banana problem
:banana problem: n. [from the story of the little girl who said "I know
how to spell `banana', but I don't know when to stop"]. Not knowing
where or when to bring a production to a close (compare {fencepost error}
). One may say `there is a banana problem' of an algorithm with
poorly defined or incorrect termination conditions, or in discussing the
evolution of a design that may be succumbing to featuritis (see also
creeping elegance
, creeping featuritis
. See item 176 under
HAKMEM
, which describes a banana problem in a Dissociated Press
implementation. Also, see one-banana problem
for a superficially
similar but unrelated usage.
Jargon File Version 4.3.1, 29 JUN 2001 =
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