feature
:feature: n. 1. [common] A good property or behavior (as of a program).
Whether it was intended or not is immaterial. 2. [common] An intended
property or behavior (as of a program). Whether it is good or not is
immaterial (but if bad, it is also a misfeature
. 3. A surprising
property or behavior; in particular, one that is purposely inconsistent
because it works better that way -- such an inconsistency is therefore a
feature
and not a bug
This kind of feature is sometimes called a
miswart
see that entry for a classic example. 4. A property or
behavior that is gratuitous or unnecessary, though perhaps also
impressive or cute. For example, one feature of Common LISP's `format'
function is the ability to print numbers in two different Roman-numeral
formats (see bells whistles and gongs
. 5. A property or behavior that
was put in to help someone else but that happens to be in your way. 6.
[common] A bug that has been documented. To call something a feature
sometimes means the author of the program did not consider the
particular case, and that the program responded in a way that was
unexpected but not strictly incorrect. A standard joke is that a bug can
be turned into a feature
simply by documenting it (then theoretically
no one can complain about it because it's in the manual), or even by
simply declaring it to be good. "That's not a bug, that's a feature!" is
a common catchphrase. See also feetch feetch
, creeping featurism
wart
, green lightning
The relationship among bugs, features, misfeatures, warts, and
miswarts might be clarified by the following hypothetical exchange
between two hackers on an airliner:
A: "This seat doesn't recline."
B: "That's not a bug, that's a feature. There is an emergency exit
door built around the window behind you, and the route has to be kept
clear."
A: "Oh. Then it's a misfeature; they should have increased the spacing
between rows here."
B: "Yes. But if they'd increased spacing in only one section it would
have been a wart -- they would've had to make nonstandard-length ceiling
panels to fit over the displaced seats."
A: "A miswart, actually. If they increased spacing throughout they'd
lose several rows and a chunk out of the profit margin. So unequal
spacing would actually be the Right Thing."
B: "Indeed."
`Undocumented feature' is a common, allegedly humorous euphemism for a
bug
There's a related joke that is sometimes referred to as the
"one-question geek test". You say to someone "I saw a Volkswagen Beetle
today with a vanity license plate that read FEATURE". If he/she laughs,
he/she is a geek
Jargon File Version 4.3.1, 29 JUN 2001 =
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