burn-in period

1. <testing> A factory soak test intended to increase the chance that components that fail early due to infant mortality will fail before the system leaves the factory.

2. <jargon> When one is so intensely involved in a new project that one forgets basic needs such as food, drink and sleep. Excessive burn-in can lead to burn-out. See hack mode, larval stage.

[Jargon File]