demoeffect

demoeffect
 n.

   [{demoscene}]

   1. What among hackers is called a {display hack}. Classical effects
   include "plasma" (colorful mess), "keftales" (x*x+y*y and other
   similar patterns, usually combined with color-cycling), realtime
   fractals, realtime 3d graphics, etc. Historically, demo effects have
   cheated as much as possible to gain more speed and more complexity,
   using low-precision math and masses of assembler code and building
   animation realtime are three common tricks, but use of special
   hardware to fake effects is a {Good Thing} on the demoscene (though
   this is becoming less common as platforms like the Amiga fade away).

   2. [Finland] Opposite of {dancing frog}. The crash that happens when
   you demonstrate a perfectly good prototype to a client. Plagues most
   often CS students and small businesses, but there is a well-known case
   involving Bill Gates demonstrating a brand new version of a major
   operating system.