ad-hocprogramming

noun
UK /ˌæd hɒk ˈprəʊɡræmɪŋ/
US /ˌæd hɑːk ˈproʊɡræmɪŋ/

Ad-hoc programming is when you write computer code quickly to fix one problem right now, without planning it out first.

The teacher used ad-hoc programming to make a quick quiz app for her class the night before the test.

SYNONYMS

improvised codingon-the-fly programmingspur-of-the-moment scriptingunplanned development

RELATED WORDS

scriptingprototypinghackingquick fixcoding

OTHER MEANINGS

2. Writing small programs for a single, specific task rather than building a general system.

He did some ad-hoc programming to sort the messy spreadsheet of names.

3. Solving a problem with code in the moment instead of following a formal software process.

Instead of waiting for the official tool, the team relied on ad-hoc programming to get the report out.

4. Informal, temporary code that is not meant to be reused or maintained long-term.

That ad-hoc programming worked for the demo, but they rewrote it properly later.