from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
larval stage
n.
Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration on coding apparently
passed through by all fledgling hackers. Common symptoms include the
perpetration of more than one 36-hour {hacking run} in a given week;
neglect of all other activities including usual basics like food,
sleep, and personal hygiene; and a chronic case of advanced
bleary-eye. Can last from 6 months to 2 years, the apparent median
being around 18 months. A few so afflicted never resume a more
`normal' life, but the ordeal seems to be necessary to produce really
wizardly (as opposed to merely competent) programmers. See also
{wannabee}. A less protracted and intense version of larval stage
(typically lasting about a month) may recur when one is learning a new
{OS} or programming language.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
larval stage
Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration on coding
apparently passed through by all fledgling hackers. Common
symptoms include the perpetration of more than one 36-hour
{hacking run} in a given week; neglect of all other activities
including usual basics like food, sleep, and personal hygiene;
and a chronic case of advanced bleary-eye. Can last from 6
months to 2 years, the apparent median being around 18 months.
A few so afflicted never resume a more "normal" life, but the
ordeal seems to be necessary to produce really wizardly (as
opposed to merely competent) programmers. See also
{wannabee}. A less protracted and intense version of larval
stage (typically lasting about a month) may recur when one is
learning a new {OS} or programming language.
[{Jargon File}]