Kludge
A kludge (or kluge) is a workaround or makeshift solution that is clumsy, inelegant, inefficient, difficult to extend, and hard to maintain. Its only benefit is that it rapidly solves an important problem using available resources.
Famous Example
A famous example is the improvised CO2 scrubber that kept the astronauts alive on Apollo 13.
Usage
This term is used in diverse fields such as:
- Computer science
- Aerospace engineering
- Internet slang
- Evolutionary neuroscience
- Animation
- Government
It is similar in meaning to the naval term jury rig.
Etymology
The word has alternate spellings (kludge and kluge) and pronunciations. The Oxford English Dictionary cites Jackson W. Granholm’s 1962 “How to Design a Kludge” article in Datamation as the source, though there are examples of its use before the 1960s.
The Jargon File (a.k.a. The New Hacker’s Dictionary) differentiates kludge from kluge: Kluge seems to have the sense of ‘overcomplicated’, while kludge has only the sense of ‘poorly done’.
Related Concepts
- [[Jerry Rigging]] - Makeshift repair or construction using available materials
- [[Jugaad]] - Hindi term for innovative, resourceful problem-solving with limited resources
- [[Broken Windows Theory]] - Temporary solutions that are hard to maintain can become tech debt
Sources
Linked References
- [[Jerry Rigging]]
A blend of ‘jury-rigged’ and ‘jerry-built’ meaning to make a makeshift …
- [[Jugaad]]
A Hindi term for a flexible, innovative, and resourceful approach to problem-solving that emphasizes …
- [[Broken Windows Theory]]
Theory that visible signs of disorder encourage further disorder. In software, tech debt compounds …