Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M4596

Anti-pattern

Anti-pattern
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

An anti-pattern is any common but counterproductive solution to some class of problem. The term, coined in 1995 by Andrew Koenig, was inspired by the book Design Patterns which highlights reliable and effective software development design patterns.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

An anti-pattern is any common but counterproductive solution to some class of problem. The term, coined in 1995 by Andrew Koenig, was inspired by the book Design Patterns which highlights reliable and effective software development design patterns.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

A software engineering/management term: a pattern of practices that appears natural but repeatedly leads to bad outcomes, serving as a reusable failure template (a 'negative example') to warn against pitfalls.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-patternZH · Explicit
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