Mic-1
Microprogramming language, used in Andrew Tanenbaum's book.
See Mac-1.
[Structured Computer Organization, A.S. Tanenbaum, 3rd ed, P-H 1989, Sect 4.4,
4.5].
Nearby terms:
MHz « MIB « MIB Variable « Mic-1 » Mic-2 »
MICE » mice
Mic-2
Microprogramming language, used in Tanenbaum's book.
See Mac-1.
[Structured Computer Organization, A.S. Tanenbaum, 3rd ed, P-H 1989, Sect 4.4,
4.5].
Nearby terms:
MIB « MIB Variable « Mic-1 « Mic-2 » MICE »
mice » Michigan Algorithm Decoder
MICE
Multimedia Integrated Conferencing for European Researchers
Nearby terms:
MIB Variable « Mic-1 « Mic-2 « MICE » mice »
Michigan Algorithm Decoder » mickey
mice
mouse
Nearby terms:
Mic-1 « Mic-2 « MICE « mice » Michigan
Algorithm Decoder » mickey » mickey mouse program
Michigan Algorithm Decoder
<language> (MAD) An early programming language, based on IAL, developed
at the University of Michigan by R. Graham, Bruce Arden, and Bernard Galler in
1959. MAD was one of the first extensible languages: the user could define his
own operators and data types.
MAD ran on the IBM 704, IBM 709 and IBM 7090. It was ported to the IBM 7040 at
the City College of New York by Robert Teitel and also to Philco, Univac and CDC
computers.
Mad/1 was a later version.
["Michigan Algorithm Decoder (The MAD Manual)", U Michigan Computing Center,
1966].
[Sammet 1969, p. 205].
(2005-02-09)
Nearby terms:
Mic-2 « MICE « mice « Michigan Algorithm Decoder
» mickey » mickey mouse program » MICR
mickey
<unit, humour> The unit of resolution of mouse movement.
It has been suggested that the "disney" will become a benchmark unit for
animation graphics performance.
[Jargon File]
(1999-06-30)
Nearby terms:
MICE « mice « Michigan Algorithm Decoder « mickey
» mickey mouse program » MICR » micro
mickey mouse program
<jargon> The North American equivalent of a "noddy program", i.e.
trivial. The term doesn't necessarily have the belittling connotations of
mainstream slang "Oh, that's just mickey mouse stuff!"; sometimes trivial
programs can be very useful.
[Jargon File]
(1995-04-10)
Nearby terms:
mice « Michigan Algorithm Decoder « mickey «
mickey mouse program » MICR » micro » micro-
MICR
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
Nearby terms:
Michigan Algorithm Decoder « mickey « mickey mouse
program «
MICR » micro » micro- » Micro Assembly Language
micro
microprocessor
Nearby terms:
mickey « mickey mouse program « MICR « micro
» micro- » Micro Assembly Language » microcentury
micro-
prefix
Nearby terms:
mickey mouse program « MICR « micro « micro-
» Micro Assembly Language » microcentury » Micro
Channel Architecture
Micro Assembly Language
<language> (MAL) A microprogramming language with high-level syntax, used
in the reference below.
See also Mic-1, Mac-1.
[Structured Computer Organization, A.S. Tanenbaum, 3rd ed, P-H 1989, Sect 4.4].
(1995-04-10)
Nearby terms:
MICR « micro « micro- « Micro Assembly Language
» microcentury » Micro Channel Architecture »
microcode
microcentury
One CS professor used to characterise the standard length of his lectures as a
microcentury - that is, about 52.6 minutes (see also attoparsec, nanoacre, and
especially microfortnight).
Nearby terms:
micro « micro- « Micro Assembly Language «
microcentury
» Micro Channel Architecture » microcode » Microcom
Networking Protocol
Micro Channel Architecture
<architecture> (MCA) IBM's proprietary 32-bit bus, used in high-end PS/2
personal computers. Micro Channel is designed for multiprocessing. It eliminates
potential conflicts that arise when installing new peripheral devices. MCA is
*not* compatible with either EISA or XT bus architecture so older cards cannot
be used with it.
As with the ROM BIOS in the first IBM PCs, figuring out the Micro Channel's
secrets has been an arduous task of reverse engineering ever since the PS/2 line
was announced. Consequently, the MCA has never become as wide spread as the
competing EISA standard.
(1996-08-16)
Nearby terms:
micro- « Micro Assembly Language « microcentury «
Micro Channel Architecture » microcode »
Microcom Networking Protocol » microcomputer
microcode
<programming> A technique for implementing the instruction set of a
processor as a sequence of microcode instructions ("microinstructions"), each of
which typically consists of a (large) number of bit fields and the address of
the next microinstruction to execute. Each bit field controls some specific part
of the processor's operation, such as a gate which allows some functional unit
to drive a value onto the bus or the operation to be performed by the ALU.
Several microinstructions will usually be required to fetch, decode and execute
each machine code instruction ("macroinstruction"). The microcode may also be
responsible for polling for hardware interrupts between each macroinstruction.
Writing microcode is known as "microprogramming".
Microcode may be classified as "horizontally encoded" or "vertically encoded".
