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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><title>elephantine</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="../../jargon.css" type="text/css"/><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.61.0"/><link rel="home" href="../index.html" title="The Jargon File"/><link rel="up" href="../E.html" title="E"/><link rel="previous" href="elegant.html" title="elegant"/><link rel="next" href="elevator-controller.html" title="elevator controller"/></head><body><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">elephantine</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="elegant.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">E</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="elevator-controller.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr/></div><dt><a id="elephantine"/><dt xmlns="" id="elephantine"><b>elephantine</b>: <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="grammar">adj.</span></dt></dt><dd><p> Used of programs or systems that are both conspicuous
<a href="../H/hog.html"><i class="glossterm">hog</i></a>s (owing perhaps to poor design founded on
<a href="../B/brute-force-and-ignorance.html"><i class="glossterm">brute force and ignorance</i></a>) and exceedingly
<a href="../H/hairy.html"><i class="glossterm">hairy</i></a> in source form. An elephantine program may be
functional and even friendly, but (as in the old joke about being in bed
with an elephant) it's tough to have around all the same (and, like a
pachyderm, difficult to maintain). In extreme cases, hackers have been
known to make trumpeting sounds or perform expressive proboscatory mime at
the mention of the offending program. Usage: semi-humorous. Compare
&#8216;has the elephant nature&#8217; and the somewhat more pejorative
<a href="../M/monstrosity.html"><i class="glossterm">monstrosity</i></a>. See also
<a href="../S/second-system-effect.html"><i class="glossterm">second-system effect</i></a> and <a href="../B/baroque.html"><i class="glossterm">baroque</i></a>.</p></dd><div class="navfooter"><hr/><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="elegant.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="../E.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="elevator-controller.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">elegant </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="../index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> elevator controller</td></tr></table></div></body></html>