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.