Horizontal microcode is as described above where there is a fairly direct
correspondence between the bit fields in a microinstruction and the control
signals sent to the various parts of the CPU. Not all combinations of bits will
be valid (e.g. two units driving the bus at once). Vertical microcode is closer
to machine code because a bit field value may pass through some intermediate
combinatory logic which generates the actual control signals. This allows a few
bits of a microinstruction to determine several control signals and ensure that
only valid combinations of those signals are generated (e.g. a field may be
decoded to determine which unit drives the bus). The disadvantage with vertical
encoding is that the encoding is usually fixed and takes extra time compared
with horizontal encoding which allows any combination of signals to be generated
and takes no time to decode.
The alternative to a microcoded processor is a hard-wired one where the control
signals are generated directly from the bits of the machine code instruction.
This is more common in modern RISC architectures because it is faster.
Microcode is usually stored in ROM chips though some processors (e.g. the Orion)
use fast RAM, making them dynamically microprogrammable.
(1996-11-26)
Nearby terms:
Micro Assembly Language « microcentury « Micro
Channel Architecture « microcode » Microcom
Networking Protocol » microcomputer »
microcontroller
Microcom Networking Protocol
(MNP) One of the most common modem protocols with compression. Also the name of
a product.
[Details? On-line spec?]
(1995-01-31)
Nearby terms:
microcentury « Micro Channel Architecture «
microcode «
Microcom Networking Protocol » microcomputer »
microcontroller » MicroDroid
microcomputer
A computer based on a microprocessor.
Contrast with minicomputer, mainframe.
(1995-02-07)
Nearby terms:
Micro Channel Architecture « microcode « Microcom
Networking Protocol « microcomputer »
microcontroller » MicroDroid »
microelectromechanical system
microcontroller
<processor> A microprocessor on a single integrated circuit intended to
operate as an embedded system. As well as a CPU, a microcontroller typically
includes small amounts of RAM and PROM and timers and I/O ports.
An example is the Intel 8751.
(1995-04-22)
Nearby terms:
microcode « Microcom Networking Protocol «
microcomputer «
microcontroller » MicroDroid »
microelectromechanical system » Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation
MicroDroid
[Usenet] A Microsoft employee, especially one who posts to various
operating-system advocacy newsgroups. MicroDroids post follow-ups to any
messages critical of Microsoft's operating systems, and often end up sounding
like visiting Mormon missionaries.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
Microcom Networking Protocol « microcomputer «
microcontroller « MicroDroid »
microelectromechanical system » Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation » MicroEmacs
microelectromechanical system
<hardware> (MEMS) The integration of mechanical structures (moving parts)
with microelectronics. MEMS devices are "custom" designed for a purpose which
requires a mechanical action to be controlled by a computer.
Applications include sensors, medical devices, process controls.
http://mems.mcnc.org/.
See also nanotechnology.
(1999-03-25)
Nearby terms:
microcomputer « microcontroller « MicroDroid «
microelectromechanical system » Microelectronics
and Computer Technology Corporation » MicroEmacs »
microfloppies
Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
<body> (MCC) One of the first, and now one of the largest, US computer
industry research and development consortia.
Founded in late 1982 by major computer and semiconductor manufacturers, MCC's
membership has diversified to include a broad range of high-profile corporations
from electronics, computers, aerospace, semiconductors, and related industries,
reflecting the full range of companies vital to the life cycle of Information
Technology products. Active involvement of small- and medium-sized firms and
technology users, along with well-established alliances with government research
and development agencies and leading universities, allows MCC's partners to
maximise the benefit of scarce research and development resources.
Some of the technical areas in which MCC has distinguished itself are:
System Architecture and Design (optimise hardware and software design, provide
for scalability and interoperability, allow rapid prototyping for improved
time-to-market, and support the re-engineering of existing systems for open
systems).
Advanced Microelectronics Packaging and Interconnection (smaller, faster, more
powerful, and cost-competitive).
Hardware Systems Engineering (tools and methodologies for cost-efficient,
up-front design of advanced electronic systems, including modelling and
design-for-test techniques to improve cost, yield, quality, and time-to-market).
Environmentally Conscious Technologies (process control and optimisation tools,
information management and analysis capabilities, and non-hazardous material
alternatives supporting cost-efficient production, waste minimisation, and
reduced environmental impact).
Distributed Information Technology (managing and maintaining physically
distributed corporate information resources on different platforms, building
blocks for the national information infrastructure, networking tools and
services for integration within and between companies, and electronic commerce).
Intelligent Systems (systems that "intelligently" support business processes and
enhance performance, including decision support, data management, forecasting
and prediction).
Home.
Address: Austin, Texas, USA.
(1995-04-25)
Nearby terms:
microcontroller « MicroDroid «
microelectromechanical system « Microelectronics
and Computer Technology Corporation
» MicroEmacs » microfloppies » microfortnight
MicroEmacs
(uemacs) A simple, portable text editor with versions for most microcomputers
and many other computers. It is both relatively easy for the novice to use, but
also very powerful in the hands of an expert. MicroEmacs can be extensibly
customised.
Most versions use only a screen and keyboard - mouse and windowing facilities
are not standard.
MicroEmacs was written by Dave G Conroy, Steve Wilhite, George Jones, and for
nearly ten years: Daniel Lawrence.
Version: 3.11.
ftp://midas.mgmt.purdue.edu/dist/.
