showstopper

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

showstopper
    n 1: an act so striking or impressive that the show must be
         delayed until the audience quiets down [syn: {show-
         stopper}, {showstopper}, {stopper}]
    2: something that is strikingly attractive or has great popular
       appeal; "she has a show-stopper of a smile"; "the brilliant
       orange flowers against the green foliage were a showstopper"
       [syn: {show-stopper}, {showstopper}]

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

showstopper
 n.

   A hardware or (especially) software bug that makes an implementation
   effectively unusable; one that absolutely has to be fixed before
   development can go on. Opposite in connotation from its original
   theatrical use, which refers to something stunningly good.

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

showstopper

   A hardware or (especially) software {bug} that makes an
   implementation effectively unusable; one that absolutely has
   to be fixed before development can go on.  Opposite in
   connotation from its original theatrical use, which refers to
   something stunningly *good*.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1995-01-31)

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