case and paste

2 definitions found

case and paste - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  case and paste
  clone-and-hack coding
  
     <programming> (From "cut and paste") The addition of a new
     feature to an existing system by selecting the code from an
     existing feature and pasting it in with minor changes.  This
     usually results in gross violation of the fundamental
     programming tenet, Don't Repeat Yourself.
  
     Common in telephony circles because most operations in a
     telephone switch are selected using "case" statements.  Leads
     to software bloat.
  
     In some circles of Emacs users this is called "programming
     by Meta-W", because Meta-W is the Emacs command for copying a
     block of text to a kill buffer in preparation to pasting it
     in elsewhere.  The term is condescending, implying that the
     programmer is acting mindlessly rather than thinking carefully
     about what is required to integrate the code for two similar
     cases.
  
     At DEC, this is sometimes called "clone-and-hack" coding.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1996-03-01)
  

case and paste - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  case and paste
   n.
  
     [from `cut and paste']
  
     The addition of a new feature to an existing system by selecting
  the
     code from an existing feature and pasting it in with minor changes.
     Common in telephony circles because most operations in a telephone
     switch are selected using case statements. Leads to software bloat.
  
     In some circles of EMACS users this is called `programming by
  Meta-W',
     because Meta-W is the EMACS command for copying a block of text to a
     kill buffer in preparation to pasting it in elsewhere. The term is
     condescending, implying that the programmer is acting mindlessly
     rather than thinking carefully about what is required to integrate
  the
     code for two similar cases.
  
     At DEC (now HP), this is sometimes called clone-and-hack coding.