[FTP? Differences from GNU Emacs?]
(1995-01-05)
Nearby terms:
MicroDroid « microelectromechanical system «
Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
«
MicroEmacs » microfloppies » microfortnight »
MicroGnuEmacs
microfloppies
3.5-inch floppies, as opposed to 5.25-inch vanilla or mini-floppies and the
now-obsolete 8-inch variety. This term may be headed for obsolescence as
5.25-inchers pass out of use, only to be revived if anybody floats a sub-3-inch
floppy standard. See stiffy, minifloppies.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
microelectromechanical system « Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation « MicroEmacs «
microfloppies » microfortnight » MicroGnuEmacs »
Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
microfortnight
One millionth of the fundamental unit of time in the Furlong/Firkin/Fortnight
system of measurement; 1.2096 sec. (A furlong is 1/8th of a mile; a firkin is
1/4th of a barrel; the mass unit of the system is taken to be a firkin of
water).
The VMS operating system has a lot of tuning parameters that you can set with
the SYSGEN utility, and one of these is TIMEPROMPTWAIT, the time the system will
wait for an operator to set the correct date and time at boot if it realises
that the current value is bogus. This time is specified in microfortnights!
Multiple uses of the millifortnight (about 20 minutes) and nanofortnight have
also been reported.
Nearby terms:
Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
« MicroEmacs « microfloppies « microfortnight
» MicroGnuEmacs » Micro Instrumentation and
Telemetry Systems » Micro Interpreter for Knowledge
Engineering
MicroGnuEmacs
(MG) A Public Domain Emacs-style editor modified from MicroEmacs to be more
compatible with GNU Emacs. MicroGnuEmacs is essentially free, it is not
associated with the GNU project, and does not have the GNU copyright
restrictions. It is a small, fast, portable editor for people who can't run real
Emacs thing for one reason or another. It has few if any of the MicroEmacs
features that were incompatible with GNU Emacs and adds missing features that
seemed essential.
MG version 1a of 1986-11-16 is known to work with 4.2BSD and 4.3BSD Unix,
Ultrix-32, OS9/68k, VMS, Amiga, System V, Eunice. It should also support MS-DOS,
PC-DOS and the Rainbow.
MicroGnuEmacs is derived from, and aims to replace, v30 of MicroEmacs, the
latest version from the original MicroEmacs author Dave Conroy. The chief
contributors were Mike Meyer
<mwm@ucbopal.berkeley.edu>, Mic Kaczmarczik
<mic@ngp.utexas.edu>, Bob Larson, and Dave Brower
<rtech!daveb@sun.com>.
ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/comp.sources.unix/volume8/micrognu.
(2000-04-03)
Nearby terms:
MicroEmacs « microfloppies « microfortnight «
MicroGnuEmacs » Micro Instrumentation and
Telemetry Systems » Micro Interpreter for Knowledge
Engineering » microkernel
Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
<company> (MITS) The company which made the Altair 8800 micrcomputer kit.
They also made instrumentation kits for model rockets and RC vehicles. Ed
Roberts owned MITS for a few years until he sold out, moved to Georgia, and went
to med school.
Address: Albuquerque NM, USA.
(2002-06-17)
Nearby terms:
microfloppies « microfortnight « MicroGnuEmacs «
Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems »
Micro Interpreter for Knowledge Engineering »
microkernel » microLenat
Micro Interpreter for Knowledge Engineering
<artificial intelligence, tool> (MIKE) An expert system shell for
teaching purposes, with forward chaining, backward chaining, and user-definable
conflict resolution strategies. MIKE is written in Edinburgh Prolog.
Version 2.03.
[BYTE, Oct 1990].
ftp://hcrl.open.ac.uk/pub/software/src/MIKE-v2.03.
Contact: Marc Eisenstadt, HCRL, Open University.
(1995-01-10)
Nearby terms:
microfortnight « MicroGnuEmacs « Micro
Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems « Micro
Interpreter for Knowledge Engineering »
microkernel » microLenat » microlog
microkernel
<operating system> An approach to operating system design emphasising
small modules that implement the basic features of the system kernel and can be
flexibly configured.
(1999-08-02)
Nearby terms:
MicroGnuEmacs « Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry
Systems « Micro Interpreter for Knowledge
Engineering «
microkernel » microLenat » microlog » micrometre
microLenat
/mi:"-kroh-len"-*t/ The unit of bogosity, written uL; the consensus is that this
is the largest unit practical for everyday use. The microLenat, originally
invented by David Jefferson, was promulgated as an attack against noted computer
scientist Doug Lenat by a tenured graduate student at CMU. Doug had failed the
student on an important exam for giving only "AI is bogus" as his answer to the
questions. The slur is generally considered unmerited, but it has become a
running gag nevertheless. Some of Doug's friends argue that *of course* a
microLenat is bogus, since it is only one millionth of a Lenat. Others have
suggested that the unit should be redesignated after the grad student, as the
microReid.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems « Micro
Interpreter for Knowledge Engineering « microkernel
«
microLenat » microlog » micrometre » Micro ML
microlog
<architecture> A section of non-volitile memory used to record state
information. Often used for retaining crash information after a reboot in
embedded systems.
["before" a reboot?]
