Tarpit
Noun · Hacker Culture
Definitions
A system, design, or environment that is easy to enter but difficult to escape because of hidden complexity, lock-in, or endless edge cases. In security, a tarpit can also refer to a defensive mechanism that deliberately slows hostile activity.
In plain English: Something that seems easy at first but traps you in complexity once you are inside it.
Example: "The low-code platform looked simple until we realized it was a tarpit of proprietary workflows and hidden state."