DikuMUD-through-disk
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time
DikuMUD
n. 1. Multi-user dungeon (MUD) software developed by five individuals at the Computer Science Institute at Copenhagen University (whose acronym in Danish is DIKU). DikuMUD uses multimedia and is object-oriented, but the classes are hard-coded. The software is covered by a license agreement that forbids its distribution for money. See also MUD, multimedia, object-oriented. 2. A game that uses the DikuMUD software.
dimmed
adj. Shown on the screen in gray characters instead of black characters on white or white characters on black. Menu options are dimmed in a graphical user interface to indicate that under current circumstances they are not available--for example, "Cut" when no text has been highlighted or "Paste" when there is no text in the clipboard.
DIN connector
n. A multipin connector conforming to the specification of the German national standards organization (Deutsch Industrie Norm). DIN connectors are used to link various components in personal computers.
dingbat
n. A small graphical element used for decorative purposes in a document. Some fonts, such as Zapf Dingbats, are designed to present sets of dingbats. See also font. Compare bullet.
diode
n. A device that passes current in only one direction. A diode is usually a semiconductor. See also semiconductor. diode-transistor logic
n. A type of circuit design that employs diodes, transistors, and resistors to perform logic functions. Acronym: DTL.
DIP
n. Acronym for dual in-line package. A standard for packaging integrated circuits in which the microminiature electronic circuits etched on a silicon wafer are enclosed in a rectangular housing of plastic or ceramic and connected to downward-pointing pins protruding from the longer sides of the chip. Designed to facilitate circuit board manufacturing, this design does not work well for modern chips requiring very large numbers of connections. Compare leaderless chip carrier, pin grid array, SIP, surface-mount technology. See document image processing.
DIP switch
n. One or more small rocker- or sliding-type switches contained in the plastic or ceramic housing of a dual in-line package (DIP) connected to a circuit board. Each switch on a DIP switch can be set to one of two positions, closed or open, to control options on the circuit board. See also DIP.
dir
n. An MS-DOS command that instructs a computer to display a list of files and subdirectories in the current directory or folder. If the command is followed by a path, the computer displays a list of files and subdirectories in the specified directory or folder. See also command, MS-DOS, path (definition 2).
direct access
n. The ability of a computer to find and go straight to a particular storage location in memory or on disk to retrieve or store an item of information. Note that direct access is not the same as direct memory access (DMA), which is the ability to transfer information directly between an input/output channel and memory rather than taking the longer and more circuitous route of I/O channel to microprocessor to memory. See also random access. Compare direct memory access.
direct cable connection
n. A link between the I/O ports of two computers that uses a single cable rather than a modem or other active interface device. In most cases, a direct cable connection requires a null modem cable.
direct-connect modem
n. A modem that uses standard telephone wire and connectors and plugs directly into a telephone jack, eliminating the need for an intermediary telephone. Compare acoustic coupler.
direct current
n. Electrical current whose direction of flow does not reverse. The current may stop or change amplitude, but it always flows in the same direction. Compare alternating current. Acronym: DC.
direct memory access
n. Memory access that does not involve the microprocessor and is frequently used for data transfer directly between memory and an "intelligent" peripheral device, such as a disk drive. Acronym: DMA.
directory
n. A catalog for filenames and other directories stored on a disk. A directory is a way of organizing and grouping the files so that the user is not overwhelmed by a long list of them. The topmost directory is called the root directory; the directories within a directory are called subdirectories. Depending on how an operating system supports directories, filenames in a directory can be viewed and ordered in various ways--for example, alphabetically, by date, by size, or as icons in a graphical user interface. What the user views as a directory is supported in the operating system by tables of data, stored on the disk, that indicate characteristics and the location of each file. In the Macintosh and Windows 95 operating systems, directories are called folders.
