code police

code police
 n.

   [by analogy with George Orwell's `thought police'] A mythical team of
   Gestapo-like storm troopers that might burst into one's office and
   arrest one for violating programming style rules. May be used either
   seriously, to underline a claim that a particular style violation is
   dangerous, or ironically, to suggest that the practice under
   discussion is condemned mainly by anal-retentive {weenie}s. "Dike out
   that goto or the code police will get you!" The ironic usage is
   perhaps more common.
    

code police

   <humour> (By analogy with George Orwell's "Thought Police" in
   "1984") A mythical team of Gestapo-like storm troopers that
   enforce programming style rules.  Used ironically, to suggest
   that the practice under discussion is condemned mainly by
   anal-retentive {weenies}.  "Dike out that {goto} or the code
   police will get you!"  The ironic usage is perhaps more
   common.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1994-12-08)