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).
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