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What does "fail fast" mean in programming?
fail fast is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A design principle where a system immediately reports an error when something unexpected happens, rather than continuing with invalid state. Fail-fast systems are easier to debug because errors surface close to their source, not in a distant caller.
Example
"Validate the config at startup and crash with a clear error message — fail fast prevents mysterious failures later."
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