Directory Access Protocol
n. The protocol that governs communications between X.500 clients and servers. See also CCITT X series.
directory replication
n. The copying of a master set of directories from a server (called an export server) to specified servers or workstations (called import computers) in the same or other domains. Replication simplifies the task of maintaining identical sets of directories and files on multiple computers because only a single master copy of the data must be maintained. See also directory, server.
directory tree
n. A graphic display listing the directories and subdirectories on a hard disk in tree form, with subdirectories shown as branches of the main directory. See also branch (definition 1), directory, tree structure.
DirectX
n. Windows 95 software that gives applications direct access to a computer's sound and graphics hardware.
dirty
adj. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a communications line that is hampered by excessive noise, degrading the quality of the signal. See also noise (definition 2).
dirty bit
n. A bit used to mark modified data in a cache so that the modifications may be carried over to primary memory. See also bit, cache.
disable
vb. To suppress something or to prevent it from happening. Disabling is a method of controlling system functions by disallowing certain activities. For example, a program might temporarily disable nonessential interrupts (requests for service from system devices) to prevent interruptions during a critical point in processing. Compare enable.
disassembler
n. A program that converts machine code to assembly language source code. Most debuggers have some kind of built-in disassembler that allows the programmer to view an executable program in terms of human-readable assembly language. See also decompiler. Compare assembler.
disassociate
vb. In Windows 95 and NT, to remove an association between a file and some application. Compare associate.
disc
n. A round, flat piece of nonmagnetic, shiny metal encased in a plastic coating, designed to be read from and written to by optical (laser) technology. It is now standard practice to use the spelling disc for optical discs and disk in all other computer contexts, such as floppy disk, hard disk, and RAM disk. See also compact disc.
disconnect
vb. To break a communications link.
discussion group
n. Any of a variety of online forums in which people communicate about subjects of common interest. Forums for discussion groups include electronic mailing lists, Internet newsgroups, and IRC channels.
disk
n. A round, flat piece of flexible plastic (floppy disk) or inflexible metal (hard disk) coated with a magnetic material that can be electrically influenced to hold information recorded in digital (binary) form. In most computers a disk is the primary means of storing data on a permanent or semipermanent basis. Floppy disks are encased in a protective plastic jacket to protect them from damage and contamination. A hard disk is enclosed in a rigid case and can be exposed only in a dust-free environment. Types of disks used with microcomputers include floppy disks, microfloppy disks, hard disks, and removable cartridges that can be used with some hard disk drives and units, such as the Bernoulli box. Compare compact disc, disc.
A/B Switch box ~ America On-line AMI BIOS ~ Arithmetic Operation ARP ~ AVI Backbone ~ Bit Image Bit Map ~ Boot Disk Boot Drive ~ Bytes Per Inch C++ ~ Carrier Frequency carrier system ~ certification CGI ~ Chooser extension cipher ~ Clipper Chip clock ~ color color bits ~ communications satellite communications server ~ computer security CON ~ copy copy program ~ cycle time daemon ~ defragmentation demand paging ~ digitize DikuMUD ~ disk disk buffer ~ Document Style Semantics and Specification Language document window ~ dynamic Web page Easter egg ~ erase erase head ~ ezine F2F ~ finger2 firewall ~ font suitcase footer ~ FYI Game Control Adapter ~ GUI HAL ~ hot key1 hot key2 ~ Hz i486DX ~ internal modem internet ~ ISO 9660 ISO/OSI model ~ just-in-time K1 ~ knowledge base L1 cache ~ LU luggable computer ~ LZW compression MAC ~ MILNET mime ~ msec MTBF ~ MYOB named anchor ~ network drive Network File System ~ number crunching object ~ overwrite mode P5 ~ PC/XT keyboard PDA ~ pipeline processing piracy ~ preventive maintenance preview ~ pwd quasi-language ~ QWERTY keyboard R&D ~ registration marks Registry ~ RFI RF shielding ~ run-time library SAA ~ server error server push-pull ~ soft return software ~ style sheet stylus ~ System T1 ~ ToggleKeys token ~ typography UART ~ uupc V.120 ~ view2 viewer ~ VxD w3 ~ WinG WINS ~ WWW X.25 ~ X Windows Yahoo! ~ yotta- Z39.50 standard ~ Zulu time