hidden flag

2 definitions found

hidden flag - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  hidden flag
  
     (scientific computation) An extra option added to a routine
     without changing the calling sequence.  For example, instead
     of adding an explicit input variable to instruct a routine to
     give extra diagnostic output, the programmer might just add a
     test for some otherwise meaningless feature of the existing
     inputs, such as a negative mass.  The use of hidden flags can
     make a program very hard to debug and understand, but is all
     too common wherever programs are hacked in a hurry.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1994-11-24)
  

hidden flag - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  hidden flag
   n.
  
     [scientific computation] An extra option added to a routine without
     changing the calling sequence. For example, instead of adding an
     explicit input variable to instruct a routine to give extra
  diagnostic
     output, the programmer might just add a test for some otherwise
     meaningless feature of the existing inputs, such as a negative mass.
     The use of hidden flags can make a program very hard to debug and
     understand, but is all too common wherever programs are hacked on in
  a
     hurry.