banana phenomenon ⇝

banana problem

<programming, humour>

From the story of the little girl who said "I know how to spell "banana", but I don't know when to stop". Not knowing where or when to bring a production to a close (compare fencepost error). One may say "there is a banana problem" of an algorithm with poorly defined or incorrect termination conditions, or in discussing the evolution of a design that may be succumbing to featuritis (see also creeping elegance, creeping featuritis).

HAKMEM item 176 describes a banana problem in a Dissociated Press implementation. Also, see one-banana problem for a superficially similar but unrelated usage.

Last updated: 2010-03-20

Nearby terms:

banana label ♦ banana phenomenon ♦ banana problem ♦ bandwidth ♦ bang

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