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sorcerer's apprentice mode

sorcerer_s apprentice mode: n.

[from Goethe_s Der Zauberlehrling via Paul Dukas_s L_apprenti sorcier in the film Fantasia.] A bug in a protocol where, under some circumstances, the receipt of a message causes multiple messages to be sent, each of which, when received, triggers the same bug. Used esp. of such behavior caused by bounce message loops in email software. Compare broadcast storm, network meltdown, software laser, ARMM.

Courtesy of 'The Jargon File 4.4.7'
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