lasherism

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Lasherism

   <jargon, algorithm> (Harvard) A program that solves a standard
   problem (such as the {Eight Queens Puzzle} or implementing the
   {life} {algorithm}) in a deliberately nonstandard way.
   Distinguished from a {crock} or {kluge} by the fact that the
   programmer did it on purpose as a mental exercise.  Such
   constructions are quite popular in exercises such as the
   {Obfuscated C contest}, and occasionally in {retrocomputing}.
   Lew Lasher was a student at Harvard around 1980 who became
   notorious for such behaviour.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1994-12-07)