Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!nems!blackjack!hart From: hart@blackjack.dt.navy.mil (Michael Hart) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c Subject: Re: !?!? FOO??? Message-ID: Date: 4 Jul 90 01:47:48 GMT References: <54483@lanl.gov> <13530001@hp-and.HP.COM> Sender: news@nems.dt.navy.mil Lines: 38 In <13530001@hp-and.HP.COM> panek@hp-and.HP.COM (Jon Panek) writes: >In <54483@lanl.gov>, Mark C. Lowe writes >>For SO LONG I have wondered what the heck FOO stands for! I once knew, but >>now I don't. And it's bothered me every time I've seen it since! >> >>HELP!! >It's my belief that FOO predates ADVENTURE, and its appearance there was >simply an indication of its earlier existence. My leanings are to side >with those who advocate its military origins (FUBAR). On the other hand, >there's one other notable possibility: > F003 Divide by zero > F001 Printer not ready >and the like. When the machine ran into one of these, it would load the >This explanation would go a long ways to explaining why "FOO" has >appeared in the hacker community, as well as some support for its >age. >Any agreement on this? I would have to agree with the military origin; especially as FOO is usually seen in close proximity to it's brother variable, BAR. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael G. Hart hart@blackjack.dt.navy.mil / mhart@dtrc.dt.navy.mil DTRC/DoD | "Wherever you go, there you are."- me DISCLAIMER: If you want the Navy's opinion, talk to Secretary Cheney. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael G. Hart hart@blackjack.dt.navy.mil / mhart@dtrc.dt.navy.mil DTRC/DoD | "Wherever you go, there you are."- me DISCLAIMER: If you want the Navy's opinion, talk to Secretary Cheney.