bells and whistles

2 definitions found

bells and whistles - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  bells and whistles
  
     <jargon> (By analogy with the "toyboxes" on theatre organs).
     Features added to a program or system to make it more
     flavourful from a hacker's point of view, without
     necessarily adding to its utility for its primary function.
     Distinguished from chrome, which is intended to attract
     users.  "Now that we've got the basic program working, let's
     go back and add some bells and whistles."  No one seems to
     know what distinguishes a bell from a whistle.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (2007-04-03)
  

bells and whistles - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  bells and whistles
   n.
  
     [common] Features added to a program or system to make it more
     flavorful from a hacker's point of view, without necessarily adding
     to its utility for its primary function. Distinguished from chrome,
     which is intended to attract users. "Now that we've got the basic
     program working, let's go back and add some bells and whistles." No
     one seems to know what distinguishes a bell from a whistle. The
     recognized emphatic form is "bells, whistles, and gongs".
  
     It used to be thought that this term derived from the toyboxes on
     theater organs. However, the "and gongs" strongly suggests a
  different
     origin, at sea. Before powered horns, ships routinely used bells,
     whistles, and gongs to signal each other over longer distances than
     voice can carry.