Lasherism

2 definitions found

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

  lasherism n. [Harvard] A program that solves a standard problem (such
     as the Eight Queens puzzle or implementing the {life} algorithm) in a
     deliberately nonstandard way. Distinguished from a {crock} or {kluge} by
     the fact that the programmer did it on purpose as a mental exercise.
     Such constructions are quite popular in exercises such as the
     {Obfuscated C Contest}, and occasionally in {retrocomputing}. Lew Lasher


     was a student at Harvard around 1980 who became notorious for such
     behavior.
  
  

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

  Lasherism
       
           (Harvard) A program that solves a standard
          problem (such as the {Eight Queens Puzzle} or implementing the
          {life} {algorithm}) in a deliberately nonstandard way.
          Distinguished from a {crock} or {kluge} by the fact that the
          programmer did it on purpose as a mental exercise.  Such
          constructions are quite popular in exercises such as the
          {Obfuscated C contest}, and occasionally in {retrocomputing}.
          Lew Lasher was a student at Harvard around 1980 who became
          notorious for such behaviour.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1994-12-07)