for free
Said of a capability of a programming language or hardware equipment that is
available by its design without needing cleverness to implement: "In APL, we get
the matrix operations for free." "And owing to the way revisions are stored in
this system, you get revision trees for free." The term usually refers to a
serendipitous feature of doing things a certain way (compare big win), but it
may refer to an intentional but secondary feature.
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-14)
Nearby terms:
foreground « foreign key « Foresight « for free
» fork » fork bomb » forked
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