VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/deprecated.170967/

⇱ Deprecated | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

Deprecated

Andy1

Member
English speaker - Ireland
Hi everyone,

I've got someone here who is insisting on marking a task/command in a document as "Deprecated"
Now, I think he wants to say that "this task/command is there but we are advising less and less to use it and maybe someday it will no longer be supported". if you see what I mean?
I am suggesting to say "being phased out" or "caution when using this command as future versions may not support it"

He is insisting on deprecated.

What do you think
If I read the manual and saw that something was deprecated I would assume that it was not approved of on grounds of morality or principle - rather as if its use would mark the user as a some kind of a reprobate. It is a strange use of the term.

What is wrong with obsolescent, or forward compatibility not assured👁 Big Grin :D
I dunno.... I read lot's of manuals for all kind of technical problems(well mostly hardware and software of course 👁 Smile :)
and I couldn't remember seeing say, 'obsolescent'... As far as I remember you propably could find 'obsolete' tag here or there, but like in 90% of cases you going to see deprecated.

Well, actually, might it be more like an american way to indicate that?
Good point wanderer, I don't read as many of these as I used to ....
I suppose it has the right kind of meaning almost and if it has caught on in the IT Manuals world ....

Edit: ... as it obviously has, now that I've had a look around👁 Frown :(
In a technical context, deprecated means somewhat more than merely obsolescent.

deprecated = has [already] been replaced by some other method/mechanism which is preferable and recommended for technical reasons.

obsolescent = is going away, is on its way out

Obsolescent does not, to my ear, indicate that it is being replaced by anything, just that it is going away. A buggy whip might have been obsolescent, for example, in 1920. Not quite gone, but on its way out.
panjandrum said:
Ah, so it is something like superseded?

More or less. I just looked it up. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deprecated

I see the following: Said of a program or feature that is considered obsolescent and in the process of being phased out, usually in favour of a
specified replacement.

I think one should also keep in mind the original meaning (To express disapproval of; deplore.) when using the term.

You wouldn't want to describe a physical task as deprecated, ie one currently being performed by living breathing (and hopefully abulating) employees, as it would be quite disrespectful. Sorry Joe, you've been deprecated.

Only technical features should be deprecated.
Back
Top Bottom