Rushware

Definition

Rushware is a term for buggy software created in a rush in order to stop up competition, usually deployed by a large company to engage in an emerging opportunity or to expand their product offering in order to stifle a potential competitor.

An example of rushware was the creation of Internet Explorer by the Microsoft Corporation in the early 90's when responding to the growing popularity of the Netscape browser. Development was spawned by a memorandum written to Microsoft executives by Bill Gates called the "Internet Tidal Wave", detailing the opportunities of the web and how Microsoft should compete.