RTFB

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  RTFB /R-T-F-B/ imp. [Unix] Abbreviation for `Read The Fucking Binary'.
     Used when neither documentation nor source for the problem at hand
     exists, and the only thing to do is use some debugger or monitor and
     directly analyze the assembler or even the machine code. "No source for
     the buggy port driver? Aaargh! I _hate_ proprietary operating systems.
     Time to RTFB."


  
     Of the various RTF? forms, `RTFB' is the least pejorative against
     anyone asking a question for which RTFB is the answer; the anger here is
     directed at the absence of both source _and_ adequate documentation.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  RTFB
       
           (By analogy with {RTFM}) Read The Fucking
          Binary.
       
          Used when neither {documentation} nor {source} for the problem
          at hand exists, and the only thing to do is use some
          {debugger} or {monitor} and directly analyse the {assembler}
          or even the {machine code}.
       
          "RTFB" is the least pejorative of the RTF? forms, the anger is
          directed at the absence of both source *and* adequate
          documentation rather than at the person asking a question.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1995-08-20)