(2004-02-24)
Nearby terms:
Micro Interpreter for Knowledge Engineering «
microkernel « microLenat « microlog »
micrometre » Micro ML » Micron
micrometre
<unit> (Or "micron") One millionth of a metre. The symbol is a Greek
letter mu followed by "m".
Features on modern integrated circuits are typically measured in microns. The
smallest features in 1999 are around 0.1 microns across.
(1999-09-28)
Nearby terms:
microkernel « microLenat « microlog « micrometre
» Micro ML » Micron » micron
Micro ML
(uML) An interpreter for a subset of SML. Runs on MS-DOS. Written at the
University of Umea, Sweden.
ftp://ftp.cs.umu.se/pub/umlexe01.zoo.
Nearby terms:
microLenat « microlog « micrometre « Micro ML
» Micron » micron » Micron Electronics, Inc.
Micron
Micron Electronics, Inc.
Nearby terms:
microlog « micrometre « Micro ML « Micron »
micron » Micron Electronics, Inc. » Micronetics
Standard MUMPS
micron
micrometre
Nearby terms:
micrometre « Micro ML « Micron « micron »
Micron Electronics, Inc. » Micronetics Standard
MUMPS » Micro$oft
Micron Electronics, Inc.
<company> An electronics company that develops, markets, manufactures,
and supports high-performance notebook computers, desktop personal computers, PC
servers and related hardware and software products.
(1997-03-10)
Nearby terms:
Micro ML « Micron « micron « Micron Electronics,
Inc.
» Micronetics Standard MUMPS » Micro$oft »
microperation
Micronetics Standard MUMPS
(MSM) A version of MUMPS for the IBM PC RT and R6000.
[Address?]
(1995-01-10)
Nearby terms:
Micron « micron « Micron Electronics, Inc. «
Micronetics Standard MUMPS » Micro$oft »
microperation » microphone
Micro$oft
<abuse, company> Microsoft.
Hate Mirco$oft.
(1995-03-03)
Nearby terms:
micron « Micron Electronics, Inc. « Micronetics
Standard MUMPS « Micro$oft » microperation »
microphone » microPLANNER
microperation
<processor> An elementary operation performed on data stored in registers
or in memory. Microperations are classified as transfer, arithmetic, logic, or
shift/rotate.
[Relationship with microcode?]
(2003-12-29)
Nearby terms:
Micron Electronics, Inc. « Micronetics Standard
MUMPS « Micro$oft « microperation »
microphone » microPLANNER » microprocesor
microphone
<hardware, audio> Any electromechanical device designed to convert sound
into an electrical signal.
A microphone converts an acoustic waveform consisting of alternating high and
low air pressure travelling through the air into a voltage. To do this it uses
some kind of pressure or movement sensor. The simplest kind of microphone is
actually very similar in construction to a loudspeaker.
The analogue electrical signal can be fed into a computer's sound card where it
is amplified and sampled to convert it into a digital waveform for storage or
transmission.
(2002-11-04)
Nearby terms:
Micronetics Standard MUMPS « Micro$oft «
microperation «
microphone » microPLANNER » microprocesor »
microprocessor
microPLANNER
A subset of PLANNER, implemented in Lisp by Gerald Sussman et al at MIT. Its
important features were goal-oriented, pattern-directed procedure invocation, an
embedded knowledge base, and automatic backtracking.
microPLANNER was superseded by Conniver.
["microPLANNER Reference Manual", G.J. Sussman et al, AI Memo 203, MIT AI Lab,
1970].
(1995-01-10)
Nearby terms:
Micro$oft « microperation « microphone «
microPLANNER
» microprocesor » microprocessor » Microprocessor
without Interlocked Pipeline Stages
microprocesor
<spelling> It's spelled microprocessor.
(1997-02-13)
Nearby terms:
microperation « microphone « microPLANNER «
microprocesor
» microprocessor » Microprocessor without
Interlocked Pipeline Stages » microprogramming
microprocessor
<architecture> (Or "micro") A computer whose entire CPU is contained on
one (or a small number of) integrated circuits.
The important characteristics of a microprocessor are the widths of its internal
and external address bus and data bus (and instruction), its clock rate and its
instruction set. Processors are also often classified as either RISC or CISC.
The first commercial microprocessor was the Intel 4004 which appeared in 1971.
This was the CPU member of a set of four LSI integrated circuits called the
MCS-4, which was originally designed for use in a calculator but was marketed as
"programmable controller for logic replacement". The 4004 is referred to as a
4-bit microprocessor since it processed only 4 bits of data at a time. This very
short word size is due mainly to the limitations imposed by the maximum
integrated circuit density then achievable.
As integrated circuit densities increased with the rapid development of
integrated circuit manufacturing technology, the power and performance of the
microprocessors also increased. This is reflected in the increase in the CPU
word size to 4, 8, 16, and by mid-1980s, 32 bits. The smaller microprocessors
have relatively simple instruction sets, e.g., no floating point instructions,
but they are nevertheless suitable as controllers for a very wide range of
applications such as car engines and microwave ovens.
The Intel 4004 was followed with, among others the 4040, 8008, 8080, 8086,
80186, 80286, 80386, 486 and Pentium. Other families include the Motorola 6800
and 680x0 families, National Semiconductor 16000 and National Semiconductor
32000, SPARC, ARM, MIPS, Zilog Z8000, PowerPC and the Inmos Transputer family.
