right thing

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

That which is *compellingly* the correct or appropriate thing to use, do, say, etc. Always capitalised, always emphasised in speech as though capitalised. Use of this term often implies that in fact reasonable people may disagree. "What's the Right Thing for Lisp to do when it sees "(mod a 0)"? Should it return "a", or give a divide-by-0 error?"

Opposite: Wrong Thing. [Jargon File]

(1994-10-28)

The Jargon File

That which is compellingly the correct or appropriate thing to use, do, say, etc. Often capitalized, always emphasized in speech as though capitalized. Use of this term often implies that in fact reasonable people may disagree. “What's the right thing for LISP to do when it sees (mod a 0) ? Should it return a, or give a divide-by-0 error?” Oppose Wrong Thing.