<operating system, exception> The Amiga equivalent of
Unix's panic (sometimes just called a "guru" or "guru
event"). When the system crashes, a cryptic message of the
form "GURU MEDITATION #XXXXXXXX.YYYYYYYY" may appear,
indicating what the problem was. An Amiga guru can figure
things out from the numbers.
In the earliest days of the Amiga, there was a device called a
"Joyboard" which was basically a plastic board built onto a
joystick-like device; it was sold with a skiing game cartridge
for the Atari game machine. It is said that whenever the
prototype OS crashed, the system programmer responsible would
concentrate on a solution while sitting cross-legged, balanced
on a Joyboard, resembling a meditating guru. Sadly, the joke
was removed in AmigaOS 2.04.
The Jargon File claimed that a guru event had to be
followed by a Vulcan nerve pinch but, according to a
correspondent, a mouse click was enough to start a reboot.
(2002-06-25)
Nearby terms:
Gupta Corporation « gurfle « guru « guru meditation » Guy Lewis Steele, Jr. » Guy Steele » GVL
