cybormoron Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 i see this word used a lot in various contexts but i can't find out what it is. i just saw foomatic being installed while configuring my printer. i see it used in tutorials describing example files. what the heck is a foo? is this some urban slang as in "i pity the foo"? is it an acromyn? where does this word come from and why is it used around linux? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlim Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 i see this word used a lot in various contexts but i can't find out what it is. i just saw foomatic being installed while configuring my printer. i see it used in tutorials describing example files. what the heck is a foo? is this some urban slang as in "i pity the foo"? is it an acromyn? where does this word come from and why is it used around linux?I've seen it used as a word that can stand for anything - /home/ray/photo/foo.jpg would be an example file in my photo directory. Or /etc/interfaces/foo.conffoo was a nonsense word often used in the old Smokey Stover comic strip - it's claimed to mean "Good Luck" in Chinese. ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybormoron Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 thanks guys, that explains it to my satisfaction. i didn't even think of searching wikipedia. i seem to remember googling once before but didn't find anything, now it's right there on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 See also foo fighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimg Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foobar and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FUBAR. In the urban context, it's probably just short for fool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluttermagnet Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) I agree. I think jimg has it nailed. Probably it originated around or prior to WWII. "Foo" is just a cleaned up, more modern adaptation, but very mild and bearing little resemblance to the original acronym.BTW I noted with sad interest the true meaning of "fubar bundy" in the wikipedia reference to fubar, and I speculate that there is some connection to the Al Bundy character in the American TV series "Married With Children". Now there was a miserable SO... well, you know... In the urban context, it's probably just short for fool.Indeed, and in the computer world, nothing more than a nonsense word these days- a 'placeholder'. Foomatic printer configurator indeed. I swear, there must be little robots in there, Martha... Edited June 7, 2008 by Cluttermagnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaiPimenta Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 (edited) I've always been a strong believer in the "File or Object" origins of foo, especially in my readings that "UNIX doesn't distinguish between a file and a device", making binary information from a "File Or device (Ojbect)" the same FOO to manipulate.Any comments or support for this theory from others? Edited September 11, 2008 by PaiPimenta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crp Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 I've always been a strong believer in the "File or Object" origins of foo, especially in my readings that "UNIX doesn't distinguish between a file and a device", making binary information from a "File Or device (Ojbect)" the same FOO to manipulate.Any comments or support for this theory from others?way back I heard it was File Or Output Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecdn Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 FOO - Forward Observation Officer - Canadian Army term for an Artillery Officer attached to an armour/infantry group to call in artillery fire for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrat Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 FUBAR is also an old army acronym meaning F----d Up Beyond All Recovery, excuse the bleeped French language. :)In computer terms, foo just usually means an example, along with it's cousin bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigggl Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 What is Foo Bar? Who is John Doe?On a related note, I've been told that "snafu" is an acronym for Situation Normal All F# Up, which may or may not be true. Who the foo bar? Certainly not this John Doe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybormoron Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share Posted September 17, 2008 well i must say this thread has enrichened my vocabulary immensely.http://roflrazzi.com/2008/09/16/mr-t-i-pity-the-foo/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
striker Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Fu yong hai ... yummie yummie (the chinese word for foo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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