Hard-coded
jargon
(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)
Read Also:
- Hard coin
noun phrase Large amounts of money; megabucks: There’s some hard coin being made by the music magnates (1970s+)
- Hardcopy
noun 1. copy, as computer output printed on paper, that can be read without using a special device (opposed to ). 2. copy that is finished and ready for the printer. noun 1. computer output printed on paper, as contrasted with machine-readable output such as magnetic tape noun See soft copy noun phrase A printed […]
- Hard-copy
noun 1. copy, as computer output printed on paper, that can be read without using a special device (opposed to ). 2. copy that is finished and ready for the printer. noun 1. computer output printed on paper, as contrasted with machine-readable output such as magnetic tape noun See soft copy noun phrase A printed […]
- Hardcore
[hahrd-kawr, -kohr] /ˈhɑrdˈkɔr, -ˈkoʊr/ adjective 1. unswervingly committed; uncompromising; dedicated: a hard-core segregationist. 2. relating to or containing sexually arousing depictions that are very graphic or explicit: hard-core pornography. Compare . 3. being so without apparent change or remedy; chronic: hard-core inflation; hard-core unemployment. 4. very intense or extreme: hard-core workouts at the gym. 5. […]
- Hard-core
[hahrd-kawr, -kohr] /ˈhɑrdˈkɔr, -ˈkoʊr/ adjective 1. unswervingly committed; uncompromising; dedicated: a hard-core segregationist. 2. relating to or containing sexually arousing depictions that are very graphic or explicit: hard-core pornography. Compare . 3. being so without apparent change or remedy; chronic: hard-core inflation; hard-core unemployment. 4. very intense or extreme: hard-core workouts at the gym. 5. […]