The literature. Computer-science journals and other publications, vaguely gestured at to answer a question that the speaker believes is trivial. Thus, one might answer an annoying question by saying "It' s in the literature." Oppose ref="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=Knuth">Knuth, which has no connotation of triviality. (1994-11-04)