fork bomb

fork bomb n.  [UNIX] A particular species of {wabbit}
   that can be written in one line of C (`main()
   {for(;;)fork();}') or shell (`$0 & $0 &') on any UNIX system,
   or occasionally created by an egregious coding bug.  A fork bomb
   process `explodes' by recursively spawning copies of itself
   (using the UNIX system call `fork(2)').  Eventually it eats
   all the process table entries and effectively wedges the system.
   Fortunately, fork bombs are relatively easy to spot and kill, so
   creating one deliberately seldom accomplishes more than to bring
   the just wrath of the gods down upon the perpetrator.  See also
   {logic bomb}.