Flake

Noun · Open Source

Definitions

  1. A test, build, or job that passes and fails intermittently without a meaningful code change, usually because of timing, environment variance, hidden dependencies, or brittle assumptions. Flakes are especially damaging because they erode trust in automation.

    In plain English: A test or build that fails unpredictably even when nothing important changed.

    Example: "We ignored the flake for months, and now nobody trusts the CI red build signal anymore."

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