Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!mit-eddie!bu-cs!bzs
From: bzs@bu-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: satan, 666, goat's blood
Message-ID: <3918@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 3-Feb-87 21:29:51 EST
Article-I.D.: bu-cs.3918
Posted: Tue Feb  3 21:29:51 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 4-Feb-87 07:22:17 EST
Organization: Boston U. Comp. Sci.
Lines: 20


I believe the image of a software 'daemon' came from AI lingo for a
piece of code which waited in the shadows and awoke when it was
needed. I know the term is used like that in older AI literature to
describe a form of event-driven programming where the system was
designed as a "panel" of experts or daemons each waiting for a
question in his/her/its field to arrive at which time it would pop up,
answer it, and then disappear again back into the shadows.

I suspect the sum of its metaphysical+AI implications (not to mention
being a perfect metaphor if you accept the above) made it irresistible
to us system types as a term for such programs.

Or, perhaps the account just appeared on the system one day when one
not ready typed in the true name of root...

	-Barry Shein, Boston University

[Obviously I am just trying to relate it to its software usage, a good
dictionary should reveal its common usage.]