Small matter of programming: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:27, 8 April 2018

Revision as of 15:46, 9 April 2018

Line 1:

In [[software development]], '''small matter of programming''' ('''SMOP''') or '''simple matter of programming''' is a phrase used to ironically indicate that a suggested feature or design change would in fact require a great deal of effort; it often implies that the person proposing the feature underestimates its cost. Such underestimated costs are common during [[Cost estimation in software engineering|cost estimation]], particularly near the beginning of a project. The [[Jargon File]] describes an SMOP<ref>[http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/S/SMOP.html Simple Matter of Programming] ([[Jargon File]], version 4.4.7)</ref> as:

:#A piece of code, not yet written, whose anticipated length is significantly greater than its complexity. Used to refer to a program that could obviously be written, but is not worth the trouble. Also used ironically to imply that a difficult problem can be easily solved because a program can be written to do it; the irony is that it is very clear that writing such a program will be a great deal of work. “It"It's easy to enhance a FORTRAN compiler to compile COBOL as well; it's just a SMOP.”"

:#Often used ironically by the intended victim when a suggestion for a program is made which seems easy to the suggester, but is obviously (to the victim) a lot of work. Compare ''[http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/M/minor-detail.html minor detail]''.

The IBM Jargon Dictionary<ref>[https://comlay.net/ibmjarg.pdf SMOP] IBM Jargon Dictionary, Tenth Edition 1990</ref> defines it as:

:<b>'''SMOP</b>''' <i>''(smop) n.</i>'' Something quite possible, but requiring unavailable resources to achieve. “Why"Why isn’tisn't that function available in the program?”" − “It’s"It's just a Simple Matter Of Programming”Programming". (The implication being that, given a few person-centuries, all things are possible.) Also <b>'''SMOUP</b>''' <i>''(smoop)<i>'', a Simple Matter Of Micro-Programming (if handwritten, using a Greek mu). See also <i>''how hard would it be.</i>''

SMOP was among the "games" described in an article as paralleling the ''[[Games People Play (book)|Games People Play]]'' identified by Dr. [[Eric Berne]] in the field of self-help psychology.<ref>{{Citation | last = Shedley | first = Ethan I. | title = [[Big System Games]] | magazine = [[Datamation]] | volume = 17 | issue = 7 | pages = 22–25 | publisher = Technical Publishing Company, 1301 South Grove Ave., Barrington, Illinois 60010 | date = April 1, 1971 }}</ref> The game essentially consists of proposing seemingly simple adjustments to a design, leading to unexpected consequences and delays.