Yak Shave

Verb · Slang & Abbreviations

Definitions

  1. The seemingly endless series of small tasks you have to complete before you can do the actual task you set out to do. Each task reveals another prerequisite. Named from a Ren & Stimpy bit. 'I needed to fix the test, but first I had to update the dependency, but first I had to upgrade Node, but first I had to update the Dockerfile...'

    In plain English: Getting stuck in an ever-growing chain of prerequisite tasks when you just wanted to do one simple thing.

    Example: "Three hours into fixing a one-line CSS bug, I'm rebuilding the Docker image because the font package requires a newer libc. Peak yak shaving."

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