Cargo cult programming

Cargo cult programming is a style of coding where programmers include unnecessary code or structures without understanding why, often copying code blindly. The term comes from Richard Feynman's 'cargo cult science,' inspired by Melanesian rituals mimicking wartime air deliveries. It appeared in the Jargon File in 1991. A related term, 'cargo cult software engineering' by Steve McConnell, describes organizations imitating successful development practices without understanding the underlying principles, leading to failure. Key examples include adding useless comments or following design patterns without reason.