Var foo... its everywhere!

[Steveo31]

I've seen this in every web-coding forum out there. I saw the source code for a website with the var "foo" in there. Is this some kinda inside programmers joke or does it have some kind of significance?

[liorean]

foo, bar and foobar are common in programming examples, really. They are part of the pronounciation of FUBAR (F***** Up Beyond All Repair), but have become general nonsence names that are perfect for examples where you don't want to put any particular notice on the variable, where a descriptive name would not be of any use.

[Nightfire]

I believe the term comes from the marines in the vietnam war, but it could be sooner than then, I'm not sure. Le spook might be able to offer more insight

[mordred]

Here's a very detailed analysis of the etymology of "foo" and "foobar", straight from the Jargon Dictionary:

http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/f.html#foo

[Steveo31]

HAHA!! Man... never saw that one coming... FUBAR. Sheesh.

[Mhtml]

lol .. I remember way back when I asked this same question. As I remember spooks tried to tell me it was something completely unrelated to it's true meaning ... which does sort of remind of the time when he told me I needed a flux capacitor for my computer ... hehe

[Steveo31]

Originally posted by Mhtml
lol .. I remember way back when I asked this same question. As I remember spooks tried to tell me it was something completely unrelated to it's true meaning ... which does sort of remind of the time when he told me I needed a flux capacitor for my computer ... hehe

LOL!

Are there any other vars and whatnot like this?

[oracleguy]

Originally posted by Steveo31
LOL!

Are there any other vars and whatnot like this?

foo is probably the most common but you'll see from programmer to programmer they have certain favorites. Like when I need to make a test user account for say a website I'm developing, I always use the name Art Vandelay, George's "alias" on Seinfeld since I'm a huge Seinfeld fan.

[Eskimo]

I always used Ender Wiggin or Louis Wu.

[Antoniohawk]

Oracleguy you have just moved up 5 notches on the best mod scale. Seinfeld is probably the best show ever to air on television. Have you heard about that guy trying to sell the "Seinfeld DVD"? Supposably containing every episode from every season. I'll have to whip up that link...

[mindlessLemming]

Originally posted by oracleguy
I always use the name Art Vandelay, George's "alias" on Seinfeld since I'm a huge Seinfeld fan.

Actually, that was Jerry's alias that George bestowed upon him.
"I'm not hiring you as my latex salesman!"

Enough [OT].

[oracleguy]

Originally posted by mindlessLemming
Actually, that was Jerry's alias that George bestowed upon him.
"I'm not hiring you as my latex salesman!"

Enough [OT].

No, George came up with it while standing with Jerry during 1x02 "The Stakeout"

From http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheStakeout.htm

George: Bert... Har... bin... son. Bert Har-bin-son.
Jerry: Bert Harbinson? It sounds made up.
George: No good? Alright, how about Art... Corr.....
Jerry: Art Corr...
George: ...velay...
Jerry: Corvelay?
George: Yeah, right.
Jerry: Well, what does *he* do?
George: He's an importer.
Jerry: Just imports, no exports?
George: He's an importer/exporter, okay?
George: Say, did Elaine ever call you back?
Jerry: No, I guess she's still mad.
George: I don't understand, you never talk to her about other women?
Jerry: Never.
% Bing! The elevator opens up and...
Jerry: Wait a second... That's her... on the right.
George: I forgot who I am! Who am I?!
Jerry: You're you. We're having lunch with Art Corvelay.
George: Vandelay!

I've recorded almost every Seinfeld episode ever using my TV Tuner card. Why don't you IM me sometime, I got a humorous Seinfeld related story for ya.

[me']

Vietnam? I always thought it was WW1! Although that makes sense, that F is a rather more modern word...

[jdan]

Fubar... classic.
Remember smiling and nodding many times before I figured out its meaning.

[Steveo31]

Wow... Seinfeld is popular. Maybe I'll use that for my "special" var. sein['$feld']






Or not....