Fork bomb
programming
A particular species of wabbit that can be written in one line of C:
main() for(;;)fork();
or shell:
$0 & $0 &
on any Unix system, or occasionally created by an egregious coding bug. A fork bomb process “explodes” by recursively spawning copies of itself using the Unix system call “fork(2)”. Eventually it eats all the process table entries and effectively wedges the system. Fortunately, fork bombs are relatively easy to spot and kill, so creating one deliberately seldom accomplishes more than to bring the just wrath of the gods down upon the perpetrator.
See also logic bomb.
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-14)
Read Also:
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[fawrkt, fawr-kid] /fɔrkt, ˈfɔr kɪd/ adjective 1. having a or fork-like branches. 2. zigzag, as lightning. Idioms 3. to speak with / have a forked tongue, to speak deceitfully; attempt to deceive. [fawrk] /fɔrk/ noun 1. an instrument having two or more prongs or tines, for holding, lifting, etc., as an implement for handling food […]
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noun, Chemistry. 1. .
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noun A V-8 engine or a car having such an engine (1950s+ Hot rodders)
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noun 1. a zigzag form of lightning Also called chain lightning
- Forkful
[fawrk-foo l] /ˈfɔrk fʊl/ noun, plural forkfuls. 1. the amount a can hold. n. 1640s; see fork (n.) + -ful.