explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1168: tar

2013-02-01T05:57:40Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 1168
| date = January 31, 2013
| title = tar
| image = tar-1168.png
| titletext = I don't know what's worse--the fact that after 15 years of using tar I still can't keep the flags straight, or that after 15 years of technological advancement I'm still mucking with tar flags that were 15 years old when I started.
}}

==Explanation==
The title text indicates [[Randall|Randall's]] complain, that even after using the unix tar command for over 15 years, he still cannot type out a line of tar command with correct flags (without googling probably).

==Transcript==
:Megan: Rob! You use Unix!
:White Hat: Come quick!

:[Bomb]: To disable the bomb, simply enter a valid ''tar'' command on your first try. You have '''ten''' seconds.

:[Blank panel]

:White Hat: Rob?
:Rob: I'm so sorry.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Rob]]

1168

2013-02-01T05:49:22Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 1168
| date = January 31, 2013
| title = TAR
| image = tar.png
| titletext = I don't know what's worse--the fact that after 15 years of using tar I still can't keep the flags straight, or that after 15 years of technological advancement I'm still mucking with tar flags that were 15 years old when I started.
}}

==Explanation==
An atomic bomb is discovered by Megan and hat guy. They immediately called Rob (Cueball) over for help because Rob uses UNIX, as said by Megan. The reason Rob would be helpful to disarm the bomb is because the only way to disarm the bomb is to enter a valid {{w|Tar_(computing)|tar}} command in one shot WITHOUT using google. After a silent moment of Rob, he tells them regretfully that he is unable to do so.

The title text indicates Randall's complain, that even after using the unix tar command for over 15 years, he still cannot type out a line of tar command with correct flags (without googling probably).

==Transcript==
:[Megan, hat guy and the bomb]
:Megan: ROB!
:Megan: You use UNIX!
:Hat guy: Come quick!

:[Cueball looking at the screen in the bomb]
:Command prompt message on the screen: To disarm the bomb, simple enter a valid tar command on your first try. No Googling. You have TEN seconds (command prompt)

:[Cueball looking at the screen, silence]

:[Cueball looking at the screen]
:Hat guy: Rob?
:Cueball: I'm so sorry.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

1168

2013-02-01T05:48:50Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 1168
| date = January 31, 2013
| title = TAR
| image = [[File:tar.png]]
| titletext = I don't know what's worse--the fact that after 15 years of using tar I still can't keep the flags straight, or that after 15 years of technological advancement I'm still mucking with tar flags that were 15 years old when I started.
}}

==Explanation==
An atomic bomb is discovered by Megan and hat guy. They immediately called Rob (Cueball) over for help because Rob uses UNIX, as said by Megan. The reason Rob would be helpful to disarm the bomb is because the only way to disarm the bomb is to enter a valid {{w|Tar_(computing)|tar}} command in one shot WITHOUT using google. After a silent moment of Rob, he tells them regretfully that he is unable to do so.

The title text indicates Randall's complain, that even after using the unix tar command for over 15 years, he still cannot type out a line of tar command with correct flags (without googling probably).

==Transcript==
:[Megan, hat guy and the bomb]
:Megan: ROB!
:Megan: You use UNIX!
:Hat guy: Come quick!

:[Cueball looking at the screen in the bomb]
:Command prompt message on the screen: To disarm the bomb, simple enter a valid tar command on your first try. No Googling. You have TEN seconds (command prompt)

:[Cueball looking at the screen, silence]

:[Cueball looking at the screen]
:Hat guy: Rob?
:Cueball: I'm so sorry.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

329: Turing Test

2012-08-16T07:20:53Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 329
| date = October 15, 2007
| title = Turing Test
| image = turing_test.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Hit Turing right in the test-tees
}}

== Explanation ==
In brief, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test Turing test] is a test for assessing whether a machine/program demonstrates "intelligent" behaviour. It was suggested by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing Alan Turing] and the test involves a human examiner talking through a computer terminal to either a human or computer which is not known to the examiner. If the machine/program can response to the examiner so good to convince the examiner by imitating human response, the machine/program is said to be passing the test. This comics suggests that extra credit should be awarded if the machine/program is capable of "counter-convincing" the examiner that he's actually a computer.

== Transcript ==
: Screen 1:
: Title:
: Turing test extra credit:
: Convince the examiner that '''he's''' a computer.
: Examiner:
: You know, you make some really good points.
: I'm... not even sure who I am any more

{{Comic discussion}}

329: Turing Test

2012-08-16T07:19:23Z

Kwx: Created page with "{{comic | number = 329 | date = October 15, 2007 | title = Turing Test | image = turing_test.png | imagesize = | titletext = Hit Turing right in the test-tees..."

