Voodoo programming
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Voodoo programming (a term derived from 'voodoo economics') is a tongue-in-cheek term for using a programming device, system or language which one does not fully understand. The implication is that the end result should not actually work, or even if it does work one does not understand why it works properly. The term can also apply to doing something which you know should not work, but actually does work, such as recompiling some code which refuses to compile the first time.
It is similar to black magic, except that black magic typically isn't documented and nobody understands it.
A person with experience of voodoo programming is sometimes called medicine man or witch doctor, such as "Java medicine man" or "C++ witch doctor" as equivalent for guru or wizard; the traditional terms imply high sophistication, study and knowledge over the matters and discipline, while voodoo programming implies getting things working with not fully understanding why.
See also
- This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL.