grasshopper

n 1: terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for

leaping

2: creme de menthe and cream sometimes with creme de cacao

Grace Hopper

US Navy Rear Admiral Grace Brewster Hopper

(1906-12-09 to 1992-01-01), n�e Grace Brewster Murray.

Hopper is believed to have concieved the concept of the

{compiler} with the {A-0} in 1952. She also developed the

first commercial {high-level language}, which eventually

evolved into {COBOL}. She worked on the {Mark I} computer

with Howard Aiken and with {BINAC} in 1949.

She is credited with having coined the term "debug", and the

adage "it is always easier to ask forgiveness than it is to

get permission" (with various wordings), which has been the

guiding principle in {sysadmin} decisions ever since.

See also the entries {debug} and {bug}.

Hopper is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1994, the

US Navy named a new ship, the guided-missile destroyer {USS

Hopper (http://www.hopper.navy.mil/)}, after her.

(1999-06-29)