{{comic
| number = 329
| date = October 15, 2007
| title = Turing Test
| image = turing_test.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Hit Turing right in the test-tees
}}

== Explanation ==
In brief, Turing test is a test for assessing whether a machine/program demonstrates "intelligent" behaviour. It was suggested by Alan Turing and the test involves a human examiner talking through a computer terminal to either a human or computer which is not known to the examiner. If the machine/program can response to the examiner so good to convince the examiner by imitating human response, the machine/program is said to be passing the test. This comics suggests that extra credit should be awarded if the machine/program is capable of "counter-convincing" the examiner that he's actually a computer.

== Transcript ==
: Screen 1:
: Title:
: Turing test extra credit:
: Convince the examiner that '''he's''' a computer.
: Examiner:
: You know, you make some really good points.
: I'm... not even sure who I am any more

{{Comic discussion}}

327: Exploits of a Mom

2012-08-10T07:24:09Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 0327
| date = October 10, 2007
| title = Exploits of a Mom
| image = Exploits_of_a_mom.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Her daughter is named Help I'm trapped in a driver's license factory.
}}

==Explanation==
A mom receives a call from her son's school. The caller asked if the mom has really named her son as "Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--" (double quotes exclusive) and the mom claimed that it is the nickname they used to call their son. As this name is read into the database without "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_sanitization#SQL_injection sanitization]", the drop table sql command is being injected and executed which in turn dropped the students table (the mom assumes that the school database would name the students table as "students") and committed it, making the deletion irreversible. At the end the school informs the mom that her exploit was successful and the mom reminds the school to make sure they have added data filtering code to prevent code injection exploits in the future.

==Transcript==
Screen 1:

A mom receives a call from her son's school.

The caller: Hi, This is your son's school. We're having some computer trouble.

Screen 2:

Mom: Oh, dear - did he break something?

The caller: In a way -

Screen 3:

The caller: Did you really name your son Robert'); DROP TABLE students;-- ?

Mom: Oh, yes. Little Bobby Tables, we call him.

Screen 4:

The caller: Well, we've lost this year's student records. I hope you're happy.

Mom: And I hope you've learned to sanitize your database inputs.

{{Comic discussion}}

327: Exploits of a Mom

2012-08-10T06:32:47Z

Kwx:

{{comic
| number = 0327
| date = October 10, 2007
| title = Exploits of a Mom
| image = Exploits_of_a_mom.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Her daughter is named Help I'm trapped in a driver's license factory.
}}

==Explanation==
A mom receives a call from her son's school. The caller asked if the mom has really named her son as "Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--" (double quotes exclusive) and the mom claimed that it is the nickname they used to call their son. As this name is read into the database without "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_sanitization#Preventing_code_injection sanitization]", the drop table sql command is being injected and executed which in turn dropped the students table (the mom assumes that the school database would name the students table as "students") and committed it, making the deletion irreversible. At the end the school informs the mom that her exploit was successful and the mom reminds the school to make sure they have added data filtering code to prevent code injection exploits in the future.

==Transcript==
Screen 1:

A mom receives a call from her son's school.

The caller: Hi, This is your son's school. We're having some computer trouble.

Screen 2:

Mom: Oh, dear - did he break something?

The caller: In a way -

Screen 3:

The caller: Did you really name your son Robert'); DROP TABLE students;-- ?

Mom: Oh, yes. Little Bobby Tables, we call him.

Screen 4:

The caller: Well, we've lost this year's student records. I hope you're happy.

Mom: And I hope you've learned to sanitize your database inputs.

{{Comic discussion}}

327: Exploits of a Mom

2012-08-10T06:31:05Z

Kwx: Created page with "{{comic | number = 0327 | date = October 10, 2007 | title = Exploits of a Mom | image = Exploits_of_a_mom.png | imagesize = | titletext = Her daughter is name..."

{{comic
| number = 0327
| date = October 10, 2007
| title = Exploits of a Mom
| image = Exploits_of_a_mom.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Her daughter is named Help I'm trapped in a driver's license factory.
}}

==Explanation==
A mom receives a call from her son's school. The caller asked if the mom has really named her son as "Robert'); DROP TABLE students;--" (double quotes exclusive) and the mom claimed that it is the nickname they used to call their son. As this name is read into the database without "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_sanitization#Preventing_code_injection sanitization]", the drop table sql command is being injected and executed which in turn dropped the students table (the mom assumes that the school database would name the students table as "students") and committed it, making the deletion irreversible. At the end the school informs the mom that her exploit was successful and the mom reminds the school to make sure they have added data filtering code to prevent code injection.

==Transcript==
Screen 1:

A mom receives a call from her son's school.

The caller: Hi, This is your son's school. We're having some computer trouble.

Screen 2:

Mom: Oh, dear - did he break something?

The caller: In a way -

Screen 3:

The caller: Did you really name your son Robert'); DROP TABLE students;-- ?

Mom: Oh, yes. Little Bobby Tables, we call him.

Screen 4:

The caller: Well, we've lost this year's student records. I hope you're happy.

Mom: And I hope you've learned to sanitize your database inputs.

{{Comic discussion}}