Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration on coding apparently
passed through by all fledgling hackers. Common symptoms include the
perpetration of more than one 36-hour {hacking run} in a given week;
neglect of all other activities including usual basics like food,
sleep, and personal hygiene; and a chronic case of advanced
bleary-eye. Can last from 6 months to 2 years, the apparent median
being around 18 months. A few so afflicted never resume a more
`normal' life, but the ordeal seems to be necessary to produce really
wizardly (as opposed to merely competent) programmers. See also
{wannabee}. A less protracted and intense version of larval stage
(typically lasting about a month) may recur when one is learning a
new {OS} or programming language.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {brute force and ignorance}{burn-in period}{cracker}{ha ha only serious}{hack mode}{heads down}{munchkin}{terminal junkie}{troglodyte mode}{wannabee}{wheel wars}]