The larger, more recent microprocessors families have gradually acquired most of
the features of large computers. As the microprocessor industry has matured,
several families of microprocessors have evolved into de facto industrial
standards with multiple manufacturers and numerous "support" chips including
RAM, ROM, I/O controllers etc.
A single chip microprocessor may include other components such as memory (RAM,
ROM, PROM), memory management, caches, floating-point unit, input/output ports
and timers. Such devices are also known as microcontrollers.
The one-chip microcomputer is in many respects, a landmark development in
computer technology because it reduces the computer to a small, inexpensive, and
easily replaceable design component.
Microcomputers have given rise to a new class of general-purpose machines called
personal computers. These are small low cost computers that are designed to sit
on an ordinary office desk or to be portable and fuelled the computer boom of
the late 1980s. The most widespread example is the also IBM PC, based on
microprocessors from Intel Corporation. Apple Computers, Inc. have also produced
a range of personal computers, as have several other companies.
See also killer micro, minicomputer, CPU Info Center.
(2002-07-16)
Nearby terms:
microphone « microPLANNER « microprocesor «
microprocessor » Microprocessor without
Interlocked Pipeline Stages » microprogramming »
microReid
Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages
<processor> (MIPS) A project at Stanford University intended to simplify
processor design by eliminating hardware interlocks between the five pipeline
stages. This means that only single execution cycle instructions can access the
thirty two 32-bit general registers, so that the compiler can schedule them to
avoid conflicts. This also means that LOAD/STORE and branch instructions have a
one-cycle delay to account for. However, because of the importance of multiply
and divide instructions, a special HI/LO pair of multiply/divide registers exist
which do have hardware interlocks, since these take several cycles to execute
and complicate instruction scheduling.
The project eventually lead to the commercial MIPS R2000 processor.
(1995-02-09)
Nearby terms:
microPLANNER « microprocesor « microprocessor «
Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages
» microprogramming » microReid » MICRO SAINT
microprogramming
microcode
Nearby terms:
microprocesor « microprocessor « Microprocessor
without Interlocked Pipeline Stages «
microprogramming » microReid » MICRO SAINT »
microsecond
microReid
/mi:'kroh-reed/ See bogosity.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
microprocessor « Microprocessor without Interlocked
Pipeline Stages « microprogramming « microReid
» MICRO SAINT » microsecond » Microserf
MICRO SAINT
A general purpose simulation tool from US company Micro Analysis and Design.
Nearby terms:
Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages «
microprogramming « microReid « MICRO SAINT »
microsecond » Microserf » Microslop
microsecond
<unit> One millionth (10^-6) of a second.
(1995-03-14)
Nearby terms:
microprogramming « microReid « MICRO SAINT «
microsecond
» Microserf » Microslop » Microsloth Windows
Microserf
<jargon> Wired magazine's term for a Microsoft employee.
(1995-03-02)
Nearby terms:
microReid « MICRO SAINT « microsecond « Microserf
» Microslop » Microsloth Windows » Microsoft
Microslop
<company, abuse> A derisive synonym for Microsoft Corporation. It refers
to the sloppy, bug-ridden "x.0" versions of MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows and other
Microsoft products.
(1995-12-28)
Nearby terms:
MICRO SAINT « microsecond « Microserf « Microslop
» Microsloth Windows » Microsoft » Microsoft Access
Microsloth Windows
<abuse, operating system> /mi:'kroh-sloth" win"dohz/ (Or "Windoze",
/win'dohz/) A derogatory term for Microsoft Windows which is so limited by
bug-for-bug compatibility with mess-dos that it is agonisingly slow on anything
less than a fast 486. Also called just "Windoze", with the implication that you
can fall asleep waiting for it to do anything; the latter term is extremely
common on Usenet.
Compare X, sun-stools.
[Jargon File]
(1996-10-08)
Nearby terms:
microsecond « Microserf « Microslop « Microsloth
Windows
» Microsoft » Microsoft Access » Microsoft Basic
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation
Nearby terms:
Microserf « Microslop « Microsloth Windows «
Microsoft
» Microsoft Access » Microsoft Basic » Microsoft
Certified Solution Developer
Microsoft Access
1. <database> A relational database running under Microsoft Windows. Data
is stored as a number of "tables", e.g. "Stock". Each table consists of a number
of "records" (e.g. for different items) and each record contains a number of
"fields", e.g. "Product code", "Supplier", "Quantity in stock".
Access allows the user to create "forms" and "reports". A form shows one record
in a user-designed format and allows the user to step through records one at a
time. A report shows selected records in a user-designed format, possibly
grouped into sections with different kinds of total (including sum, minimum,
maximum, average).
There are also facilities to use links ("joins") between tables which share a
common field and to filter records according to certain criteria or search for
particular field values.
Version: 2 (date?).
Usenet newsgroup: comp.databases.ms-access.
2. <communications> A communications program from Microsoft, meant to
compete with ProComm and other programs. It sucked and was dropped. Years later
they reused the name for their database.
[Date?]
