Warnings Glossary

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

6 Warnings Terms

Here Be Bugs: A playful warning that a part of the codebase is dangerous, poorly understood, or likely to contain defects, echoing old map phrases like 'here be dragons.'
Poke the Bear: To touch a volatile person, system, or situation in a way that may trigger a disproportionate negative reaction. Engineers say it when they fear waking up...
Red Flag: A warning sign that something is risky, unhealthy, or likely to become a larger problem. In engineering slang, red flags are the clues teams often recognize...
Stay Frosty: A phrase meaning stay alert, calm, and ready, borrowed from military slang and used jokingly in operations and incident contexts. It usually suggests that...
The Floor Is Lava: A joking phrase for a situation where one obvious option, area, or system must be avoided at all costs, as if touching it would be disastrous. Engineers use it...
Yellow Card: A warning that behavior or risk has crossed a line but has not yet reached full stop territory. In engineering slang, yellow cards can be formal process...