Works on my machine

Beginner 💻 Tech / IT

Definition

A classic developer response to a bug report, implying the problem is someone else's environment rather than the code. It is funny until you're the one who has to reproduce the failure on a machine that isn't yours. The phrase is a standing reminder that environments matter.

Example Usage

The tester reported a crash, and the developer replied 'works on my machine,' which started a three-day hunt for a missing environment variable.

Source: Common software development humor

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See “Works on my machine” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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