What You See Is What You Get
WYSIWYG
WYSWYG

    (WYSIWYG) /wiz'ee-wig/ Describes a user interface for
   a document preparation system under which changes are
   represented by displaying a more-or-less accurate image of the
   way the document will finally appear, e.g. when printed.  This
   is in contrast to one that uses more-or-less obscure commands
   that do not result in immediate visual feedback.

   True WYSIWYG in environments supporting multiple fonts or
   graphics is rarely-attained; there are variants of this term
   to express real-world manifestations including WYSIAWYG (What
   You See Is *Almost* What You Get) and WYSIMOLWYG (What You See
   Is More or Less What You Get).  All these can be mildly
   derogatory, as they are often used to refer to dumbed-down
   user-friendly interfaces targeted at non-programmers; a
   hacker has no fear of obscure commands (compare WYSIAYG).
   On the other hand, Emacs was one of the very first WYSIWYG
   editors, replacing (actually, at first overlaying) the
   extremely obscure, command-based TECO.

   See also WIMP.

   (1999-03-03)