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New glossary entries and Jargon File reference #292

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Add glossary entries, link Jargon File
pamoroso Aug 14, 2025
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Revise entries AltoLisp, Briefing Blurb, Package
pamoroso Aug 15, 2025
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19 changes: 18 additions & 1 deletion content/en/history/glossary/_index.md
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Expand Up @@ -9,10 +9,18 @@ type: docs

The names “Medley,” "Interlisp-D," “Interlisp.org,” “Common Lisp,” etc. are often used in confusing ways. We’re talking about a lot of different things that evolved over decades. These are cemented in by usage in different publications over time. We hope this glossary of terms will help.

For general computer terminology and lore see [The Hacker's Dictionary](https://www.dourish.com/goodies/jargon.html) aka Jargon File.

## Vocabulary and relationships

AltoLisp
: An (unsuccessful) attempt to build a Lisp-based OS for running Interlisp on an Alto.
: An experimental microcoded implementation of Interlisp on an Alto personal computer.

Break package
: The Interlisp subsystem that comprises the debugger (also known as break window) and other debugging facilities. Named after the `BREAK` function and breakpoints.

Briefing Blurb
: One of the several documents that introduced Xerox PARC newcomers to the computing and network environment of the Computer Science Laboratory. Written in an upbeat style, their titles followed a pattern that included the expression "Briefing Blurb" such as *The Alto-Dolphin-Dorado Briefing Blurb: Exploring the Ethernet with Mouse and Keyboard* and *The Briefing Blurb: Exploring the Ethernet with Mouse and Keyboard*.

Carol, Fugue, Harmony, Intermezzo, Koto, Lyric, Medley
: Named releases of Interlisp-D. All are obsolete except Medley.
Expand All @@ -35,6 +43,9 @@ Starting with the Lyric release of Interlisp-D and then the Medley release, the
Dfasl
: A compiled form of Medley Interlisp files with the extension ".dfasl".

Display
: Denotes a program or system with a Graphical User Interface or a full screen character interface, as opposed to a line oriented interface like a teletype. In expressions like "display oriented editor" or "display editor".

DLISP
: By Warren Teitelman: a first attempt at building a “Display” (GUI) with Interlisp running on MAXC (a PDP-10 clone) connected by Ethernet to a Xerox Alto acting
as a graphics terminal.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -106,6 +117,12 @@ Maiko
Sun Microsystems SPARC processor workstation, initially developed by
Fuji Xerox. Subsequently ported to little-endian processors and other operating systems.

Package
: The term Package has several different meanings depending on the context:

- Informally, a collection of utilities or submodule in Interlisp (the "break package", q.v.; the "file package", a facility for managing code changes; the "record package", a record data type; and so on)
- A feature of Commmon Lisp symbol support; the package system allows the combining of Interlisp symbols (written with `IL:` prefix) and Common Lisp symbols (written with a `LISP:` prefix).

SDL
: Structured Design Language.

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