bells and whistles
advanced and extravagant attributes of a program
bells and whistles
[By analogy with the toyboxes on theatre organs]. Features added to a program or system to make it more
flavourful from a hacker's point of view, without necessarily adding to its utility for its primary function. Distinguished from
chrome, which is intended to attract users. "Now that we've got the basic program working, let's go back and add some bells and whistles." No one seems to know what distinguishes a bell from a whistle.
[
Jargon File]
(c) Copyright 1993 by Denis Howe
Bells and Whistles
the optional features built into a basic product to satisfy or impress as large as possible a number of buyers; the term "plain vanilla" is an equivalent slang term used to describe a product with only the most basic features.
bells and whistles
(See all the bells and whistles)
BELLS AND WHISTLES
FUNZIONI INUTILI