In computer programming, a poltergeist (or gypsy wagon) is a short-lived, typically stateless object used to perform initialization or to invoke methods in another, more permanent class.

The poltergeist anti-pattern emerged in the 1990s during the early adoption of object-oriented programming paradigms, as developers grappled with the principles outlined in seminal works on …

Dec 11, 2012 · The poltergeist is a short-lived, typically stateless object used to perform initialization or to invoke methods in another class. Commands are generic and have to be able to contain enough …

May 3, 2018 · A poltergeist is a short-lived object, typically stateless, which is used solely to trigger or initialize several other objects and then discarded. It is considered a consequence of poor object …

The article explores the symptoms, causes, and effects of Poltergeist, as well as strategies for detecting and preventing them, including code reviews, automated testing, and debugging tools.

Mar 8, 2023 · TL;DR: Add the necessary indirection layers, but no more. A poltergeist (or gypsy wagon) is a short-lived object used to perform initialization or to invoke methods in another, more permanent …

Sep 30, 2024 · In computer programming, a poltergeist (or gypsy wagon) is a short-lived, typically stateless object used to perform initialization or to invoke methods in another, more permanent class.

May 20, 2019 · The most common source of the poltergeist anti-pattern is a designer that grabs a template or best practice intended for much larger systems. We see this when a student comes out …

Nov 8, 2025 · As stated in research papers by Cavac, In computer programming, a poltergeist (or gypsy wagon) is a short-lived, typically stateless object used to perform initialization or to invoke methods in …

Refactoring Poltergeists When you identify a poltergeist in your code, it is essential to refactor it to enhance your design. Consider the following steps for effective refactoring: