JargonFile/entries/number-crunching.txt
2014-04-26 15:52:28 +01:00

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number-crunching
n. [common] Computations of a numerical nature, esp. those that make extensive use of floating-point numbers. The only thing Fortrash is good for. This term is in widespread informal use outside hackerdom and even in mainstream slang, but has additional hackish connotations: namely, that the computations are mindless and involve massive use of brute force. This is not always evil , esp. if it involves ray tracing or fractals or some other use that makes pretty pictures , esp. if such pictures can be used as screen backgrounds. See also crunch. Hydrodynamic number-crunching. (The next cartoon in the Crunchly saga is 74-12-29. The previous cartoon was 74-08-18.