smoke test

1. A rudimentary form of testing applied to electronic

equipment following repair or reconfiguration, in which power

is applied and the tester checks for sparks, smoke, or other

dramatic signs of fundamental failure. See magic smoke.

2. By extension, the first run of a piece of software after

construction or a critical change. See and compare realitycheck.

There is an interesting semi-parallel to this term among

typographers and printers: When new typefaces are being

punch-cut by hand, a "smoke test" (hold the letter in candle

smoke, then press it onto paper) is used to check out new

dies.

[Jargon File]