2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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hidden flag
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2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
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n. [scientific computation] An extra option added to a routine without
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changing the calling sequence. For example, instead of adding an explicit
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input variable to instruct a routine to give extra diagnostic output, the
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programmer might just add a test for some otherwise meaningless feature of
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the existing inputs, such as a negative mass. The use of hidden flags can
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make a program very hard to debug and understand, but is all too common
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wherever programs are hacked on in a hurry.
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