Re: [gentoo-user] What is a "packet"? Was: Checksum error

[Peter Humphrey <peter@humphrey.ukfsn.org>]

On Sunday 11 October 2009 20:21:29 Philip Webb wrote:
> 091011 Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > Paket = packet ; Paket = package
>
> Oh dear ! -- English calls such words 'false friends' !
> My German-English dictionary (Langenscheidt) suggests E 'package' = G
> 'Pack', while E 'packet' = G 'kleines Pack' or 'Päckchen'.
>
> In English, a 'packet' calls to mind something in an envelope, eg a letter;
> 'package' brings a picture of something tied up with string, ie a parcel.
> In computer English, a 'package' is eg Gentoo's 'app-arch/bzip2-1.0.5-r1';
> a 'packet' is a fragment of a file sent through the Internet,
> different packets possibly taking different routes to their destination,
> where they are reassembled into the complete file.

More generally, I think of a packet as a unit of something - soap powder, 
data, correspondence - while a package is a bundle of things - programs, 
Christmas presents, packets of sweets.

No doubt that doesn't accord with any dictionary, but it seems to work.

-- 
Rgds
Peter