The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

brute force and ignorance
 n.

    A popular design technique at many software houses ? brute force coding
    unrelieved by any knowledge of how problems have been previously solved in
    elegant ways. Dogmatic adherence to design methodologies tends to encourage
    this sort of thing. Characteristic of early larval stage programming;
    unfortunately, many never outgrow it. Often abbreviated BFI: ?Gak, they
    used a bubble sort! That's strictly from BFI.? Compare bogosity. A very
    similar usage is said to be mainstream in Great Britain.


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

brute force and ignorance
BFI

    (BFI) A popular design technique at many software
   houses - brute force coding unrelieved by any knowledge of
   how problems have been previously solved in elegant ways.
   Dogmatic adherence to design methods tends to encourage this
   sort of thing.  Characteristic of early larval stage
   programming; unfortunately, many never outgrow it.

   Also encountered in the variants BFMI - brute force and
   massive ignorance, and BFBI - brute force and bloody
   ignorance.

   "Gak, they used a bubble sort!  That's strictly BFI."

   Compare bogosity.

   [Jargon File]

   (1996-06-12)