A kludge or kluge is a workaround or makeshift solution that is clumsy, inelegant, inefficient, difficult to extend, and hard to maintain. Its only benefit is that it rapidly solves an important problem using available resources.

  • Hellfire103@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 day ago

    Similar to redneck engineering, possibly? Although, despite appearances, redneck engineering is sometimes known to be surprisingly sturdy.

    • Gustephan@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 day ago

      I think they might be contrapositives. To me, redneck engineering roughly means “surprisingly good and durable solution made in spite of limited materials and or knowledge” where kludge roughly means “surprisingly shit solution barely good enough to work 1 or 2 times despite having the money/ability to produce a much better solution.”