[Unix] A particular species of {wabbit} that can be written in one
line of C (main() {for(;;)fork();}) or shell ($0 & $0 &) on any Unix
system, or occasionally created by an egregious coding bug. A fork
bomb process `explodes' by recursively spawning copies of itself
(using the Unix system call fork(2)). Eventually it eats all the
process table entries and effectively wedges the system. Fortunately,
fork bombs are relatively easy to spot and kill, so creating one
deliberately seldom accomplishes more than to bring the just wrath of
the gods down upon the perpetrator. Also called a fork bunny. See
also {logic bomb}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {forked}{rabbit job}{replicator}{wabbit}]