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

bogo-sort /boh`goh-sort'/ n. var. `stupid-sort' the archetypical
   perversely awful algorithm as opposed to bubble sort, which is merely
   the generic _bad_ algorithm. bogo-sort is equivalent to repeatedly
   throwing a deck of cards in the air, picking them up at random, and then
   testing whether they are in order. it serves as a sort of canonical
   example of awfulness. looking at a program and seeing a dumb algorithm,
   one might say "oh, i see, this program uses bogo-sort." esp. appropriate
   for algorithms with factorial or super-exponential running time in the
   average case and probabilistically infinite worst-case running time.
   compare bogus, brute force, lasherism.

   a spectacular variant of bogo-sort has been proposed which has the
   interesting property that, if the many worlds interpretation of quantum
   mechanics is true, it can sort an arbitrarily large array in linear
   time. in the many-worlds model, the result of any quantum action is to
   split the universe-before into a sheaf of universes-after, one for each
   possible way the state vector can collapse; in any one of the
   universes-after the result appears random. the steps are: 1. permute
   the array randomly using a quantum process, 2. if the array is not
   sorted, destroy the universe checking that it is sorted requires on
   time. implementation of step 2 is left as an exercise for the reader.


see also:
bubble sort bogus brute force lasherism 

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

bogo-sort
     
         /boh"goh-sort"/ or "stupid-sort" the
        archetypical perversely awful algorithm as opposed to
        bubble sort, which is merely the generic bad algorithm.
        bogo-sort is equivalent to repeatedly throwing a deck of cards
        in the air, picking them up at random, and then testing
        whether they are in order.  it serves as a sort of canonical
        example of awfulness.  looking at a program and seeing a dumb
        algorithm, one might say "oh, i see, this program uses
        bogo-sort."
     
        also known as "monkey sort" after the infinite monkey
        theorem.
     
        compare brute force, lasherism.
     
        an implementation http://www.stdout.org/~adam/psort.
     
        jargon file
     
        2002-04-07
     
     
see also:
algorithm bubble sort infinite monkey theorem brute force lasherism lt;an implementationgt; jargon file 

Bogo-Sort >> B Words
Bogo-Sort, definition of term: Bogo-Sort
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