Hardcoded

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  hardcoded adj. 1. [common] Said of data inserted directly into a
     program, where it cannot be easily modified, as opposed to data in some
     {profile}, resource (see {de-rezz} sense 2), or environment variable
     that a {user} or hacker can easily modify. 2. In C, this is esp. applied
     to use of a literal instead of a `#define' macro (see {magic number}).
  


  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  hard-coded
       
           (By analogy with "{hard-wired}") Said of a data value
          or behaviour written directly into a program, possibly in
          multiple places, where it cannot be easily modified.  There
          are several alternatives, depending on how often the value is
          likely to change.  It may be replaced with a {compile-time}
          constant, such as a {C} "#define" {macro}, in which case a
          change will still require recompilation; or it may be read at
          {run time} from a {profile}, resource (see {de-rezz}), or
          {environment variable} that a {user} can easily modify; or it
          may be read as part of the program's input data.
       
          To change something hard-coded requires recompilation (if
          using a compiled language of course) but, more seriously, it
          requires sufficient understanding of the implementation to be
          sure that the change will not introduce inconsistency and
          cause the program to fail.
       
          For example, "The line terminator is hard-coded as newline;
          who in their right mind would use anything else?"
       
          See {magic number}.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1999-10-18)