Twiddle

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The Jargon File Parts of this article are based on the Jargon File, v. 4.4.7, a public domain document of hacker jargon.

twiddle

Usage: n. See Also: shotgun debugging, frobnicate, bit twiddling, toggle

twiddle: n.

1. Tilde (ASCII 1111110, ~). Also called squiggle, sqiggle (sic -- pronounced /skig´l/), and twaddle, but twiddle is the most common term.
2. A small and insignificant change to a program. Usually fixes one bug and generates several new ones (see also shotgun debugging).
3. vt. To change something in a small way. Bits, for example, are often twiddled. Twiddling a switch or knobs implies much less sense of purpose than toggling or tweaking it; see frobnicate. To speak of twiddling a bit connotes aimlessness, and at best doesn't specify what you're doing to the bit; `toggling a bit' has a more specific meaning (see bit twiddling, toggle). 4. Uncommon name for the twirling baton prompt.

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