1. [techspeak] A quantitative change, especially a small or
incremental one (this use is general in physics and engineering). "I
just doubled the speed of my program!" "What was the delta on program
size?" "About 30 percent." (He doubled the speed of his program, but
increased its size by only 30 percent.)
2. [Unix] A {diff}, especially a {diff} stored under the set of
version-control tools called SCCS (Source Code Control System) or RCS
(Revision Control System).
3. n. A small quantity, but not as small as {epsilon}. The jargon
usage of {delta} and {epsilon} stems from the traditional use of
these letters in mathematics for very small numerical quantities,
particularly in `epsilon-delta' proofs in limit theory (as in the
differential calculus). The term {delta} is often used, once
{epsilon} has been mentioned, to mean a quantity that is slightly
bigger than {epsilon} but still very small. "The cost isn't epsilon,
but it's delta" means that the cost isn't totally negligible, but it
is nevertheless very small. Common constructions include within delta
of --, within epsilon of --: that is, `close to' and `even closer
to'.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {delta}{epsilon}{within delta of}]