antipatterns
Common bad solutions
Antipatterns are approaches to recurring problems that appear to be solutions but actually make things worse.
The term originated in software engineering as the counterpart to design patterns—proven solutions to common problems.
Where patterns document what works, antipatterns document what fails: Premature optimization is a classic antipattern.
The concept has spread beyond programming to management, organizations, and any field where bad practices get repeated despite poor results.
Poorly structured program
- golden hammerPreferred fix applied everywhere
- technical debtAccumulated coding shortcuts
- overengineeringExcessive unnecessary complexity
- feature creepGradual unnecessary expansion
lava flow · hardcoding · reinventing the wheel · bikeshedding · dead code · code smell
Farm storage towers
- micromanagementExcessive supervisory control
- analysis paralysisInaction from excessive deliberation
- design by committeeFlawed collaborative creation process
- scope creepUncontrolled project growth
ivory tower · death march · golden child · not invented here · Peter principle
Systematic deviation from rationality
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- groupthinkConformity-driven poor decisions
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- learned helplessnessTrauma-induced belief in powerlessness
sunk cost fallacy · anchoring · hindsight bias · stereotype · prejudice · mental block · overthinking · rumination
Indicator of danger
- code smellIndicator of flawed design
- warning signIndicator of potential danger
- symptomIndicator of disease
- indicatorSign revealing status
signal · telltale · canary · omen · portent · harbinger · precursor · alarm bell
Undermining your own goals
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- workaholismAddiction to one's job
enabling · codependency · overcommitment · busywork · firefighting · corner cutting · quick fix
spaghetti code
Poorly structured program
- golden hammerPreferred fix applied everywhere
- technical debtAccumulated coding shortcuts
- overengineeringExcessive unnecessary complexity
feature creep · lava flow · hardcoding · reinventing the wheel · bikeshedding · dead code · code smell
silos
Farm storage towers
- micromanagementExcessive supervisory control
- analysis paralysisInaction from excessive deliberation
- design by committeeFlawed collaborative creation process
scope creep · ivory tower · death march · golden child · not invented here · Peter principle
cognitive bias
Systematic deviation from rationality
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
- groupthinkConformity-driven poor decisions
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
learned helplessness · sunk cost fallacy · anchoring · hindsight bias · stereotype · prejudice · mental block · overthinking · rumination · denial
red flag
Indicator of danger
- code smellIndicator of flawed design
- warning signIndicator of potential danger
- symptomIndicator of disease
indicator · signal · telltale · canary · omen · portent · harbinger · precursor · alarm bell
self-sabotage
Undermining your own goals
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
workaholism · enabling · codependency · overcommitment · busywork · firefighting · corner cutting · quick fix
antipatternsbest practices
Proven effective methods
patterns · clean code · idioms · conventions · standard practices
antipatternsbest practices
Proven effective methods
exemplars · gold standards · model solutions · benchmarks · paradigms