mode

n. [common] A general state, usually used with an adjective describing the
state. Use of the word mode rather than state implies that the state is
extended over time, and probably also that some activity characteristic of
that state is being carried out. No time to hack; I'm in thesis mode. In its
jargon sense, mode is most often attributed to people, though it is
sometimes applied to programs and inanimate objects. In particular, see hack
mode , day mode , night mode , demo mode , fireworks mode , and yoyo mode ;
also talk mode. One also often hears the verbs enable and disable used in
connection with jargon modes. Thus, for example, a sillier way of saying I'm
going to crash is I'm going to enable crash mode now. One might also hear a
request to disable flame mode, please. In a usage much closer to techspeak,
a mode is a special state that certain user interfaces must pass into in
order to perform certain functions. For example, in order to insert
characters into a document in the Unix editor vi , one must type the i key,
which invokes the Insert command. The effect of this command is to put vi
into insert mode , in which typing the i key has a quite different effect
(to wit, it inserts an i into the document). One must then hit another
special key, ESC , in order to leave insert mode. Nowadays, modeful
interfaces are generally considered losing but survive in quite a few widely
used tools built in less enlightened times.

