Steve Sloan

Steve Sloan

Hacker, drummer, primate

Bug vs. Feature

A common topic of argument debate amongst coders has always been whether a particular set of behavior constitutes a bug or a feature (or even a misfeature). After many years of contemplation (and argument), I have come up with a test which I believe can make a definitive classification:

A set of behaviors is a feature if and only if it can be ignored, disabled, circumvented, disregarded, removed, deactivated or otherwise configured to be completely unnoticeable by the user. Otherwise, it’s a bug (or, at best, a misfeature).

As an example I offer autombile air-bags, a fantastic life-saving device, except when it’s child-killing monstrosity. The solution? Add a switch to selectively disable them. Bug + Switch = Feature.

QED

Updated:

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