<jargon> Said of a computer system with excessive or annoying
security barriers, usage limits, or access policies. The
implication is that said policies are preventing hackers from
getting interesting work done. The variant "fascistic" seems
to have been preferred at MIT.
In the design of languages and other software tools, "the
fascist alternative" is the most restrictive and structured
way of capturing a particular function; the implication is
that this may be desirable in order to simplify the
implementation or provide tighter error checking. Compare
bondage-and-discipline language, although that term is
global rather than local.
[Jargon File]
(2003-07-29)
Nearby terms:
FARNET « fas « FASBOL « fascist » FASE » FAST » Fast ATA
