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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
problematic code
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "problematic code" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe code that has issues, bugs, or is difficult to understand or maintain. Example: "The developer identified several sections of the problematic code that needed to be refactored for better performance."
✓ Grammatically correct
TechCrunch
BBC
Huffington Post
WikiHow
BMC Medical Research Methodology
The New Yorker
Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development
TechCrunch
Environmental Health Perspectives
BMJ Open
The Guardian - Sport
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
The Guardian - Opinion
Computers & Security
BMC Evolutionary Biology
ACS Combinatorial Science
BMJ Open
TechCrunch
Journal of Cheminformatics
BMC Health Services Research
Addiction
BMC Evolutionary Biology
BMC Public Health
The Economist
Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development
The Guardian
Methods
BMC Health Services Research
BMC Geriatrics
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Emerging Infectious Diseases
TechCrunch
BMJ Open
SEP
EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking
Huffington Post
Environmental Health Perspectives
BMC Genomics
Journal of Cheminformatics
Huffington Post
BMC Medical Ethics
BMC Medical Research Methodology
Current Psychiatry Reports
British Journal of Cancer
The Guardian
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
BMC Health Services Research
BMC Public Health
BMC Infectious Diseases
BMC Evolutionary Biology
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
The New York Times
Emergency Medicine Journal
BMC Evolutionary Biology
BBC
BMJ Open
The New York Times - Magazine
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
4 human-written examples
Payment company Square has built an internal tool that it calls Squash to help route problematic code to the right person.
News & Media
Visual Basic suggests words while a coder types, highlights syntax errors and makes bug hunts easier by jumping straight to the problematic code - even when the error is one of logic rather than letters.
News & Media
Even babies can be labeled as potential failures with problematic code words such as "at risk".
News & Media
To avoid having this problem when we run this program, we can enclose the "problematic code" in a try-catch statement.
Wiki
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
By contrast, the potentially-problematic coding provides a larger sample, but we are less confident that the data represent administration rather than documentation practices.
The Sellout's ideas are too "problematic"—"the code word black thinkers use to characterize anything or anybody that makes them feel uncomfortable, impotent and painfully aware that they don't have the answers to questions and assholes like me".
News & Media
The Sellout's ideas are too "problematic" — "the code word black thinkers use to characterize anything or anybody that makes them feel uncomfortable, impotent and painfully aware that they don't have the answers to questions and assholes like me".
News & Media
This seems to conflict with the requirement translation answer above: Why do developers see multiple languages as beneficial for encoding requirements, but problematic for code understanding?
"How come people don't care that their programs aren't correct and that programmers aren't writing programs that they intended to write?" Yang reckons there has been a shift in attitude in recent years, with more attention being paid to the problem of problematic legacy code design because of increased concerns around privacy and security online.
News & Media
Location data are less problematic than diagnostic code data, but needed further attention in our attempt to make the method more robust.
Alternative solutions such as mapping of the APACHE IV diagnosis to ICD-9 codes are problematic, as the ICD-9 coding in the ICU is often delayed until after hospital discharge.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When addressing “problematic code”, prioritize clear documentation of the specific issues and potential risks associated with it. This allows for informed decision-making regarding refactoring or replacement.
Common error
Avoid simply patching “problematic code” without investigating the underlying design flaws or coding practices that led to its creation. This can result in recurring issues and technical debt.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "problematic code" functions as a descriptive term, typically acting as an adjective modifying the noun "code". As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and it serves to highlight issues, bugs, or difficulties associated with a specific piece of code.
Frequent in
Science
35%
News & Media
30%
Formal & Business
15%
Less common in
Wiki
10%
Encyclopedias
5%
Reference
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The term "problematic code" accurately describes code riddled with issues, bugs, or maintainability concerns. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. Predominantly used in science, news, and business contexts, it serves to pinpoint and categorize code demanding immediate attention or potential refactoring. Alternatives such as "difficult code" or "flawed code" can also be used based on the specific situation.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
difficult code
Focuses on the level of effort required to manage the code.
flawed code
Emphasizes errors or defects present in the code.
troublesome code
Highlights the code's capacity to create problems or difficulties.
defective code
Directly points to the code containing faults and not functioning correctly.
error-prone code
Suggests the code is likely to produce errors.
buggy code
Informal term indicating the presence of bugs or errors.
complex code
Emphasizes the intricacy that may lead to issues.
unreliable code
Stresses the code's inconsistency or lack of trustworthiness.
fragile code
Implies the code is easily broken or disrupted by changes.
legacy code
Refers to old code that can be difficult to maintain or update.
FAQs
How can I identify "problematic code" in a project?
Look for code sections with high complexity, frequent bug reports, poor test coverage, or code that's difficult to understand or modify. Code analysis tools can help pinpoint potential areas of "problematic code".
What are some strategies for dealing with "problematic code"?
Strategies include refactoring, rewriting, or isolating the “problematic code” with clear interfaces. The best approach depends on the severity and impact of the issues.
What's the difference between "problematic code" and "legacy code"?
"Problematic code" refers to code that is causing issues or is difficult to work with due to bugs, complexity, or other factors. "Legacy code", on the other hand, is simply older code that may or may not be problematic.
What can I say instead of "problematic code"?
You can use alternatives like "difficult code", "flawed code", or "troublesome code" depending on the context.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested