green bytes

2 definitions found

green bytes - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  green bytes
  green words
  
     <jargon> (Or "green words") Meta-information embedded in a
     file, such as the length of the file or its name; as opposed
     to keeping such information in a separate description file or
     record.
  
     By extension, the non-data bits in any self-describing format.
     "A GIF file contains, among other things, green bytes
     describing the packing method for the image".
  
     At a meeting of the SHARE Systems Division, November 22, 1964,
     in Washington, DC, George Mealy of IBM described the new
     block tape format for FORTRAN in which unformatted binary
     records had a Control Word.  George used green chalk to
     describe it.  No one liked the contents of the Green Word (not
     information, wrong location, etc.) so Conrad Weisert and
     Channing Jackson made badges saying "Stamp out Green Words".
     This was the first computer badge.
  
     Compare out-of-band, zigamorph, fence.
  
     Button 251 (http://mxg.com/thebuttonman/search.asp).
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1994-11-02)
  

green bytes - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  green bytes
   n.
  
     (also green words)
  
     1. Meta-information embedded in a file, such as the length of the
  file
     or its name; as opposed to keeping such information in a separate
     description file or record. The term comes from an IBM user's group
     meeting (ca. 1962) at which these two approaches were being debated
     and the diagram of the file on the blackboard had the green bytes
     drawn in green.
  
     2. By extension, the non-data bits in any self-describing format. "A
     GIF file contains, among other things, green bytes describing the
     packing method for the image." Compare out-of-band, zigamorph,
     fence (sense 1).