banana problem

(From the story of the little girl who said "I know how to

spell "banana", but I don't know when to stop"). Not knowing

where or when to bring a production to a close (compare

fencepost error). One may say "there is a banana problem"

of an algorithm with poorly defined or incorrect termination

conditions, or in discussing the evolution of a design that

may be succumbing to featuritis (see also creeping elegance,

creeping featuritis). See item 176 under HAKMEM, which

describes a banana problem in a Dissociated Press

implementation. Also, see one-banana problem for a

superficially similar but unrelated usage.

(1995-01-31)