runme.org - say it with software art!

forkbomb
unknown
A forkbomb (see related project descriptions) implemented as a single-line/13 characters Unix shell script. In other words: You just have to type these 13 characters (which superficially resemble smilies or ASCII art) on the command line/the terminal window of any computer running a Unix-like operating system:

:(){ :|:& };:

The original author of this forkbomb is unknown, although it appeared in usenet [1] and mailing list groups dating back to the late '90s [2], and a shorter version was published in early versions of the jargon file [3].

Artist and hacker jaromil rediscovered and popularised this forkbomb in 2002, when he exhibited it as part of an artwork, and produced the following texts:
ENG: http://www.digitalcraft.org/?artikel_id=292
ITA: http://www.noemalab.com/sections/ideas/ideas_articles/jaromil_viruses.html#ita
DEU: http://www.digitalcraft.org/index.php?artikel_id=278

feature about this project: forkbomb

Please read this disclaimer before downloading

download here | report broken link
keywords: subversive-obfuscated-dangerous-ascii-process-
minimalistic-cute-algorithmic-unix-open_source-
hackerly-conceptual-abuse
category: system dysfunctionality/denial of service
uploaded by cantsin, 28 Feb 2003

newcomers, sign up here.

login

forgot your password?

latest projects
Pellow
L3-37
Light Pattern
Drunk Eliza
naked on pluto
torrent.py
100.000.000 stolen pixels
Incorrect Music 2
[more]

featured projects
LYCAY (Let Your Code plAY)
Reject Me
Go-Logo
Outsource me!
The Invisible Hand Machine
aPpRoPiRaTe!
Towards a Permanently Temporary Software Art Factory
[more]