Pragmatism Glossary

Browse 7 pragmatism terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

7 Pragmatism Terms

Boring Technology: Technology that is mature, predictable, well-understood, and not especially trendy. In engineering culture 'boring technology' is often praised because it...
Close Enough: A phrase used to signal that a solution is sufficient for the current need even if it is not perfect, elegant, or complete. In engineering culture it can...
Code Mechanic: A developer who excels at diagnosing issues, swapping broken parts, and getting systems running again through practical repair work. In engineering slang, the...
Good Enough: Adequate for the actual need even if not perfect by every possible standard. In engineering culture, recognizing when something is good enough is a mark of...
Patch It: A direct instruction to apply a fix quickly, often without broader redesign, because the immediate problem matters more than elegance. It can be practical...
Stupid Simple: Extremely simple in a way that is intentionally hard to misuse or misunderstand. In engineering slang, stupid simple is praise for designs that remove...
Ugly but Works: A candid admission that a solution is inelegant yet functional enough for the current need. In engineering slang, ugly but works is acceptable only when teams...