thumb|Lights on the front panel of a DEC [[PDP-8 (1965)]]

thumb|The [[Harwell Dekatron Computer does arithmetic at approximately human speed. Watching the lights allows one to follow the instructions and the changing data as it runs the Squares program displayed on the panels]]

In computer jargon, blinkenlights are diagnostic lights on front panels of old mainframe computers. More recently the term applies to status lights of modern network hardware (modems, network hubs, etc.).

This word gave its name to several projects, including the German Chaos Computer Club's Project Blinkenlights and the Blinkenlights Archaeological Institute.

See also

  • Faxlore
  • Macaronic language
  • Turbo encabulator

References

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Further reading

  • DEC indicator panels