kludge

Inelegant quick solution

A kludge is a clumsy or inelegant solution that nonetheless works—typically in computing or engineering.

It's the software patch held together with the digital equivalent of duct tape, the workaround that solves an immediate problem without addressing underlying issues: The code is a kludge, but it ships tomorrow.

To kludge something is to improvise such a fix.

Also spelled kluge.

makeshift

stopgap

Temporary substitute measure

workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
band-aidAdhesive strip for cuts
temporaryLimited in duration

expedient · ad-hoc · provisional · cobbled-together · thrown-together · rough-and-ready · quick-and-dirty · improvised · slapdash · on-the-fly

programming

workaround

Makeshift bypass of difficulty

patchMaterial covering damage
hotfixEmergency software repair
bugfixRepair to flawed software

hack · shim · wrapper · polyfill · antipattern · cruft · bodge · quick-and-dirty

fix

workaround

Makeshift bypass of difficulty

patchMaterial covering damage
repairRestore to working order
remedyCurative treatment or fix

stopgap · band-aid · debugging · troubleshooting · correction · adjustment · solution · rework · retrofitting · mitigation

shoddy

inelegant

Lacking grace or refinement

clumsyLacking physical coordination
awkwardLacking grace or ease
crudeUnpolished, raw state

sloppy · haphazard · botched · ramshackle · rickety · flimsy · substandard · unprofessional · slipshod · messy

kludge

stopgap

workaround

workaround

inelegant

kludge

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