computer programmers are cute.

, also referred to as pitfalls, are classes of commonly-reinvented bad solutions to problems. They are studied, as a category, in order that they may be avoided in the future, and that instances of them may be recognized when investigating non-working systems.

The term originates in computer science, apparently inspired by the Gang of Four's Design Patterns book, which laid out examples of good programming practice. The authors termed these good methods "design patterns", by analogy with the term as used in architecture. "Anti-patterns", as described in the book by Brown, Malveau, McCormick and Mowbray, are a natural counterpart, though not mentioned in the original Design Patterns book. Part of good programming practice is the avoidance of anti-patterns.

The concept is readily applied to engineering in general, and also applies outside engineering, in any human endeavour. Although the term is not commonly used outside engineering, the concept is quite universal.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-pattern

Example:


Reinventing the square wheel is the practice of unnecessarily engineering artifacts that provide functionality already provided by existing standard artifacts (reinventing the wheel) and ending up with a worse result than the standard (a square wheel). This is an anti-pattern which occurs when the engineer is unaware or contemptuous of the standard solution and also does not understand the problem or the standard solution sufficiently to avoid problems overcome by the standard. It is mostly an affliction of inexperienced engineers.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinventing_the_square_wheel