ninety-ninety rule

noun

A humorous aphorism stating that the first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90% of the development time, and the remaining 10% of the code accounts for the other 90% of the development time.

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Meanings

nounthe ninety-ninety rule
  1. computingA humorous aphorism stating that the first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90% of the development time, and the remaining 10% of the code accounts for the other 90% of the development time.
Cite this entry
APA

ninety-ninety rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ninety-ninety%20rule

MLA

“ninety-ninety rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ninety-ninety%20rule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ninety-ninety rule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ninety-ninety%20rule.

Source: ninety-ninety rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.