brute force and ignorance

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

<jargon> (BFI) A popular design technique at many software houses - brute force coding unrelieved by any knowledge of how problems have been previously solved in elegant ways. Dogmatic adherence to design methods tends to encourage this sort of thing. Characteristic of early larval stage programming; unfortunately, many never outgrow it.

Also encountered in the variants BFMI - brute force and massive ignorance, and BFBI - brute force and bloody ignorance.

"Gak, they used a bubble sort! That's strictly BFI."

Compare bogosity. [Jargon File]

(1996-06-12)

The Jargon File

A popular design technique at many software houses — brute force coding unrelieved by any knowledge of how problems have been previously solved in elegant ways. Dogmatic adherence to design methodologies tends to encourage this sort of thing. Characteristic of early larval stage programming; unfortunately, many never outgrow it. Often abbreviated BFI: “Gak, they used a bubble sort! That's strictly from BFI.” Compare bogosity. A very similar usage is said to be mainstream in Great Britain.