4 ms·
Yeah, it’s an interesting one. I’ve always known it as the hash symbol from back in the 80s when I got my first microcomputer. This was in the UK but I don’t th
by bartread 2y ago
Yeah, it’s an interesting one. I’ve always known it as the hash symbol from back in the 80s when I got my first microcomputer. This was in the UK but I don’t think hash is UK-specific terminology: “shebang” (“hash bang” for #!) has been common parlance amongst the UNIX-crowd since I don’t know when.
I know pound is incredibly common in the US, but in the UK it’s never referred to that way because here pound means £.
“Octothorpe” is entirely new to me though, and I guess is quite context specific?
- dcminter 2y agoYeah, I don't think I even heard "pound" for # until I went online and started getting exposed a lot more to US stuff (also harking from the 80s UK micro world). I feel like "octothorpe" might have been referenced in the jargon file or similar texts?
- dcminter 2y agoI checked, and it gets a passing mention (along with a snipe about annoying Britons!) in Jargon File and Hackers Dictionary.
- a57721 2y ago> “shebang” (“hash bang” for #!) I think the etymology of "shebang" isn't clear, some sources say it may come from "sharp bang" or "shell bang". http://catb.org/jargon/html/S/shebang.html http://catb.org/jargon/html/S/shebang.html