what you see is what you get

1 definition found

what you see is what you get - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  What You See Is What You Get
  WYSIWYG
  
     <jargon> (WYSIWYG) /wiz'ee-wig/ Describes a user interface for
     a document preparation system under which changes are
     represented by displaying a more-or-less accurate image of the
     way the document will finally appear, e.g. when printed.  This
     is in contrast to one that uses more-or-less obscure commands
     that do not result in immediate visual feedback.
  
     True WYSIWYG in environments supporting multiple fonts or
     graphics is rarely-attained; there are variants of this term
     to express real-world manifestations including WYSIAWYG (What
     You See Is *Almost* What You Get) and WYSIMOLWYG (What You See
     Is More or Less What You Get).  All these can be mildly
     derogatory, as they are often used to refer to dumbed-down
     user-friendly interfaces targeted at non-programmers; a
     hacker has no fear of obscure commands (compare WYSIAYG).
     On the other hand, Emacs was one of the very first WYSIWYG
     editors, replacing (actually, at first overlaying) the
     extremely obscure, command-based TECO.
  
     See also WIMP.
  
     (1999-03-03)