magic

	This is the JargonFile ^(V4.00) entry for magic - Next: magic cookie, Prev: maggotbox
:magic: /adj./ 1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; compare automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarkes Third Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits." "This routine magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte in three instructions." 2. Characteristic of something that works although no one really understands why (this is especially called black magic). 3. [Stanford] A feature not generally publicized that allows something otherwise impossible, or a feature formerly in that category but now unveiled. Compare black magic, wizardly, deep magic, heavy wizardry. For more about hackish magic, see [[A Story About Magic]] in Appendix A.
* (text is auto-included via JargonExtension by mutante using jargon with VERSION 4.0.0, 24 JUL 1996 - JargonFile by Eric S. Raymond is in the public domain)