Oxford debugging of computerese

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 20

Oxford debugging of computerese

Dictionary of Computing. Oxford Science Publications, 1983. 393 do. $50.70.

(Reviewed by

Neill Birss)

Computer technology is developing and spreading so quickly that a dictionary of computer terms must be partly outdated in the time between completion of the manuscript and the book’s sale. Oxford’s “Dictionary of Computing” does better than most, concentrating on the central ideas of the technology, and the concepts. The dictionary will not enable the uninitiated to grasp “computerese” without solid concentration. Some of the explanations extend over two pages. As Alexander the Great was told, there is no royal road to learning. The following list of entries from one page gives some idea of the book’s scope: debouncing; de Bruijn diagram; debugging; debug tool; DEC; decade counter, decay time; decidable; decision gate; decision problem; decision procedure; decision support system; decision table. The Oxford acceptance of computerese spellings will cause frowns in some of the literati: program, and fiber, for example. Otherwise, the dictionary is sedate,

conservative, and scholarly. It will be useful for any reference collection, but not sufficient by itself. Already it is a little behind the times. Fourth generation is listed, but not fifth generation, which is causing intense industrial and business interest as the world watches the ambitious Japanese drive for these machines. CP/M, formerly the top-selling business software for microcomputers is listed, but not the present big sellers, MS-DOS and PC-DOS. Although the compilers say they used consultants on “both sides of the Atlantic,” there is a mild British bias. The British microcomputers, the ZXBI and the Spectrum, are mentioned, but not the American machines, Commodore, Atari, or Radio Shack. The British manufacturer, ICL, is listed, but not the booming Japanese makers, NEC and Fujitsu, which supply hardware for some ICL models. Also, the book will not satisfy microcomputer users. These make up the biggest, and by far the fastestgrowing section of computer users. The Oxford book is oriented more to the older sections of the industry and the bigger machines. The definition given of system

hacker, “a programmer who obsessively tinkers with system software,” is no longer the predominant use of “hacker.” Rather, to more people, a “hacker” is a hobbyist who will spend nights as well as days poring over his machine. The obsession is still there, but now the connotation is of a hobbyist who has taken the bait so well that the hook is out through his neck and is pinning him to the keyboard. For a good computer reference section in the library or the home, this book needs to have shelved beside it one of the many good dictionaries put out in America by the specialist microcomputer publishers, such as the dilithium Press.