the computer". Early computers (not a human computer) were mechanical machines with moving parts that could achieve a velocity deemed ...
4
votes
4answers
211 views
The verb for carrying out a bitwise OR/AND operation
I'm writing a scientific/technical text which involves describing some low level code.
I need to complete the following sentence:
When two values are combined, their tags are _ _ _ _ _ _ together
...
5
votes
5answers
228 views
“Plugable” or “pluggable”
When it comes to programming copy edits, there are lots of words that would otherwise be thrown out or replaced.
Hive uses a plugable design.
Should that be plugable or pluggable?
If the ...
6
votes
1answer
268 views
What is an 'Iron Ring Event'
In a recent podcast of .Net rocks (at 45 minutes 29 seconds), regarding the future of software craftsmanship, it is postulated that there will be an 'Iron Ring Event' (if I heard it correctly). From ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
IT-related synonym for “context” [closed]
I'm developing an application which has an "Event" system that basically allows application extensions to attach events to a certain "context". When the application reaches a context, it will fire ...
6
votes
3answers
378 views
Should the beginner's program read "Hello, World? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where should the comma be placed in the salutation of a letter?
I was thinking today about comma usage and the typical first output for a beginning programmer. In the ...
2
votes
4answers
886 views
“Enclosure” vs. “attachment”
If I understand it correctly, one usually uses the term enclosure when referring to extra documents to e.g. a letter. But what if these extra items are not other documents and papers?
Say I have ...
4
votes
4answers
649 views
What does the word “hacking” or “hacker” come from? [closed]
Is there a history behind the word "hacker" and "hacking"?
Could it have anything to do with "hashing" i.e. using a hash function?
3
votes
1answer
93 views
When writing user stories, should there be a comma after “As a User”, and before “I want”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Comma after introductory phrases
Agile software development often encourages people to write up user stories using a given formula. The formula is: "As a User I want to ...
1
vote
3answers
124 views
Mailshot or Newsletter?
I'm developing a web based application that allows people to send email to many customers, for advertisement purposes.
What's the correct name for that? newsletter or mailshot?
EDIT: to avoid ...
1
vote
5answers
121 views
What is the term for a string that is made up of fixed-length components?
I have a data string that is defined as having two characters for the ID value, six characters for longitude, etc. "Fixed-length string" does not convey the requirement for internal bits of the string ...
-1
votes
1answer
137 views
Why is it correct to say “to negate a double”? [closed]
In programming you can negate a double. At least Google hits tend to that, but there are, though, a lot of hits for invert a double.
While the definition of to invert is clear
to invert:
to ...
8
votes
1answer
307 views
What do you call the phenomenon where a rectangle Ϳ is shown because a font lacks a glyph?
Is there a name to describe the situation where a particular character is shown on a computer screen in a particular font, but this font does not have a glyph for this particular character?
Usually, ...
0
votes
2answers
87 views
Explanation of sentence [closed]
I don't understand this sentence.... I know the meaning of all words except distinct... I looked in dictionary.. but I don't understand..:/
Output the number of distinct values when considered MOD ...
2
votes
3answers
168 views
“Art developer” or “arts developer” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference, if any, between 'art', 'the arts', and 'Art'?
Which is more correct in describing a software developer: art developer or ...
1
vote
2answers
146 views
Contract metaphor for preconditions and postconditions [closed]
English is not my primary language but I'm "forced" to write code and code's comments in English. I'm now trying to develop a PHP code (doesn't really matter this aspect) like this:
function ...
3
votes
2answers
471 views
Instrumented? What is a good explanation/definition of the word. (English: Tech Jargon)
What is a good explanation/definition of the word Instrumented?
as in "Good code needs to be instrumented..."
I did a brief web search, but the few places it pops up seem to also be full of jargon, ...
-4
votes
1answer
111 views
Describing “data backend” [closed]
I have to translate "data backend" to Russian and Hebrew without using borrowed words. I'll appreciate if someone describes what "data backend" means so I could find proper words in my language.
1
vote
5answers
135 views
Precedence: and > or?
The question Precedence of “and” and “or” asks if there is any notion of precedence ordering in the English and it would seem not, based on the answers.
Regardless of that, if you saw the following ...
4
votes
2answers
137 views
What's the verb for 'to form a canonical representation'?
I'd like to describe the activity of turning a set of elements into its canonical (standardized base) form.
Some candidates seem to be:
canonicalize
canonize
I'd also like to name the device ...
-1
votes
3answers
69 views
Value in use now and value to be used later [closed]
I am programming a web page and need to keep track of two date values. One is the search criterion in use at present and the other is a date entered by the user which has not yet been selected as the ...
2
votes
1answer
316 views
Title Capitalization of Keywords in Programming Languages [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Capitalising a sentence whose first word is explicitly lowercase
Should I change the structure of a sentence/add filler words to make sure that the sentence always starts ...
4
votes
3answers
379 views
Pronunciation of UI
I heard someone pronounce UI as yooey. I guess this comes from the pronunciation of GUI, which is gooey. How common is this compared to yoo-eye and user-interface?
2
votes
3answers
221 views
Why pool of processes?
I hit the sentence:
The ProcessPoolExecutor class is an Executor subclass that uses a pool
of processes to execute calls asynchronously.
I was looking for the word pool which means swimming ...
