“abort” to “AWT”

abort

(v.) To terminate, in a controlled manner, a processing activity in a computer system because continuation of the activity is impossible or undesirable.

abortive release

(n.) An abrupt termination of a transport connection, which might result in data loss.

absolute address

(n.) An address that identifies a storage location or a device without the use of any intermediate reference.

absolute path name

(n.) For a file or directory, the list of directories from the root directory through the tree structure to the file name or directory name. Each name in the series is separated by a slash character (/).

abstract

A Java^TM programming language keyword used in a class definition to specify that a class is not to be instantiated, but rather inherited by other classes. An abstract class can have abstract methods that are not implemented in the abstract class, but in subclasses.

abstract class

(n.) A class that contains one or more abstract methods, and therefore can never be instantiated. Abstract classes are defined so that other classes can extend them and make them concrete by implementing the abstract methods.

abstract method

(n.) A method that has no implementation.

Abstract Window Toolkit

(AWT) (n.) The class library that provides the standard API for building graphical user interfaces for Java^TM programs. The AWT includes imaging tools, data transfer classes, GUI components, and containers for GUI components. The AWT also includes an event system for handling user and system events among parts of the AWT, and layout managers for managing the size and position of GUI components in platform-independent designs. The GUI components in the AWT were implemented as native-platform versions of the components. These components have largely been supplanted by the Swing components. See also Java^TM Foundation Classes, Swing classes, Swing Set.

access control list

(ACL) (1) (n.) An authorization mechanism in the X protocol that maintains lists of hosts which are allowed to access each server that controls a display. By default, only the local host can use the display, plus any hosts that are specified in the access control list for that display.

(2) (n.) A file that contains a list of principals with certain access permissions. Typically, a server consults an access control list to verify that a client has permission to use its services. Note that a principal which is authenticated by GSS-API can still be denied services if an ACL does not permit those services.

accessibility

(n.) The degree to which software can be used comfortably by a wide variety of people, including those users who require assistive technologies or those who use the keyboard instead of a pointing device. An accessible JFC application employs the Java Accessibility API and provides keyboard operations for all actions that can be completed by use of the mouse. See also Java Accessibility API, Java Accessibility Utilities, keyboard operations.

account

See user account.

ACL

See access control list.

ACPI

(n.) Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface.

active

(adj.) Characteristic of a window, window element, or icon that is currently affected by keyboard and mouse input. An active window is differentiated from other windows on the workspace by a distinctive title bar color or shade. An active window element is indicated by a highlight or selection pointer.

active grab

(n.) In the X protocol, the keyboard keys, keyboard, pointer buttons, pointer, and server can be “grabbed” briefly for exclusive use by a client. An active grab causes the pointer and keyboard events to be sent to the grabbing window despite the current pointer position. Contrast with passive grab.

active window

(n.) The window that contains the cursor. The active window can be affected by cursor movements.

address

(1) (n.) A number that is used by the system software to identify a storage location.

(2) (n.) In networking, a unique code that identifies a node to the network.

address bus

(n.) A dedicated bus that passes address information about computer memory. See also data bus.

administrative console

(n.) In a Sun Cluster configuration, the console that runs cluster administrative software to administer and communicate with the cluster nodes.

air restrictor board

(n.) A blank board with a special air deflector fin that is used in Sun^TM server systems to simulate the airflow pattern of an actual board. If air restrictor boards are not installed in blank slots, a condition that is called a “thermal short” is created. A thermal short severely reduces the cooling capability of the system, which can lead to equipment damage.

alarm

(n.) Usually, an audio warning or visual warning to indicate that attention to the computer is required.

alarm clock

(n.) A part of the signal C library function. The signal SIGALRM is sent to the invoking process after a specified number of seconds. Unless caught or ignored, the SIGALRM signal kills the process.

alert

(n.) A warning that is similar to an alarm, but not of such a critical nature.

alert box

(n.) A secondary window that is used by an application to convey a message or warning or which gathers information from the user. Four standard alert boxes (Info, Warning, Error, and Question) are supplied for JFC applications. In the Java^TM look and feel, alert boxes are created by using the JOptionPane component. See also dialog box.

alias

(1) (n.) In email, a name that is easily remembered as a substitute for a full name and address. Also, a name that is used to identify a distribution list.

(2) (n.) An alternate label. For example, a label and one or more aliases can be used to refer to the same data element or point in a computer program.

(3) (n.) A distortion or artifact in the digital reproduction of an audio waveform that results when the signal frequency is too high, compared to the sampling frequency.

aliasing

(1) (n.) The jagged artifact in a line or in the silhouette of a curve that results from drawing on a raster grid. Aliasing is especially noticeable in low-resolution monitors. Also called jaggies. See also antialiasing.

(2) (n.) See command aliasing.

alpha

(1) (n.) In computer graphics, a fourth color component. Alpha is typically used to control color blending with a background or underlying object. Typically, an alpha value of 1.0 implies complete opacity, and an alpha value of 0.0 is complete transparency.

