The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

the literature
 n.

    Computer-science journals and other publications, vaguely gestured at to
    answer a question that the speaker believes is trivial. Thus, one might
    answer an annoying question by saying “It's in the literature.” Oppose 
    Knuth, which has no connotation of triviality.