Troubleshooting Glossary

Browse 6 troubleshooting terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

6 Troubleshooting Terms

Debugging
The process of identifying, isolating, and fixing defects in software. Techniques range from print statements and log analysis to step-through debuggers and...
Nuke the Cache
To completely clear cached data because it has become stale, corrupted, or otherwise harmful. It is both a real troubleshooting step and a running joke about...
Percussive Maintenance
The joking idea of fixing a device by physically hitting, tapping, or shaking it. It comes from old unreliable hardware and survives as a cultural reference...
Quit and Restart
To stop a program or process and start it again as a basic troubleshooting step. In engineering slang, it can be wise first aid or lazy ritual depending on...
Scratch Build
A build performed from a clean state without relying on previous artifacts, caches, or incremental leftovers. It is often used to confirm whether a problem...
Turn It Off and On Again
The classic first troubleshooting move of restarting a thing to clear transient bad state. In engineering slang, the phrase is half joke and half...

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