A dirty hack is a piece of code that exists for no good reason but to simplify the life of someone at some point in time. A dirty hack has usually some (or all!) the following characteristics:

    * Is useful to only a small number of clients;

    * Is useful to only one person;

    * Is difficult to explain and-or understand;

    * Is difficult to maintain in the long run;

    * Breaks the architectural and design choices of the overall system;

    * Should disappear soon;

    * Has been quickly implemented;

    * Has not been not tested.