May 15, 2003

working as designed

adj.

[IBM]

1. In conformance to a wrong or inappropriate specification; useful, but misdesigned.

2. Frequently used as a sardonic comment on a program's utility.

3. Unfortunately also used as a bogus reason for not accepting a criticism or suggestion. At IBM, this sense is used in official documents! See BAD.

Posted by Jargon File at May 15, 2003 10:22 AM

Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?