rain dance

A sequence of steps undertaken to achieve a specific outcome without a practical understanding of how the steps bring about that outcome.

Commonly used in computer/technical environments to describe a set of steps that makes "something just work" where the mechanism of that function remains mysterious to the person carrying them out.

Due to the implication of ignorance and the tradition of weather modification rituals among various indigenous peoples, the term is sometimes taken to have racist undertones.

"I figured out yesterday that if I turn on my laptop first, then my monitor, THEN my audio interface, and first log in as a guest before switching to my account, I don't get that nasty crackling in my headphones anymore."

"So you're going to do that whole rain dance every time you start up your computer?"

"Saves me from buying a new one."

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