software engineering Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development. A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term ' ...

, rubber duck debugging (or rubberducking) is a method of

debugging In computer programming and software development, debugging is the process of finding and resolving ''bugs'' (defects or problems that prevent correct operation) within computer programs, software, or systems. Debugging tactics can involve in ...

code by articulating a problem in spoken or written

natural language In neuropsychology, linguistics, and philosophy of language, a natural language or ordinary language is any language that has evolved naturally in humans through use and repetition without conscious planning or premeditation. Natural languag ...

. The name is a reference to a story in the book ''

The Pragmatic Programmer ''The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master'' is a book about computer programming and software engineering, written by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas and published in October 1999. It is used as a textbook in related university courses. ...

'' in which a programmer would carry around a

rubber duck A rubber duck or a rubber duckie is a toy shaped like a stylized duck, generally yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic. Rubber ducks were invented in the late 1800s when it became pos ...

and debug their code by forcing themselves to explain it, line-by-line, to the duck. p. 95, footnote. Many other terms exist for this technique, often involving different (usually) inanimate objects, or pets such as a dog or a cat. Many programmers have had the experience of explaining a problem to someone else, possibly even to someone who knows nothing about programming, and then hitting upon the solution in the process of explaining the problem. In describing what the code is supposed to do and observing what it actually does, any incongruity between these two becomes apparent.. More generally, teaching a subject forces its evaluation from different perspectives and can provide a deeper understanding. By using an inanimate object, the programmer can try to accomplish this without having to interrupt anyone else. This approach has been taught in

computer science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines (includin ...

and software engineering courses.

In popular culture

On 1 April 2018,

Stack Exchange Stack Exchange is a network of question-and-answer (Q&A) websites on topics in diverse fields, each site covering a specific topic, where questions, answers, and users are subject to a reputation award process. The reputation system allows t ...

introduced a rubber duck avatar on their websites as a new feature called ''Quack Overflow''. The duck appeared at the bottom right corner of the browser

viewport A viewport is a polygon viewing region in computer graphics. In computer graphics Computer graphics deals with generating images with the aid of computers. Today, computer graphics is a core technology in digital photography, film, video game ...

, and attempted to help visitors by listening to their problems and responding with solutions. However, the duck merely produced a

quack Quack, The Quack or Quacks may refer to: People * Quack Davis, American baseball player * Hendrick Peter Godfried Quack (1834–1917), Dutch economist and historian * Joachim Friedrich Quack (born 1966), German Egyptologist * Johannes Quack (bo ...

sound after apparently thinking and typing. It referenced ''rubber ducking'' as a powerful method for solving problems. Some confused visitors and users seeing the duck for the first time thought that a

malware Malware (a portmanteau for ''malicious software'') is any software intentionally designed to cause disruption to a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, de ...

program had been installed in their computer before realizing it was an

April Fools' Day April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools!" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved in these pranks, which may b ...

joke.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Rubber Duck Debugging
Debugging Computer programming folklore Ducks

In popular culture

See also

References

External links