2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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JCL
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2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
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/JCL/ , n. 1. IBM's supremely rude Job Control Language. JCL is the script
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language used to control the execution of programs in IBM's batch systems.
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JCL has a very fascist syntax, and some versions will, for example, barf if
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two spaces appear where it expects one. Most programmers confronted with JCL
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simply copy a working file (or card deck), changing the file names. Someone
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who actually understands and generates unique JCL is regarded with the mixed
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respect one gives to someone who memorizes the phone book. It is reported
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that hackers at IBM itself sometimes sing Who's the breeder of the crud that
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mangles you and me? I-B-M, J-C-L, M-o-u-s-e to the tune of the Mickey Mouse
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Club theme to express their opinion of the beast. 2. A comparative for any
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very rude software that a hacker is expected to use. That's as bad as JCL.
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As with COBOL , JCL is often used as an archetype of ugliness even by those
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who haven't experienced it. See also IBM , fear and loathing. A (poorly
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documented, naturally) shell simulating JCL syntax is available at the
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Retrocomputing Museum http://www.catb.org/retro/.
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