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CleanRoom

Clean Room: something that none of us ever seem to possess...

Joking aside, a "clean room" can have a couple different meaning for us computer types?:

1) A "clean room" is a room used for the production or processing of microchips (or other sensitive tiny electronic components or mechanical parts) that is carefully controlled to have minimal amounts of dust, dirt, or other contaminants in the air. Generally, everyone wears bunny suits (unfortunately not the colorful ones in the Intel commercials.. :) as well as gloves, facemasks or full-head coverings, etc...

2) To "clean room" something, in terms of reverse engineering, is to have two different groups work on the project. One group analyzes the existing (competitor's) product and documents its functionality, while the other group (which must have no contact with the original product) uses the documentation to implement a new product with the same features. The idea is to mimic the competitor's program, but in a legal fashion.

RobinsonTryon - 20 Mar 2003