sponge n.
[Unix] A special case of a filter
that reads its entire input before writing any output; the
canonical example is a sort utility. Unlike most filters, a
sponge can conveniently overwrite the input file with the output
data stream. If a file system has versioning (as ITS did and VMS
does now) the sponge/filter distinction loses its usefulness,
because directing filter output would just write a new version.
See also slurp.
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spoof vi.
To capture, alter, and retransmit a communication stream in a
way that misleads the recipient. As used by hackers, refers
especially to altering TCP/IP packet source addresses or other
packet-header data in order to masquerade as a trusted machine.
This term has become very widespread and is borderline
techspeak.
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spool vi.
[from early IBM `Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line',
but is widely thought to be a backronym] To send files to some device or
program (a `spooler') that queues them up and does something
useful with them later. Without qualification, the spooler is the
`print spooler' controlling output of jobs to a printer; but the
term has been used in connection with other peripherals
(especially plotters and graphics devices) and occasionally even
for input devices. See also demon.
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spool file n.
Any file to which data is spooled
to await the next stage of processing. Especially used in
circumstances where spooling the data copes with a mismatch
between speeds in two devices or pieces of software. For example,
when you send mail under Unix, it's typically copied to a spool
file to await a transport demon's
attentions. This is borderline techspeak.