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`*`!The Computer Contradictionary`!`* is a `F33f`_`[non-fiction`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Non-fiction]`_`f book by `F33f`_`[Stan Kelly-Bootle`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Stan_Kelly-Bootle]`_`f that compiles a satirical list of definitions of computer industry terms. It was originally published as 'The devil's DP dictionary'. it is an example of "cynical lexicography" in the tradition of `F33f`_`[Ambrose Bierce`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Ambrose_Bierce]`_`f's `*`F33f`_`[The Devil's Dictionary`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=The_Devil's_Dictionary]`_`f`*.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f] Rather than offering a factual account of usage, its definitions are largely made up by the author.`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f]

The book was published in May 1995 by `F33f`_`[MIT Press`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=MIT_Press]`_`f and is an update of Kelly-Bootle's `*The Devil's `F33f`_`[DP`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Data_processing]`_`f Dictionary`* which appeared in 1981.`:cite-ref-acm-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-acm-3]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[Examples`#examples]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Reception`#reception]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

-─

>>Examples

`!Endless loop`!. See: `*Loop, endless`*

`!Loop, endless`!. See: `*Endless loop`*

`!Recursion`!. See: `*Recursion`*

>>Reception

The `*`F33f`_`[Los Angeles Times`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Los_Angeles_Times]`_`f`*, which praised the book, wrote that it was "smartly-titled" but was an "awfully stupid book".`:cite-ref-4[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-4]`_`f] `*ACM Computing Reviews`* recommended dipping into it because "a dictionary is a difficult read".`:cite-ref-acm-3-1[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-acm-3]`_`f]

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f "The Court Jester of Computerdom". `*`F33f`_`[Dr Dobb's`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dr_Dobb's]`_`f Electronic Review of Books`*. Archived from the original on 22 February 1997.

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f `:citerefraymond1996`aRaymond, Eric S (1996). `*The New Hacker's Dictionary - 3rd Edition`*. MIT Press. pp. 534–535.

`:cite-note-acm-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-acm-3-0]`_`f `:citerefblackman1996`aBlackman, A (Mar 1, 1996). "Review: The computer contradictionary (2nd ed.)". `*ACM Computing Reviews`*.

`:cite-note-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-4]`_`f `:citerefharris1998`aHarris, Krissy (January 26, 1998). "Dictionaries to De-Encrypt What the Digerati Are Saying". `*Los Angeles Times`*. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

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