salt mines

( n.)

   Dense  quarters  housing  large  numbers  of programmers working long
   hours  on  grungy  projects,  with some hope of seeing the end of the
   tunnel  in  N  years.  Noted  for  their absence of sunshine. Compare
   {playpen}, {sandbox}.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {playpen}]