green bytes
<jargon> (Or "green words") Meta-information embedded in a file, such as
the length of the file or its name; as opposed to keeping such information in a
separate description file or record.
By extension, the non-data bits in any self-describing format. "A GIF file
contains, among other things, green bytes describing the packing method for the
image".
At a meeting of the SHARE Systems Division, November 22, 1964, in Washington,
DC, George Mealy of IBM described the new block tape format for FORTRAN in which
unformatted binary records had a Control Word. George used green chalk to
describe it. No one liked the contents of the Green Word (not information, wrong
location, etc.) so Conrad Weisert and Channing Jackson made badges saying "Stamp
out Green Words". This was the first computer badge.
Compare out-of-band, zigamorph, fence.
Button 251.
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-02)
Nearby terms:
Green « Green Book « Green Book CD-ROM « green
bytes
» green card » green lightning » green machine
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