(2) (n.) The first letter of the Greek alphabet.

alpha channel

(n.) In computer graphics, memory that is associated with each pixel which is used to store the fractional coverage of the pixel. An alpha channel is typically used to assign the opacity of an object.

alpha value

(n.) A value that indicates the opacity of a pixel.

amnesia

(n.) A condition in which a cluster restarts after a shutdown with obsolete cluster configuration data in its Cluster Configuration Repository (CCR). For example, on a two-node cluster with only node 1 operational, if a cluster configuration change occurs on node 1, the CCR on node 2 is no longer up-to-date. If the cluster is shut down and then restarted only on node 2, with node 1 remaining down, an amnesia condition results on node 2 because its CCR is obsolete. The Sun Cluster quorum mechanism prevents amnesia from occurring.

ancestor window

(n.) In the X protocol, a window that is a parent window or a parent of a parent window, and similar branches. If window W is an inferior of window A, window A is an ancestor of window W. The root window is the ancestor of all windows on a screen.

anti-aliasing

(n.) In computer graphics, the process of smoothing stair-step lines and curves. You accomplish antialiasing either by using a higher-resolution device or software routines that shade surrounding pixels and lessen the visual distinction.

applet

(n.) A component that typically executes in a web browser, but can execute in a variety of other applications or devices that support the applet programming model. See also application, browser.

appliance

(n.) A networked device such as a printer, Java^TM technology-enabled terminal, or client, that is managed with applications which were built by using the Java Management API (JMAPI).

application

(n.) A program that combines all the functions necessary for the user to accomplish a particular set of tasks, for instance, word processing or inventory tracking. Unless stated otherwise, “application” refers to both applets and standalone applications. See also applet.

archive

(n.) 1. A collection of several files that are concatenated into a single new file by a program, such as ar, tar, bar, or cpio, for shipment or storing.

2. A file that contains a collection of files that were copied from a master system. The file also contains identification information about the archive, such as a name and the date that you created the archive. After you install an archive on a system, the system contains the exact configuration of the master system. An archive could be a differential archive which is Solaris Flash archive that contains only the differences between two system images, an unchanged master image and an updated master image. The differential archive contains files to be retained, modified, or deleted from the clone system. A differential update changes only the files specified and is restricted to systems that contain software consistent with the unchanged master image.

archiving

(n.) The storage of backup files for later reference or use. See also Source Code Control System.

area sampling

(n.) The determination of a pixel's color and intensity that is based on the color and intensity of the surrounding pixels.

argument

(n.) A data item that is specified in a method call. An argument can be a literal value, a variable, or an expression.

arrow key

(n.) One of the four directional keys on the numeric keypad.

artifact

(1) (n.) A visible error or oddity in a displayed image. Aliasing, for instance, is an artifact that results from producing images on a raster grid.

(2) (n.) An audible error or oddity in a reproduced sound that results from the digital sampling or compression of the sound.

ASET

See Automated Security Enhancement Tool.

ASP

(1) ( n.) application service provider.

(2) (n.) authorized service provider.

ASR

(1) (n.) automatic system reconfiguration.

(2) (n.) automatic system recovery.

aspect ratio

(1) (n.) The ratio of the height of an object to its width.

(2) (n.) In computer graphics, the ratio of a pixel's height to its width. Pixels that have equal height and width are called square pixels.

asppp

(n.) A version of Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) that was included with the Solaris operating environment from Solaris 2.4 to Solaris 8 releases. asppp supported asynchronous PPP communications only.

asserted

(adj.) Characteristic of a signal that is used to initiate an action. Contrast with unasserted.

assertion

(1) (n.) A conditional statement in the operating system source code that is intended to prevent the kernel from straying and damaging important data.

(2) (n.) A Boolean statement that determines whether a program is operating correctly.

associative array

(n.) A collection of data (an array) that enables individual items to be indexed (accessed) by a string, rather than by an integer as is common in most programming languages.

atom

(1) (n.) In the X Imaging Library (XIL) collection, a single library function call. With the property XIL^TM library's deferred execution feature, groups of atoms can be combined to create a molecule, which avoids redundant operations.

(2) (n.) In the X protocol, a unique numeric identifier that maps to a string name. Atoms identify properties, types, and selections to avoid the overhead of passing arbitrary-length property name strings.

atomic

(adj.) Characteristic of an operation that is never interrupted or left in an incomplete state under any circumstance.

atomicity

(n.) The condition of an operation that is never interrupted or left in an incomplete state under any circumstances.

atomic transaction

(n.) An uninterrupted sequence of instructions.

attachment

(n.) An encapsulated data object inside a document.

authentication

(1) (n.) The act of verifying the identity that is supplied over the network by a remote user or entity, such as a program. Some authentication protocols enable you to build databases of authentication credentials from potential users. Other authentication protocols use certificate chains of trust that are generated by a certificate authority for authentication purposes. These credentials can authenticate users when they try to communicate with you or use your site's services.

(2) (n.) A security service that verifies the claimed identity of a principal.

authorization

(n.) The process of determining whether a principal can use a service, which objects the principal is allowed to access, and the type of access that is allowed for each object.

autoconfiguration

(n.) The process by which the host fetches SBus IDs and Forth bytecodes (FCodes), beginning at location 0 of each slave that is used to identify the device.

Automated Security Enhancement Tool

(ASET) (n.) A utility that is shipped with the SunOS^TM 5.3 operating system. ASET enables a user to specify a system security level of low, medium, or high. The utility then automatically maintains systems at those levels.

automounter

(n.) The software that automatically mounts a directory when the user changes directories, and unmounts the directory when it is no longer in use.

AWT

See Abstract Window Toolkit. See also Java^TM Foundation Classes, Swing classes, Swing Set.