graphics A program with the same approximate purpose as a
kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks
"rain(6)" program, "worms(6)" on miscellaneous Unixes, and the
X "kaleid(1)" program. Display hacks can also be
implemented without programming by creating text files
containing numerous escape sequences for interpretation by a
video terminal; one notable example displayed, on any VT100, a
Christmas tree with twinkling lights and a toy train circling
its base. The
hack value of a display hack is proportional
to the aesthetic value of the images times the cleverness of
the algorithm divided by the size of the code. Synonym
(1995-05-10)