Computer Jargon

[renzhe]

I've been running into computer-specific terminology recently, and even some useful resources such as this glossary here don't have many of them, likely because they are too specialised.

Instead of gathering them all in the random new word thread, I'd like to try to gather many of them here, as I run into them. Feel free to expand, especially the internet slang will be useful for forum junkies. Before you ask, I'm looking for solutions for running ppstream on Linux, hence the need for technical jargon.

位 = bit (as in 32位 and 64位)

硬件 = hardware

软件 = software

私有软件 = proprietary software

开源软件 = open-source software

自由软件 = Free software

库 = library

动态库 = dynamically linked library

数据库 = database

补丁 = (software) patch

协议 = (software) license

默认 = default (settings, etc.)

操作系统 = operating system

头文件 = header file

If this fits better in an existing thread, let me know.

[jbradfor]

錄入 -- to input (as in input data into a computer)

I ran across this one last night, and the pop-up translation for 錄 gave it as diary. [And nothing for 錄入 as a word.] I must have been tired, as I read it as "dairy", and I had no idea what this had to do with entering cows.....

鍵入 and 登入 and 載入 are other examples of the same idea from MDBG, not sure of their use.

網絡特工 is another one I stumbled upon, means "Internet troll".

[semantic nuance]

位 = bit (as in 32位 and 64位)

硬件 = hardware

软件 = software

似有软件 = proprietary software

开源软件 = open-source software

自由软件 = Free software

库 = library

动态库 = dynamically linked library

数据库 = database

补丁 = (software) patch

协议 = (software) license

默认 = default (settings, etc.)

操作系统 = operating system

头文件 = header file

If this fits better in an existing thread, let me know.

In Taiwan, we say:

bit 位元 ex: 32 bit 32位元

software 軟體

hardware 硬體

open-source software 綠色軟體

free software 免費軟體

database 資料庫

default 預設值

operating system 作業系統

<<錄入 -- to input (as in input data into a computer)>>

we say 輸入.

[roddy]

似有软件 = proprietary software

Should be 私有软件. Although I like the idea of 似有 to describe software you didn't pay for, but it, y'know, seems you just have somehow . . .

协议 = (software) license

A 协议 can also be a protocol, such as POP3.

[crazy-meiguoren]

木马病毒 = Trojan Horse

电脑病毒 = computer virus

流氓软件 = malware (also 恶意代码, or malicious code)

间谍软件 = spyware

[renzhe]

Thanks for the addition, looks like such a thread is useful after all.

Roddy is of course, right, the pinyin bug bites again. I've edited it in the original post to avoid misleading people.

free software 免費軟體

This is actually a different concept, which is often confused in English too (it is jargon, after all )

免費軟體 is properly called Freeware

自由軟體 is Free Software, a concept essentially synonymous with Open Source Software (and the older name for the same).

I'm linking to traditional pages, but the same distinction exists when using simplified characters/Mainland terms. Though 开源软件 seems to be far more common on Chinese forums, according to my experience.

In any case, thanks for the Taiwanese forms, I remember at least one conversation where the differences led to small confusion, so it's good to be familiar with both.

Another name is 开放源代码, where 源代码 means "source code".

[LiScing]

I can add some more.

核心 - CPU core

处理器 - processor

四核心的处理器 - quad-core processor

晶片 - semiconductor chip

主板 - motherboard

低功耗 - low energy consumption

效率 and 效能 - performance. I hear these terms being used to describe performance in benchmarks

沟通 - to communicate, for example, electrically between CPU's of a multicore system.

x86 平台 - x86 platform

视窗 - window

关机 - shutdown

缩小 - minimize window

关闭 - close window

清空垃圾桶 - empty the trash can on a Mac computer

delete 掉 - to delete (Not exactly pure Chinese but I've heard it many times.)

叉 or 叉叉 - the X icon on the window title bar

点选 - to select with the mouse

桌面 - Desktop in Windows

[renzhe]

Some more useful hardware lingo:

总线 = bus

显示分辨率 = display resolution

超頻 = overclocking

And some software / programming terms:

内核 = kernel

加密 = encryption

编译器 = compiler

文本编辑器 = text editor

链接器 = linker

解释器 = interpreter

虚拟机 = virtual machine

[crazy-meiguoren]

大型机 = mainframe - as provided by Google translate... MDBG offered no translation.

笔记本电脑 was one of several terms offered for "laptop"

万维网 = World Wide Web

Of course, all good forums need at least one 版主. Someone needs to deal with 網絡特工.

[Zomac]

I'm always confused with the followings:

兆 = MB

吉 = GB

what's KB and Kb then? No idea.

脚本: a script (it makes me think that it's related to feet.)

掉線: disconnected (usually abruptly) - i get used to say "斷線" which makes more sense to me. 掉 is an action you can control, but when an internet service is abruptly disconnected, you're a victim.

貓: modem

P.S. this forum seems to be pretty unstable. will this post be missing again? No problem. I have a backup copy now.

備份: backup

[LiScing]

网站运行了。= The website is up and running.

网站无法运作。= The website is not working/operating.

网站当机了。= The website is down.

静态网页 = static web page

动态网页 = dynamic web page

[jbradfor]

what's KB and Kb then?

Kilobyte and Kilobit.

Oh, you mean what are they in Chinese? Baidu says to just use 千。

I belive 吉 is not GB, but rather the prefix G (giga, that is, 10^9, commonly used for 2^30 as well).