what is heil spez

"Heil Spez" is a term that has gained popularity on the internet, especially in online communities and forums. It is a neologism composed of the English verb "praise," the nickname "Spez" (from Steve "spez" Huffman), and the German word "heil" meaning "hail" or "salute". When used together, "heil spez" can be understood as a sarcastic or satirical way of addressing or praising someone who possesses a very particular or niche area of expertise. It is often used in online discourse to ironically acknowledge someones extensive knowledge on a narrow subject matter. The term gained prominence as titles for posts and comments on Reddit during the 2023 API pricing blackout.