<jargon> Said of software that is functional but easily
broken by changes in operating environment or configuration,
or by any minor tweak to the software itself. Also, any
system that responds inappropriately and disastrously to
abnormal but expected external stimuli; e.g. a file system
that is usually totally scrambled by a power failure is said
to be brittle. This term is often used to describe the
results of a research effort that were never intended to be
robust, but it can be applied to commercially developed
software, which displays the quality far more often than it
ought to.
Opposite of robust.
[Jargon File]
(1995-05-09)
Nearby terms:
British Standards Institute « British Telecom « British Telecom Research Laboratories « brittle » broadband » broadcast » broadcast quality video
