gambiarra, solução improvisada, remendo
1. A clumsy or inelegant solution to a problem, typically one that works but is poorly designed or maintained
The old computer system was held together by a series of kludges that nobody fully understood.
O sistema antigo de computador era mantido junto por uma série de gambiarras que ninguém entendia completamente.
2. To assemble or repair something in a clumsy, improvised manner
We had to kludge together a solution using spare parts before the deadline.
Tivemos que improvisar uma solução usando peças sobressalentes antes do prazo.
3. In computing, a piece of code or system that functions but is inelegant, inefficient, or difficult to maintain
The programmer admitted that the fix was just a kludge and would need to be refactored later.
O programador admitiu que a correção era apenas uma solução improvisada e precisaria ser refatorada depois.
This term is heavily used in tech and engineering communities in both the USA and Brazil. In American tech culture, it's often used self-deprecatingly by developers admitting to shortcuts. In Brazil, 'gambiarra' carries a similar cultural connotation but is more broadly used in everyday language to describe any improvised solution, reflecting a cultural attitude toward creative problem-solving. The term originated in computing but has spread to general usage.
NYC Slang
bodge job, jerry-rig, quick and dirty fix
Related Idioms & Phrases
kludge it together - improvise a solution
held together with kludges - poorly maintained system
a collection of kludges - a messy, inelegant codebase
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