List of software anti-patterns

Anti-patterns are commonly used ways of doing software engineering that are not useful or cause more issues than they solve. See design patterns for the opposite. There are many diverse types of software anti-patterns. Some relate to software design, object-oriented programming, computer programming, methodological, configuration management, DevOps, and other aspects of software engineering. Several books have popularized the idea and teaching of anti-patterns.^[1]^[2]

Anti-patterns can be found in anything that has organization, from project management to cultures,^[3] but this list focuses solely on software and computer science anti-patterns.

Generic software design anti-patterns

Abstraction inversion – Computer programming anti-pattern
Ambiguous viewpoint – Lack of clarity during software design
Big ball of mud – Software source code with poor structure
Database-as-IPC – Misusing databases for temporary messages
Inner-platform effect – Tendency of software architects to replicate their development platform
Input kludge – Type of failure in software
Interface bloat – Overload of elements on an interface
Magic pushbutton – Common anti-pattern in graphical user interfaces
Race hazard – When a system's behavior depends on timing of uncontrollable events
Stovepipe system – Isolated IT system

Object-oriented anti-patterns

Anemic domain model – Programming anti-pattern
Call super – Anti-pattern in object-oriented programming
Circle–ellipse problem – Problem in object-oriented programming
Circular dependency – Problematic interdependence of software modules
Constant interface
God object – Large or very powerful object in programming
Object cesspool – Software creational design pattern
Object orgy – Allowing excessive access to object data
Poltergeist
Sequential coupling – Design issue in object-oriented programming
Yo-yo problem – Symptom of over-complex software design

Programming anti-patterns

Accidental complexity – 1986 paper on software project management
Action at a distance
Boat anchor
Busy waiting – Continuously checking a condition in computing
Caching failure – Cache used to remember failed or missing responses
Cargo cult programming – Ritual inclusion of computer code that serves no purpose
Coding by exception – Accidental complexity in a software system
Error hiding – Failing to report details of an error
Hard code – Putting data in the source code of a program
Lasagna code
Lava flow
Loop-switch sequence
Magic numbers
Magic strings
Repeating yourself
Shooting the messenger – Metaphoric phrase
Shotgun surgery – Anti-pattern in software development
Soft code
Spaghetti code – Software source code with poor structure

Methodological anti-patterns

Copy and paste programming
Golden hammer
Invented here – Management attitude for innovation or development
Not invented here or (NIH) syndrome
Premature optimization
Programming by permutation (or "programming by accident", or "programming by coincidence")
Reinventing the square wheel – Idiomatic expression, meaning to waste effort on something that has already been achieved
Silver bullet
Tester-driven development – Software development process

Configuration management anti-patterns

Dependency hell – Colloquial term for software requiring many conflicting dependencies
DLL hell – Computing slang
Extension conflict
JAR hell

References

^ Jimenez, Edward (2006-04-24). Anti-Patterns.
^ Neill, Colin J.; Laplante, Philip A. (2005-12-15). Antipatterns: Identification, Refactoring, and Management. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-8493-2994-4.
^ Neill, Colin J.; Laplante, Philip A.; DeFranco, Joanna F. (2011). Antipatterns: Managing Software Organizations and People. Applied Software Engineering Series (2nd ed.). CRC Press. ISBN 9781439862162.