(1997-07-20)
Nearby terms:
Microslop « Microsloth Windows « Microsoft «
Microsoft Access » Microsoft Basic » Microsoft
Certified Solution Developer » Microsoft Certified
System Engineer
Microsoft Basic
<language> (MS-BASIC) A dialect of BASIC from Microsoft, originally
developed by Bill Gates in a garage back in the CP/M days. It was originally
known as GWBasic, then QBASIC and finally MS-BASIC.
When the MS-DOS operating system came out, it incorporated the GWBASIC.EXE or
BASICA.EXE interpreters. GWBASIC ("Gee Whiz") incorporated graphics and a screen
editor and was compatible with earlier BASICs.
QBASIC was more sophisticated. Version 4.5 had a full screen editor, debugger
and compiler. The compiler could also produce executable files but to run these
a utility program (BRUN44.EXE) had to be present. Thus source code could be kept
private.
From DOS 5.0 or 6.0 onward, MS-BASIC was standard.
Current version: 1.1, also produces stand-alone executables and can display
graphics.
Usenet newsgroup: comp.lang.basic.misc.
[Relationship to BASIC in ROM on first IBM PC?]
(1995-05-12)
Nearby terms:
Microsloth Windows « Microsoft « Microsoft Access «
Microsoft Basic » Microsoft Certified Solution
Developer » Microsoft Certified System Engineer »
Microsoft Certified Systems Developer
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer
<programming, education> (MCSD) A course for the VAR or software
developer. Candidates must pass three core exams and an elective exam. The core
exams cover systems analysis, and desktop and distributed development.
http://www.microsoft.com/mcsd.
(2001-05-20)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft « Microsoft Access « Microsoft Basic «
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer »
Microsoft Certified System Engineer » Microsoft
Certified Systems Developer » Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Certified System Engineer
<education> (MCSE) A qualification obtained by passing Microsoft's system
engineer certification exams.
http://www.microsoft.com/mcse.
(2002-07-02)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Access « Microsoft Basic « Microsoft
Certified Solution Developer « Microsoft
Certified System Engineer
» Microsoft Certified Systems Developer » Microsoft
Corporation » Microsoft Data Access Components
Microsoft Certified Systems Developer
<spelling> Do you mean Microsoft Certified Solution Developer or
Microsoft Certified System Engineer?
(2001-05-20)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Basic « Microsoft Certified Solution
Developer « Microsoft Certified System Engineer «
Microsoft Certified Systems Developer »
Microsoft Corporation » Microsoft Data Access
Components » Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Corporation
<company> The biggest supplier of operating systems and other software
for IBM PC compatibles. Software products include MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows,
Windows NT, Microsoft Access, LAN Manager, MS Client, SQL Server, Open Data Base
Connectivity (ODBC), MS Mail, and SNA Server for Windows NT.
Microsoft was founded as "Micro-soft" in 1975 by Bill Gates (now CEO) and his
high school pal Paul Allen. Their first product was a version of BASIC for the
new Altair computer [which one?]. In 1980, IBM chose Microsoft to supply the
operating system for the IBM PC.
On the UK television program "The Net" in May 1994, Bill Gates said he was
betting his company on the information highway".
Quarterly sales $1293M, profits $362M (Aug 1994).
Home.
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/.
Interesting Info and Other Microsoft WWW Servers.
Microsoft Windows Developer Information.
Microsoft Research Group Information.
Win_News. maintained by the Personal Operating Systems Division to
distribute information on Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS and Windows 95.
(1998-11-06)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer « Microsoft
Certified System Engineer « Microsoft Certified
Systems Developer «
Microsoft Corporation » Microsoft Data Access
Components » Microsoft Excel » Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Data Access Components
<database> (MDAC) Microsoft's umbrella term for their ActiveX Data
Objects (ADO), OLE DB, and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) libraries.
Together, these provide access to a variety of data sources, both relational
(SQL) and nonrelational. MDAC is the technology that supports Universal Data
Access, Microsoft's strategy for providing access to information across the
enterprise.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/mdacsdk/htm/mdacstartpage1.asp.
(2004-02-17)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Certified System Engineer « Microsoft
Certified Systems Developer « Microsoft Corporation
« Microsoft Data Access Components »
Microsoft Excel » Microsoft Exchange » Microsoft
Extended
Microsoft Excel
<tool> A spreadsheet program from Microsoft, part of their Microsoft
Office suite of productivity tools for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh. Excel is
probably the most widely used spreadsheet in the world.
Current version: Excel 97, as of 1997-01-14.
Home.
[Feature summary? History?]
(1997-01-14)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Certified Systems Developer « Microsoft
Corporation « Microsoft Data Access Components «
Microsoft Excel » Microsoft Exchange » Microsoft
Extended » Microsoft Foundation Classes
Microsoft Exchange
<messaging> Microsoft's messaging and enterprise collaboration server.
Exchange's primary role is as an electronic mail message store but it can also
store calendars, task lists, contact details, and other data.
[Better descripton? URL?]
(1999-09-17)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Corporation « Microsoft Data Access
Components « Microsoft Excel « Microsoft Exchange
» Microsoft Extended » Microsoft Foundation Classes
» Microsoft IIS
Microsoft Extended
<computer> (MSX) A Range of computers created in an attempt by the
industry to create a standard for home computers, similar to VHS did with home
video.
The basic MSX machine contained a Z80 CPU working at 3.58MHz.
