crash and burn

jargon A spectacular crash, in the mode of the conclusion of

the car-chase scene in the movie "Bullitt" and many subsequent

imitators (compare die horribly). A Sun-3 displayscreen losing the flyback transformer and lightning strikes

on VAX-11/780 backplanes are notable crash and burn

generators.

The construction "crash-and-burn machine" is reported for a

computer used exclusively for alpha or beta testing, or

reproducing bugs (i.e. not for development). The implication

is that it wouldn't be such a disaster if that machine

crashed, since only the testers would be inconvenienced.

[Jargon File]

(1996-02-22)