Bad Software Names

5: Pan, formerly known as the “Pimp-Ass Newsreader.” I’ve put it last in the list because it’s an issue the developers recognized and fixed.

4: Novel, a Linux clone of Novell’s client32. Deliberately confusing trademark violations are a sure way to win corporate goodwill for your independent project.

3: SLOX, the Exchange replacement. For starters, it includes the competitor’s name, “Exchange.” Secondly, it sounds like a sexually transmitted disease: “Dude, you slept with Inga? No wonder you got SLOX!”

2: GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program. I always find it a good idea to use an offensive and derogatory term to name my products.

1: sux, the “su” wrapper that transfers a user’s X permissions as they become another user. Let’s just say it sux.