stone knives and bearskins

(From the Star Trek Classic episode "The City on the Edge of

Forever") A term traditionally used to describe (and

deprecate) computing environments that are grotesquely

primitive in light of what is known about good ways to design

things. As in "Don't get too used to the facilities here.

Once you leave SAIL it's stone knives and bearskins as far as

the eye can see".

Compare steam-powered.

[Jargon File]

(1995-01-24)