[1] : Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

backward combatability /bak'wrd km-bat'-bil'-tee/ n. cmu,
   tektronix: from `backward compatibility' a property of hardware or
   software revisions in which previous protocols, formats, layouts, etc.
   are irrevocably discarded in favor of `new and improved' protocols,
   formats, and layouts, leaving the previous ones not merely deprecated
   but actively defeated. too often, the old and new versions cannot
   definitively be distinguished, such that lingering instances of the
   previous ones yield crashes or other infelicitous effects, as opposed to
   a simple "version mismatch" message. a backwards compatible change, on
   the other hand, allows old versions to coexist without crashes or error
   messages, but too many major changes incorporating elaborate backwards
   compatibility processing can lead to extreme software bloat. see also
   flag day.


see also:
software bloat flag day 

[2] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

backward combatability
     
         /bak'wd km-bat'-bil'-tee/ play on "backward
        compatibility" a property of hardware or software revisions
        in which previous protocols, formats, layouts, etc. are
        irrevocably discarded in favour of "new and improved"
        protocols, formats and layouts, leaving the previous ones not
        merely deprecated but actively defeated.  too often, the old
        and new versions cannot definitively be distinguished, such
        that lingering instances of the previous ones yield crashes or
        other infelicitous effects, as opposed to a simple "version
        mismatch" message.  a backward compatible change, on the
        other hand, allows old versions to coexist without crashes or
        error messages, but too many major changes incorporating
        elaborate backward compatibility processing can lead to
        extreme software bloat.
     
        see also flag day.
     
        jargon file
     
        2003-06-23
     
     
see also:
backward compatibility protocols software bloat flag day jargon file 

Backward >> B Words
Backward, definition of term: Backward
backward_pag1.html

Backward Chaini >> B Words
Backward Chaini, definition of term: Backward Chaini
backward+chaini_pag1.html

Backward And Fo >> B Words
Backward And Fo, definition of term: Backward And Fo
backward+and+fo_pag1.html