SQLite Changes Its File Prefix

** 2006-10-31: The default prefix used to be "sqlite_". But then ** McAfee started using SQLite in their anti-virus product and it ** started putting files with the "sqlite" name in the c:/temp folder. ** This annoyed many Windows users. Those users would then do a ** Google search for "sqlite", find the telephone numbers of the ** developers and call to wake them up at night and complain. ** For this reason, the default name prefix is changed to be "sqlite" ** spelled backwards. So the temp files are still identified, but ** anybody smart enough to figure out the code is also likely smart ** enough to know that calling the developer will not help get rid ** of the file. */ #ifndef SQLITE_TEMP_FILE_PREFIX # define SQLITE_TEMP_FILE_PREFIX "etilqs_" #endif

A screenshot of SQLite source code explains why its temporary-file prefix was changed to “etilqs_,” which is “sqlite_” spelled backwards. The joke is that users annoyed by McAfee’s temporary files searched for SQLite developers’ phone numbers and called them at night, so the reversed name makes the files identifiable while discouraging complaints. It is sent as a reaction to bizarre, overly specific engineering solutions and software-maintainer folklore.

• @ithueti / 11003 2023-11-24