green lightning

( n.)

   [IBM]

   1. Apparently random flashing streaks on the face of 3278-9 terminals
   while  a  new  symbol  set is being downloaded. This hardware bug was
   left  deliberately  unfixed,  as  some genius within IBM suggested it
   would  let  the  user  know  that  `something is happening'. That, it
   certainly   does.  Later  microprocessor-driven  IBM  color  graphics
   displays were actually programmed to produce green lightning!

   2.  [proposed]  Any  bug  perverted into an alleged feature by adroit
   rationalization  or  marketing. "Motorola calls the CISC cruft in the
   88000  architecture  `compatibility  logic',  but  I  call  it  green
   lightning". See also {feature} (sense 6).

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {feature}{misbug}]