👉 Nightmare engineering refers to the practice of designing complex, often unintuitive or counterintuitive systems that can lead to catastrophic failures or unexpected behaviors, particularly in critical infrastructure like power grids, transportation networks, and software systems. These engineered flaws are typically hidden within the code or design, making them difficult to detect and rectify until they manifest in real-world scenarios, causing widespread disruption or even disasters. The term "nightmare" captures the sense of dread and helplessness that engineers and users experience when these hidden flaws come to light, as they can lead to scenarios that feel like the worst-case outcomes of any system's operation.
