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Word for the opposite of a feature in software development. An unwanted feature


I'm wondering if there is a word for a software feature which is not wanted and negatively impacts the software/business using it?


In my mind is not a bug as a bug is where something doesn't work as intended. In this case the "feature" functions as intended, it is just that its intent is misguided and in practice it is problematic for the business and we'd rather that users don't use it.


We would have the "feature" removed from the software, but would it still be considered a feature until it is removed? In my mind for software, a feature is inherently a positive thing. Or am I mistaken?


Example sentence:



Can you please remove the ability to do XYZ, it is a [word-for-negatively-impacting-feature]?




Answer



It is a design bug - a bug by design. It is sometimes also called a misfeature. That is, it is intentional, part of the design.


(Something that was overlooked at design time can also be called a design bug, however, and this includes a feature omission.)


Such a characterization is opinion-based. Typically the organization responsible for the product, or at least its designers, will not call it a design bug or a misfeature. Instead, they will pitch it as being a feature.


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