cargo cult programming

2 definitions found

cargo cult programming - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  cargo cult programming
  
     <programming, humour> A style of (incompetent) programming
     dominated by ritual inclusion of code or program structures
     that serve no real purpose.  A cargo cult programmer will
     usually explain the extra code as a way of working around some
     bug encountered in the past, but usually neither the bug nor
     the reason the code apparently avoided the bug was ever fully
     understood (compare shotgun debugging, voodoo programming
     ).
  
     The term "cargo cult" is a reference to aboriginal religions
     that grew up in the South Pacific after World War II.  The
     practices of these cults centre on building elaborate mockups
     of aeroplanes and military style landing strips in the hope of
     bringing the return of the god-like aeroplanes that brought
     such marvelous cargo during the war.  Hackish usage probably
     derives from Richard Feynman's characterisation of certain
     practices as "cargo cult science" in his book "Surely You're
     Joking, Mr. Feynman" (W. W. Norton & Co, New York 1985, ISBN
     0-393-01921-7).
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (2002-05-28)
  

cargo cult programming - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  cargo cult programming
   n.
  
     A style of (incompetent) programming dominated by ritual inclusion of
     code or program structures that serve no real purpose. A cargo cult
     programmer will usually explain the extra code as a way of working
     around some bug encountered in the past, but usually neither the bug
     nor the reason the code apparently avoided the bug was ever fully
     understood (compare shotgun debugging, voodoo programming).
  
     The term `cargo cult' is a reference to aboriginal religions that
  grew
     up in the South Pacific after World War II. The practices of these
     cults center on building elaborate mockups of airplanes and military
     style landing strips in the hope of bringing the return of the
     god-like airplanes that brought such marvelous cargo during the war.
     Hackish usage probably derives from Richard Feynman's
  characterization
     of certain practices as "cargo cult science" in his book Surely
  You're
     Joking, Mr. Feynman! (W. W. Norton & Co, New York 1985, ISBN
     0-393-01921-7).