Chybuchybou

Chybuchybou is a neologism used in linguistic and information-science contexts to describe cascading error propagation, where a single initial mistake leads to a chain of further mistakes throughout a process such as proofreading, editing, programming, or data pipelines. The word combines the Czech noun chyba "error" with its instrumental form chybou, forming a compound that evokes repeated or recursive error.

The term is not universally standardized but is discussed as a concept in studies of reliability and human-computer interaction. It highlights how small mistakes can be amplified by feedback mechanisms, autocorrect, linting, or automated repairs, resulting in compounded inaccuracies that are harder to detect than a lone error.

Typical scenarios include text editing, where a misspelling prompts an autocorrect that changes surrounding words; programming, where a wrong assumption in a function propagates to dependent modules; and data processing, where a corrupted input item yields downstream invalid results.

Mitigation approaches focus on early detection and containment: explicit validation at multiple stages, clear versioning and audit trails, modular design that limits propagation, reversible transformations, and scenario-based testing that includes error injections.

Chybuchybou is used mainly in Czech-language discussions but has been cited in broader analyses of error propagation and system resilience.

See also: error propagation, cascading failure, fault tolerance, robust design.