optimism
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)
- the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out wellOpposite pessimismType of hopeKinds sanguinity, sanguineness
- a general disposition to expect the best in all thingsOpposite pessimismType of disposition, temperament
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. optimus the best; akin to optio choice: cf. F. optimisme. See Option.
1. Metaphysics The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature, being the work of God, is ordered for the best, or that the ordering of things in the universe is such as to produce the highest good.
2. A habitual tendency or a present disposition to take the most hopeful view of future events, and to expect a favorable outcome even when unfavorable outcomes are possible; — opposed to pessimism.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: +PJC
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and just before actually discovering the *next* last bug. Fred Brooks's book "The Mythical Man-Month" contains the following paragraph that describes this extremely well.
All programmers are optimists. Perhaps this modern sorcery especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and fairy god-mothers. Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations drive away all but those who habitually focus on the end goal. Perhaps it is merely that computers are young, programmers are younger, and the young are always optimists. But however the selection process works, the result is indisputable: "This time it will surely run," or "I just found the last bug.".
See also Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology. [Jargon File]
The Jargon File
What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and before discovering the next last bug. Fred Brooks's book The Mythical Man-Month (See Brooks's Law) contains the following paragraph that describes this extremely well:
All programmers are optimists. Perhaps this modern sorcery especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and fairy godmothers. Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations drive away all but those who habitually focus on the end goal. Perhaps it is merely that computers are young, programmers are younger, and the young are always optimists. But however the selection process works, the result is indisputable: “ This time it will surely run,” or “I just found the last bug.”.
See also Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology.