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hello, world


hello, world: interj. 1. The canonical minimal test message in the
   C/UNIX universe.  2. Any of the minimal programs that emit this
   message.  Traditionally, the first program a C coder is supposed to
   write in a new environment is one that just prints "hello, world"
   to standard output (and indeed it is the first example program
   in K&R).  Environments that generate an unreasonably large
   executable for this trivial test or which require a hairy
   compiler-linker invocation to generate it are considered to
   lose (see X).  3. Greeting uttered by a hacker making an
   entrance or requesting information from anyone present.  "Hello,
   world!  Is the VAX back up yet?"