smop

2 definitions found

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

  SMOP
  
     /S-M-O-P/ [Simple (or Small) Matter of Programming] 1. A piece
     of code, not yet written, whose anticipated length is
     significantly greater than its complexity.  Used to refer to a
     program that could obviously be written, but is not worth the
     trouble.  Also used ironically to imply that a difficult
     problem can be easily solved because a program can be written
     to do it; the irony is that it is very clear that writing such
     a program will be a great deal of work.  "It's easy to enhance
     a Fortran compiler to compile COBOL as well; it's just an
     SMOP."  2. Often used ironically by the intended victim when a
     suggestion for a program is made which seems easy to the
     suggester, but is obviously (to the victim) a lot of work.
  
     [Jargon File]
  

smop - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  SMOP
   /S.M.O.P/, n.
  
     [Simple (or Small) Matter of Programming]
  
     1. A piece of code, not yet written, whose anticipated length is
     significantly greater than its complexity. Used to refer to a program
     that could obviously be written, but is not worth the trouble. Also
     used ironically to imply that a difficult problem can be easily
  solved
     because a program can be written to do it; the irony is that it is
     very clear that writing such a program will be a great deal of work.
     "It's easy to enhance a FORTRAN compiler to compile COBOL as well;
     it's just a SMOP."
  
     2. Often used ironically by the intended victim when a suggestion for
     a program is made which seems easy to the suggester, but is obviously
     (to the victim) a lot of work. Compare minor detail.