MUMPS Programming/Glossary

Algorithms

An algorithm is a way of writing down a recipe or list of things to do which is intended for a computer to follow. The word algorithm is Computer Speak.

Bar

Bar is part of Foobar. See Foobar.

Blargh

This is just a word that I made up for this example. Blargh is not Computer Speak.

Computer Speak

Computer Speak is a special language that computer people use to talk about ideas faster, by making up words that otherwise would take a lot longer to say the same ideas.

Foo

Foo is part of Foobar. see Foobar.

Foobar

Foobar (some people spell it FUBAR) is a made up word from many years before computers were around. Sometimes computer people use part of the word like foo or bar as a name, and sometimes they use Foobar just so they have a name for things they are talking about that don't normally have names.

Data

Data is Computer Speak for things that are stored in a computer. It might be a word, a number, a picture, any stuff that you want the computer to save and later be able to give back.

Data Structures

Data Structures is Computer Speak for the shape of things stored in a computer. Every thing in a computer has some shape. The different shapes determine what you can do with the computer thing.

Programs

A Program is a list of things that you want a computer to do. Programs usually have names, and usually do stuff to things in the computer called Data. Program is Computer Speak.

Recipe

The word recipe is not Computer Speak. It is the list of things to get before cooking or making some food, and the list of things to do to combine the things together to make the food.

Quux

Quux (pronounced like "Quacks" with a "u" sound) is a made up word that isn't strictly part of Computer Speak. Many computer people use quux as a made up name so they can talk about things that they don't have any better name to use.