dc2
dc2 (19)

5

Shaving Yaktoseconds

An amalgam of "yak shaving" and "shaving yoctoseconds". This line is commonly mistranscribed as "shaving yoctoseconds".

"Yoctoseconds" - Second smallest unit of time, above the Planck time.

"Yak shaving" - A term often used by programmers to mean a chain of useless activity that is prerequisite to a desired task. Can also mean intentional non-essential procrastination.

References:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yak_shaving
http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/34775/correct-definition-of-the-term-yak-shaving

The line in the show could be interpreted as the team toiling away at even the most miniscule and seemingly-useless tasks to achieve tiny speed improvements.

"We're about shaving yaktoseconds off latency for every layer in the stack." -Gilfoyle

Added by derek9458 derek9458 over 9 years ago

    58

    Engineer Unicorn

    An engineer that is competent, good looking, dresses well and is not socially awkward.

    John: How come no other engineers are like David?
    Mary: He's an engineer unicorn. They are rare.

    Added by pygmyknight pygmyknight over 9 years ago

    • torbenberger torbenberger

      The legend says some of them can be found here http://www.engineerunicorns.com

      2
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • employeeNumbaOne employeeNumbaOne

      "Unicorn" is a common term for an engineer (usually front-end) who also has good taste in design and is able to contribute to UX early on. But "unicorn" is also used for startups that turn out to be breakout successes, like Uber and Airbnb. Silicon Valley really likes unicorns.

      3
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    94

    Waterloo

    A mythical University in Canada where many good Engineers and Computer Scientists come from.

    Sam: "Where are all these Canadians from?"
    Matthew: "We hired 10 interns and 20 full-times from Waterloo. They get shit done because if we don't hire them, they'll have to work for Blackberry."

    Added by robert robert over 9 years ago

    • zazpowered zazpowered

      @orien No what are you talking about

      1
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • zazpowered zazpowered

      @SingleCommaClub It's similar to what you see from immigrants to a new country like US or Canada

      1
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • zazpowered zazpowered

      I have a lot of friends from canada and waterloo and this seems really accurate from what i've heard

      1
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • charlesjo charlesjo

      It's like a parallel universe of Silicon Valley where people speak American English...

      3
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • orien orien

      @zazpowered aren't you from waterloo

      2
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • freefunctor freefunctor

      @SingleCommaClub That's not true at all. Pretty much everyone I know from my graduating class got offers from US companies. A significant proportion of students choose to stay because the region is booming right now, and also the quality of life in Canada is pretty high.

      2
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • zazpowered zazpowered

      @freefunctor toronto and canada are awesome

      2
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • SingleCommaClub SingleCommaClub

      Have worked with a lot of engineers from Waterloo through internships and full time. Can honestly say they are very talented, but there is a bias because all the ones that make it to US companies are generally top notch.

      2
      Reply
      over 9 years ago
    • Devilinlimbo Devilinlimbo

      I love this site!

      6
      Reply
      almost 8 years ago
    59

    Non-technical Cofounder

    A Wharton MBA who will overestimate the value of his idea and underestimate the value of the person who will implement it. Often wonders why his technical cofounders leave him and the apps they build look like shit and get hacked all the time.

    Non-technical Cofounder: Why do all these technical cofounders leave me? Did they not see the MBA from Wharton in my email? I'm telling you right now, I know how to write a business plan. I even offered the last guy 10% of my company.

    Added by zazpowered zazpowered over 9 years ago

    20

    Bing It

    An expression created by a marketing team within Microsoft that hypothesized that people would say this over the more commonly used expression "Google it."

    Microsoft Marketing Rep: I want you to figure out Google's market share.
    Bing Product Engineer: Sure one sec let me Google it.
    Microsoft Marketing Rep: NO! Bing it!
    Bing Product Engineer: Oh right, I forgot.

    Added by yungsnuggie yungsnuggie over 9 years ago

      14

      Swift

      Swift is a multi-paradigm, compiled programming language created by Apple Inc. It is also the last name of a famous American pop star.

      Zeeshan: Your resume says you have 10 years of Swift experience.
      Intern Applicant: Yes sir.
      Zeeshan: You do realize it hasn't been around for that long...
      Intern Applicant: Sorry sir I was trying to look cool.

      Added by yungsnuggie yungsnuggie over 9 years ago

        40

        Bus Factor

        The number of people that need to be hit by a bus before their project is dead.

        "Our engineers work in teams of 10 for the higher bus factor"

        Added by asdf asdf over 9 years ago

        • employeeNumbaOne employeeNumbaOne

          It is well known that engineers make a "SPOF" sound when hit by a bus.

          2
          Reply
          over 8 years ago