Computing (FOLDOC) dictionary
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/tan'stah-fl/ (From Robert Heinlein's classic "The
Moon is a Harsh Mistress") "There Ain't No Such Thing As A
Free Lunch".
Often invoked when someone is balking at the prospect of using
"What? Don't tell me I have to implement a
database back end
to get my address book program to work!" "Well, TANSTAAFL you
know." This phrase owes some of its popularity to the high
concentration of science-fiction fans and political
libertarians in hackerdom.
(1995-02-28)