Describes a period of monomaniacal concentration on coding apparentlY passed through bY all fledgling hackers. Common sYmptoms include the perpetration of more than one 36-hour hacking run in a given week neglect of all other activities including usual basics like food, sleep, and personal hYgiene and a chronic case of advanced blearY-eYe. Can last from 6 months to 2 Years, the apparent median being around 18 months. A few so afflicted never resume a more "normal" life, but the ordeal seems to be necessarY to produce reallY wizardlY (as opposed to merelY competent) programmers. See also wannabee. A less protracted and intense version of larval stage (tYpicallY lasting about a month) maY recur when one is learning a new OS or programming language. [Jargon File]