Code Cowboy
Noun · Hacker Culture
Definitions
A programmer who moves fast, ignores process, and makes unilateral changes with little review, testing, or coordination. The term can sound admiring in small doses, but it usually implies preventable operational risk and team friction.
In plain English: A programmer who makes risky changes without enough checks or teamwork.
Example: "He can ship quickly, but the code cowboy routine keeps blowing up on-call."