latency The time it takes for a data packet to move across a network connection
Ld.so The dynamic library loader. Each binary using shared libraries used to have
about 3K of start-up code to find and load the shared libraries. Now that code
has been put in a special shared library, /lib/ld.so, where all binaries can
look for it, so that it wastes less disk space, and can be upgraded more easily
LDAP Lightwight Directory Access Protocol. Allows network nodes to get info on other
nodes
Le Marois, Jacques producer of the popular Red Hat Linux-based Mandrake distribution
lex a "Lexical Analyser". Its main job is to break up an input stream into more
usable elements.
libnsl Name services library, a library of name service calls (getpwnam, getservbyname,
etc...) on SVR4 Unixes. GNU libc uses this for the NIS (YP) and NIS+ functions
library A collection of subroutines and functions stored in one or more files, usually
in compiled form, for linking with other programs. Libraries are one of the
earliest forms of organised code reuse
libsocket Socket services library, a library for the socket service calls (socket, bind,
listen, etc...) on SVR4 Unixes
license Licenses
commonly used by Linux programs
a legal document that specifies the terms by which the software can be used.
Violation of the software license is a breach of copyright law
lightweight processes See threaded code
LILO A versatile boot loader for Linux. It does not depend on a specific file system,
can boot Linux kernel images from floppy disks and from hard disks and can even
act as a boot manager'' for other operating systems
Linux a completely free reimplementation of the POSIX specification, with SYSV and BSD
extensions (which means it looks like Unix, but does not come from the same
source code base), which is available in both source code and binary form
Lisp LISt Processing language - Artificial Intelligence's mother tongue, a symbolic,
functional, recursive language based on the ideas of lambda-calculus,
variable-length lists and trees as fundamental data types and the interpretation
of code as data and vice-vers
list A sequence of one or more pipelines separated by one of the operators ;, &, &&,
or ||, and terminated by one of ;, &, or .
LISTSERV provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas through email. A
popular mailing list server for Linux is Majordomo
ln make links between files
load balancing distributing processing and communications activity evenly across a computer
network so that no single device is overwhelmed
loopback address a special IP number (127.0.0.1) that is designated for the software loopback
interface of a machine. 127.0.0.0 through 127.255.255.255 is also reserved for
loopback and is used for internal testing on local machines
low-level language A computer language that deals with hardware registers by name; also known as
assembly language. A program written in a low-level language can be used only on
a computer system that uses one type of main processor (or possibly a member of
a family of processors)
lpd Lpd is the line printer daemon (spool area handler) and is normally invoked at
boot time from the rc(8) file. It makes a single pass through the printcap(5)
file to find out about the existing printers and prints any files left after a
crash. It then uses the system calls listen and accept to receive requests to
print files in the queue, transfer files to the spooling area, display the
queue, or remove jobs from the queue. In each case, it forks a child to handle
the request so the parent can continue to listen for more requests.
lpq lpq examines the spooling area used by lpd for printing files on the line
printer, and reports the status of the specified jobs or all jobs associated
with a user. Lpq invoked without any arguments reports on any jobs currently in
the queue.
lpr The line printer command uses a spooling daemon to print the named files when
facilities become available. If no names appear, the standard input is assumed.
ls The program ls lists first its non-directory file arguments, and then for each
directory argument all listable files contained within that directory.
LUG Linux Users' Group - A LUG is a group of Linux users. Usually avid Linux users
and advocates join a local LUG
LVM Logical Volume Manager: Most Unix-like systems now have the ability to break up
physical discs into some number of units. Storage units from multiple drives can
be pooled into a "logical volume", where they can be allocated to partitions.
Additionally, units can be added or removed from partitions as space
requirements change.
lynx A text-based, non-graphical web brower for use in Telnet session
LZO Lempel-Ziv-Oberhumer (a compression algorithm)
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Last Updated Saturday, December 11 2004 @ 08:06 PM EST
