Cascade N. 1. A Huge Volume Of Spurious Error-message Output Produced By A Compiler With Poor Error Recovery.

HomeFortune CookiesJargon File

cascade n.

1. A huge volume of spurious error-message
output produced by a compiler with poor error recovery. Too
frequently, one trivial syntax error (such as a missing `)' or
`}') throws the parser out of synch so that much of the remaining
program text is interpreted as garbaged or ill-formed. 2. A chain
of Usenet followups, each adding some trivial variation or riposte
to the text of the previous one, all of which is reproduced in the
new message; an include war in which the object is to create a
sort of communal graffito.

Related: