May 15, 2003

toaster

n.

1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded microprocessor controller; often used in comments that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see elevator controller). DWIM for an assembler? That'd be as silly as running Unix on your toaster!

2. A very, very dumb computer. You could run this program on any dumb toaster. See bitty box, Get a real computer!, toy, beige toaster.

3. A Macintosh, esp. a Mac in the original unitary case. Some hold that this is implied by sense 2.

4. A peripheral device. I bought my box without toasters, but since then I've added two boards and a second disk drive.

5. A specialized computer used as an appliance. See web toaster, video toaster.

Posted by Jargon File at May 15, 2003 10:26 AM

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