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Lexikon

feature

1. A good property or behaviour (as of a program). Whether it was intended or not is immaterial. 2. An intended property or behaviour (as of a program). Whether it is good or not is immaterial (but if bad, it is also a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=misfeature">misfeature). 3. A surprising property or behaviour in particular, one that is purposely inconsistent because it works better that way - such an inconsistency is therefore a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=feature">feature and not a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=bug">bug. This kind of feature is sometimes called a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=miswart">miswart. 4. A property or behaviour that is gratuitous or unnecessary, though perhaps also impressive or cute. For example, one feature of ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=Common LISP">Common LISP' s "format" function is the ability to print numbers in two different Roman-numeral formats (see ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=bells, whistles, and gongs">bells, whistles, and gongs). 5. A property or behaviour that was put in to help someone else but that happens to be in your way. 6. 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 ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=feature">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 catch-phrase. Apparently there is a Volkswagen Beetle in San Francisco whose license plate reads "FeATURe". See also ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=feetch feetch">feetch feetch, ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=creeping featurism">creeping featurism, ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=wart">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 euphemism for a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=bug">bug. 7. An attribute or function of a ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=class">class in ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=eiffel">eiffel. [ef="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=Jargon File">Jargon File] (1995-10-22)

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