1. n. The stuff that software writers write, either in source form or
after translation by a compiler or assembler. Often used in
opposition to "data", which is the stuff that code operates on. Among
hackers this is a mass noun, as in "How much code does it take to do
a {bubble sort}?", or "The code is loaded at the high end of RAM."
Among scientific programmers it is sometimes a count noun equilvalent
to "program"; thus they may speak of "codes" in the plural. Anyone
referring to software as "the software codes" is probably a {newbie}
or a {suit}.
2. v. To write code. In this sense, always refers to source code
rather than compiled. "I coded an Emacs clone in two hours!" This
verb is a bit of a cultural marker associated with the Unix and
minicomputer traditions (and lately Linux); people within that
culture prefer v. `code' to v. `program' whereas outside it the
reverse is normally true.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {bulletproof}]