Bogo-sort




<algorithm, humour> /boh"goh-sort"/ (Or "stupid-sort") The archetypical perversely awful algorithm (as opposed to bubble sort, which is merely the generic *bad* algorithm). Bogo-sort is equivalent to repeatedly throwing a deck of cards in the air, picking them up at random, and then testing whether they are in order.

It serves as a sort of canonical example of awfulness.

Looking at a program and seeing a dumb algorithm, one might say "Oh, I see, this program uses bogo-sort."

Also known as "monkey sort" after the Infinite Monkey Theorem.

Compare brute force, Lasherism.

An implementation (http://www.stdout.org/~adam/psort).

[Jargon File]



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BogoMips
bogon
bogon filter
bogon flux
bogosity
bogo-sort
bubble sort
monkey sort
stupid-sort
bogotify
bogue out
BOHICA
Bohr bug
boink