MSX machines were produced by such giants as Sony, Yamaha, Panasonic, Toshiba,
Daewoo, and Philips.
The MSX standard was designed by a company called ASCII in cooperation with
Microsoft who provided a firmware version of its BASIC for the machine. Because
this BASIC version was an extended version of MicroSoft Basic, it was called
"MicroSoft eXtended BASIC"; Hence "MSX".
Microsoft also produced MSX-DOS - a stripped-down version of MS-DOS.
Extensions to the MSX included MSX2, MSX2+ and TurboR.
FAQ.
(1999-02-26)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Data Access Components « Microsoft Excel «
Microsoft Exchange « Microsoft Extended »
Microsoft Foundation Classes » Microsoft IIS »
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer
Microsoft Foundation Classes
<programming> (MFC) Software structures in C++, the Windows base classes
which can respond to messages, make windows, and from which application specific
classes can be derived.
(1995-11-17)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Excel « Microsoft Exchange « Microsoft
Extended «
Microsoft Foundation Classes » Microsoft IIS »
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer » Microsoft Internet
Information Server
Microsoft IIS
Internet Information Server
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Exchange « Microsoft Extended « Microsoft
Foundation Classes « Microsoft IIS »
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer » Microsoft Internet
Information Server » Microsoft Mail
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer
<hardware> An optical mouse from Microsoft.
http://microsoft.com/presspass/features/1999/04-19mouse.htm.
(1999-07-21)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Extended « Microsoft Foundation Classes «
Microsoft IIS « Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer
» Microsoft Internet Information Server » Microsoft
Mail » Microsoft Mail Application Program Interface
Microsoft Internet Information Server
Internet Information Server
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Foundation Classes « Microsoft IIS «
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer « Microsoft
Internet Information Server » Microsoft Mail »
Microsoft Mail Application Program Interface »
Microsoft Network
Microsoft Mail
<messaging, tool> (MS Mail) A Microsoft Windows electronic mail program.
[Features? Version?]
(1996-08-26)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft IIS « Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer «
Microsoft Internet Information Server « Microsoft
Mail » Microsoft Mail Application Program
Interface » Microsoft Network » Microsoft Networking
Microsoft Mail Application Program Interface
Messaging Application Programming Interface
Nearby terms:
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer « Microsoft Internet
Information Server « Microsoft Mail « Microsoft
Mail Application Program Interface » Microsoft
Network » Microsoft Networking » Microsoft Office
Microsoft Network
The Microsoft Network
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Internet Information Server « Microsoft
Mail « Microsoft Mail Application Program Interface
« Microsoft Network » Microsoft Networking »
Microsoft Office » Microsoft Office Small Business
Edition
Microsoft Networking
<networking> Microsoft's name for the networking subsystems of Windows 95
and later. Not to be confused with The Microsoft Network.
Microsoft networking uses the SMB file sharing protocol. It is implemented as
file system drivers i.e. "installable file systems" (IFS).
The network redirector "Client for Microsoft Networks", is implemented in the
VREDIR.VXD virtual device driver. Peer resource sharing is provided by "File and
Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" (VSERVER.VXD).
Windows 95's support for Netware (NCP) networks is provided in a similar way via
NWREDIR.VXD and NWSERVER.VXD.
(1999-08-08)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Mail « Microsoft Mail Application Program
Interface « Microsoft Network « Microsoft
Networking
» Microsoft Office » Microsoft Office Small Business
Edition » Microsoft Point to Point Encryption
Microsoft Office
<product> Microsoft's bundles of productivity tools including Microsoft
Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft
Access, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Front Page, Microsoft Team Manager,
Microsoft Project, Microsoft Schedule+, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Small
Business Financial Manager, Automap Streets Plus.
Editions of Office include Microsoft Office Professional Edition, Microsoft
Office Standard Edition, Microsoft Office Small Business Edition, Microsoft
Office Developer Edition. Different editions contain different subsets of the
above applications.
Current version, as of 2004-08-30: Office 2003.
Home.
(2004-08-30)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Mail Application Program Interface «
Microsoft Network « Microsoft Networking «
Microsoft Office » Microsoft Office Small
Business Edition » Microsoft Point to Point
Encryption » Microsoft Project
Microsoft Office Small Business Edition
<application> (SBE) Editions of Microsoft Office 97, 2003, and probably
other versions, targetted at small businesses. Small Business Edition includes
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook with
Business Contact Manager and Microsoft Publisher. SBE 2003 doesn't include
Microsoft Access or the addtional XML, IRM and Visual Studio support found in
Microsoft Office Professional Edition, though the new user price is the same.
Office Editions.
(2004-08-31)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Network « Microsoft Networking « Microsoft
Office « Microsoft Office Small Business Edition
» Microsoft Point to Point Encryption » Microsoft
Project » Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Point to Point Encryption
<protocol> (MPPE) An encryption protocol that may be used with PPTP to
provide an encrypted connection.
(1998-09-24)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Networking « Microsoft Office « Microsoft
Office Small Business Edition « Microsoft Point
to Point Encryption » Microsoft Project »
Microsoft SQL Server » Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Project
<product> A Microsoft Windows program offering various project management
tools.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/project/.
