2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
|
|
|
larval stage
|
|
|
|
|
2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
|
|
|
n. Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration on coding apparently
|
|
|
|
passed through by all fledgling hackers. Common symptoms include the
|
|
|
|
perpetration of more than one 36-hour hacking run in a given week; neglect
|
|
|
|
of all other activities including usual basics like food, sleep, and
|
|
|
|
personal hygiene; and a chronic case of advanced bleary-eye. Can last from 6
|
|
|
|
months to 2 years, the apparent median being around 18 months. A few so
|
|
|
|
afflicted never resume a more normal life, but the ordeal seems to be
|
|
|
|
necessary to produce really wizardly (as opposed to merely competent)
|
|
|
|
programmers. See also wannabee. A less protracted and intense version of
|
|
|
|
larval stage (typically lasting about a month) may recur when one is
|
|
|
|
learning a new OS or programming language.
|
|
|
|
|