Hack (technology)
A hack is an inelegant but effective solution to a problem.
Contents
Description
Similar terms include kludge and workaround. All of these terms are common in computer programming and other sorts of technology.
A kludge (or kluge) (/klʌdʒ/, /kluːʒ/, /kluːdʒ/) is a workaround or quick-and-dirty solution that is clumsy, inelegant, difficult to extend and hard to maintain, yet an effective and quick solution to a problem.
It is a rough synonym to the term "jury rig."
The term is used in diverse fields such as computer science, aerospace engineering, Internet slang, and evolutionary neuroscience.
Problem solving
Typically the hack is inelegant because the problem cannot be solved in the usual or expected manner, within a reasonable amount of time.
Breaking rules
Hacks may explicitly breaks rules, doing things the system was not meant to do.
Software bugs, undocumented features
Hacks may exploit software bugs or undocumented features.
See also
External links
- Kludge @ Wikipedia