(2003-07-02)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Office « Microsoft Office Small Business
Edition « Microsoft Point to Point Encryption «
Microsoft Project
» Microsoft SQL Server » Microsoft Windows »
Microsoft Word
Microsoft SQL Server
<database> A relational database management system (RDBMS) which is part
of Microsoft's BackOffice family of servers. SQL Server was designed for
client/server use and is accessed by applications using SQL. It runs on Windows
NT version 3.5 or higher and is compliant with the ANSI SQL-92 and FIPS 127-2
SQL standards.
SQL Server supports symmetric multiprocessing hardware; SNMP, ODBC, and major
open standard communications protocols. It has Internet integration, data
replication, and data warehousing features.
Microsoft SQL Server was originally developed by Sybase Corporation but the
cooperation was broken sometime [when?] before version 6.0.
Latest version: 7.0. [Or is it 2000?]
Home.
Usenet newsgroup: comp.databases.ms-sqlserver.
(2001-04-27)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Office Small Business Edition « Microsoft
Point to Point Encryption « Microsoft Project «
Microsoft SQL Server » Microsoft Windows »
Microsoft Word » MicroStation
Microsoft Windows
<operating system> Microsoft's proprietary window system and user
interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised
for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines
available then.
The 1996 market share of operating systems was:
DOS/Windows 70%
Windows 95 15%
Windows NT 2%
Other 13%
[Current shares?]
The version history goes something like: 1985 Windows 1, 1987 Windows 2, 1987
Windows/386, 1990 Windows 3.0, 1992 Windows 3.1, 1992 Windows for Workgroups
3.1, 1993 Windows 3.11, 1993 Windows for Workgroups 3.11, 1993 Windows NT 3.1,
1994 Windows NT 3.5, 1995 Windows 95, 199? Windows NT 4, 1998 Windows 98, ?
Windows NT 5.
Usenet newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy,
comp.os.ms-windows.comp.os.ms-windows.announce, comp.os.ms-windows.apps.comm,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.compatibility.win95, comp.os.ms-windows.apps.financial,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities.win3x,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities.win95, comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.mail,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.news,
comp.os.ms-windows.apps.word-proc, comp.os.ms-windows.misc,
comp.os.ms-windows.networking.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.networking.ras,
comp.os.ms-windows.networking.tcp-ip, comp.os.ms-windows.networking.win95,
comp.os.ms-windows.networking.windows, comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.misc,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.networking, comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.announce, comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.pre-release, comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.backoffice,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.compatibility,
comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.services, comp.os.ms-windows.pre-release,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.controls,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.graphics, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.memory,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.multimedia,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.networks,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.nt.kernel-mode, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.ole,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.mfc,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.misc,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.owl,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.winsock, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.vxd,
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32, comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.winhelp,
comp.os.ms-windows.setup, comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win3x,
comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win95, comp.os.ms-windows.video,
comp.os.ms-windows.win95.misc, comp.os.ms-windows.win95.setup,
comp.binaries.ms-windows.
(1998-10-15)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Point to Point Encryption « Microsoft
Project « Microsoft SQL Server « Microsoft
Windows » Microsoft Word » MicroStation »
microtape
Microsoft Word
<text, tool, product> A popular word processor, part of the Microsoft
Office suite. The original Word (versions 1.0 to 4.?/5.0?) was originally
text-based (non-GUI) and ran under MS-DOS. Then Microsoft released Word for
Windows 1.0 and 2.0. Later they produced new versions for each OS, both numbered
6.0.
Home.
[Features?]
(1997-02-11)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Project « Microsoft SQL Server « Microsoft
Windows « Microsoft Word » MicroStation »
microtape » Microware Corporation
MicroStation
<application> A full-featured 2-D and 3-D CAD program for MS-DOS,
Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and Unix workstations from Bentley Systems, Inc.
Created in 1984, MicroStation is a high-end package used worldwide in
environments where many designers work on large, complex projects. MicroStation
Modeler is a superset of MicroStation that provides solid modelling, and
MasterPiece is MicroStation's rendering and animation program.
(2001-04-19)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft SQL Server « Microsoft Windows « Microsoft
Word «
MicroStation » microtape » Microware Corporation
» Microwave Hardware Description Language
microtape
<hardware, storage> /mi:'kroh-tayp/ Occasionally used to mean a DECtape,
as opposed to a macrotape.
Apparently the term "microtape" was actually the official term used within DEC
for these tapes until someone coined the word "DECtape", which, of course,
sounded sexier to the marketroids. Another version of the story holds that
someone discovered a conflict with another company's "microtape" trademark.
[Jargon File]
(1995-03-16)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Windows « Microsoft Word « MicroStation «
microtape » Microware Corporation » Microwave
Hardware Description Language » MIDAS
Microware Corporation
Authors of OS-9.
Address: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
(1995-02-02)
Nearby terms:
Microsoft Word « MicroStation « microtape «
Microware Corporation » Microwave Hardware
Description Language » MIDAS » Midas
Microwave Hardware Description Language
<language, hardware> (MHDL) A Hardware Description Language by David
Barton[?] from Intermetrics incorporating Haskell 1.2.
Not to be confused with other MHDLs.
(2000-11-14)
Nearby terms:
MicroStation « microtape « Microware Corporation «
Microwave Hardware Description Language » MIDAS
» Midas » Midas-WWW
|