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. [Jargon File] Last updated: 2002-04-07
