Desk from FOLDOC

desk check

To grovel over hardcopy of source code, mentally simulating the control flow; a method of catching bugs. No longer common practice in this age of on-screen editing, fast compiles, and sophisticated debuggers - though some maintain stoutly that it ought to be.

Compare dry run, eyeball search, vdiff, vgrep.

[Jargon File]

Last updated: 1996-05-13

desktop

<operating system>

1. In a WIMP graphical user interface, the visual representation of a real desktop (the top surface of a piece of furniture) with documents, folders and a rubbish bin arranged on it. The user manipulates files on the computer by using a mouse to click and drag their representations (icons) on the desktop.

The WIMP interface and desktop metaphor was invented at Xerox PARC and popularised by the Apple Macintosh.

<computer>

2. desktop computer.

Last updated: 2007-09-12

desktop database

Macintosh file system

Desktop Management Interface

<standard, operating system>

(DMI) A specification from the Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) that establishes a standard framework for managing networked computers. DMI covers hardware and software, desktop systems and servers, and defines a model for filtering events and describing interfaces.

DMI provides a common path for technical support, IT managers, and individual users to access information about all aspects of a computer - including processor type, installation date, attached printers and other peripherals, power sources, and maintenance history. It provides a common format for describing products to aid vendors, systems integrators, and end users in enterprise desktop management.

DMI is not tied to any specific hardware, operating system, or management protocols. It is easy for vendors to adopt, mappable to existing management protocols such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and can be used on non-network computers.

DMI's four components are:

Management Information Format (MIF) - a text file containing information about the hardware and software on a computer. Manufacturers can create their own MIFs specific to a component.

Service layer - an OS add-on that connects the management interface and the component interface and allows management and component software to access MIF files. The service layer also includes a common interface called the local agent, which is used to manage individual components.

Component interface (CI) - an application program interface (API) that sends status information to the appropriate MIF file via the service layer. Commands include Get, Set, and Event.

Management interface (MI) - the management software's interface to the service layer. Commands are Get, Set, and List.

CI, MI, and service layer drivers are available on the Internet. Intel's LANDesk Client Manager (LDCM) is based on DMI.

Version: 2.0s (as of 2000-01-19).

http://dmtf.org/spec/dmis.html.

Sun overview.

Last updated: 2000-01-19

Desktop Management Task Force

<body>

(DMTF) The industry consortium that develops, supports, and maintains standards for systems management of PC systems and products, to reduce total cost of ownership. These include the Desktop Management Interface (DMI), the most-widely used management standard today.

The DMTF is participating in an industry effort to create a standard for management over the Internet. They are defining an object-oriented Common Information Model (CIM).

http://dmtf.org/.

Last updated: 2000-01-19

desktop manager

A user interface to system services, usually icon and menu based like the Macintosh Finder, enabling the user to run application programs and use a file system without directly using the command language of the operating system.

Last updated: 1994-12-07

desktop publisher

desktop publishing

<text, application>

(DTP) Using computers to lay out text and graphics for printing in magazines, newsletters, brochures, etc. A good DTP system provides precise control over templates, styles, fonts, sizes, colour, paragraph formatting, images and fitting text into irregular shapes.

Example programs include FrameMaker, PageMaker, InDesign and GeoPublish.

http://cs.purdue.edu/homes/gwp/dtp/dtp.html.

Usenet newsgroup: comp.text.desktop.

Last updated: 2005-03-14

Nearby terms:

design recovery ♦ Design System language ♦ desk check ♦ desktop ♦ desktop database

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