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WYSIWYG


WYSIWYG: /wiz'ee-wig/ adj. Describes a user interface under
   which "What You See Is What You Get", as opposed to one that uses
   more-or-less obscure commands that do not result in immediate
   visual feedback.  True WYSIWYG in environments supporting multiple
   fonts or graphics is a a rarely-attained ideal; there are variants
   of this term to express real-world manifestations including
   WYSIAWYG (What You See Is *Almost* What You Get) and
   WYSIMOLWYG (What You See Is More or Less What You Get).  All these
   can be mildly derogatory, as they are often used to refer to
   dumbed-down user-friendly interfaces targeted at
   non-programmers; a hacker has no fear of obscure commands (compare
   WYSIAYG).  On the other hand, EMACS was one of the very first
   WYSIWYG editors, replacing (actually, at first overlaying) the
   extremely obscure, command-based TECO.  See also WIMP
   environment.  [Oddly enough, WYSIWYG has already made it into the
   OED, in lower case yet. --- ESR]