fudge factor n.
[common] A value or parameter that is
varied in an ad hoc way to produce the desired result. The terms
`tolerance' and slop are also used, though these usually
indicate a one-sided leeway, such as a buffer that is made larger
than necessary because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to
be, and it is better to waste a little space than to lose
completely for not having enough. A fudge factor, on the other
hand, can often be tweaked in more than one direction. A good
example is the `fuzz' typically allowed in floating-point
calculations: two numbers being compared for equality must be
allowed to differ by a small amount; if that amount is too small, a
computation may never terminate, while if it is too large, results
will be needlessly inaccurate. Fudge factors are frequently
adjusted incorrectly by programmers who don't fully understand
their import. See also coefficient of X.
[common] A value or parameter that is
varied in an ad hoc way to produce the desired result. The terms
`tolerance' and slop are also used, though these usually
indicate a one-sided leeway, such as a buffer that is made larger
than necessary because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to
be, and it is better to waste a little space than to lose
completely for not having enough. A fudge factor, on the other
hand, can often be tweaked in more than one direction. A good
example is the `fuzz' typically allowed in floating-point
calculations: two numbers being compared for equality must be
allowed to differ by a small amount; if that amount is too small, a
computation may never terminate, while if it is too large, results
will be needlessly inaccurate. Fudge factors are frequently
adjusted incorrectly by programmers who don't fully understand
their import. See also coefficient of X.
Related:
- fudge factor: n. A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way
to produce the desired result
The terms `tolerance' and {slop} are also used,... - slop n.
1. A one-sided fudge factor, that is, an
allowance for error but in only one of two directions
For example, if you need a piece of wire 10 feet... - slop: n. 1. A one-sided {fudge factor}, that is, an allowance for
error but in only one of two directions
For example, if you need a piece of wire 10 feet... - coefficient of X n.
Hackish speech makes heavy use of
pseudo-mathematical metaphors
Four particularly important ones involve the terms... - creeping featurism /kree'ping fee'chr-izm/ n.
[common] 1
Describes a systematic tendency to load more chrome... - buffer overflow: n. What happens when you try to stuff more data
into a buffer (holding area) than it can handle
This may be due to a mismatch in the processing... - creeping featurism: /kree'ping fee'chr-izm/ n. 1. Describes a
systematic tendency to load more {chrome} and {feature}s onto
systems at the expense of whatever elegance they may have possessed
when originally designed
See also {feeping creaturism}. "You know, the main... - brute force adj.
Describes a primitive programming style
one in which the programmer relies on the computer's... - talk mode n.
A feature supported by Unix, ITS, and some
other OSes that allows two or more logged-in users to set up a
real-time on-line conversation
It combines the immediacy of talking with all the...
