Programming Terminologies

What They Say Versus What They Mean

A number of different approaches are being tried means, "We are still guessing at this point."

Extensive report is being prepared on a fresh approach to the problem means, "We just hired three kids fresh out of college."

Close project coordination means, "We know who to blame," or "We sat down and had coffee together."

Major technological breakthrough means, "It works okay, but looks very hi-tech."

Customer satisfaction is believed assured means, "We are so far behind schedule the customer is happy to get anything at all."

Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive means, "The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch."

Test results were extremely gratifying means, "We are so surprised that the darn thing actually works."

The entire concept will have to be abandoned means, "The only person who understood the thing quit."

It is in the process means, "It is so wrapped up in red tape that the situation is completely hopeless."

We will look into it means, "Forget it! We have enough problems alreadt."

Please note and initial means, "Let's spread the responsibility for this."

Give us the benefit of your thinking means, "We'll listen to what you have to say as long as it doesn't interfere with what we've already done or with what we are already planning to do."

Give us your interpretation means, "We can't wait to hear your bull!"

See me/Let's discuss means, "Come into my office, I'm lonely."

All new means, "Code not interchangeable with the previous design."

Years of development means, "It finally worked!"

Low Maintenance means, "Nearly impossible to fix."

No Maintenance means, "Impossible to fix."

Rugged means, "Don't plan to lift it without major equipment."

Robust means, "Rugged, but more so!"
Light weight means, "Slightly lighter than rugged."

Energy saving means, "Achieved when the power switch is off."

Fax me the data means, "I'm too lazy to write it down."

We are following the standard means, "That's the way we have always done it!"

I didn't get your e-mail means, "I haven't checked my e-mail for days."