There is a decent Wikipedia article on the Feature Creep, but it doesn't state an origin. A Google search only leads to some vague article claiming Earl Rich coined the term, but there isn't much backup for that claim. There is a Dilbert comic from 2001 on the subject, but the tone seems to imply that the term pre-existed; more or less confirmed by the fact that Google has results pre-2000. However, finding the exact origin proofs difficult.So, who, if anyone at all, coined the term Feature Creep? Where does it come from?
Where does the the term feature creep come from?
terminology;history;features
The etymologic history of computer jargon is well documented in the Jargon file (current version as of this writing is 4.4.8).The specific term Feature Creep is listed as New in 4.1.0 in the change log.  4.1.0 dates to March 12, 1999 and is defined as:feature creep: n.  The result of {creeping featurism},    as in Emacs  has a bad case of feature creep.While this is the earliest use of the word in specific context, there are indications that the phrase existed earlier in some form.The begining of each jargon file has a section on the various non-word aspects of the use of language by computer types.  In an early version of the Jargon file from 1981:Soundalike slang: similar to Cockney rhyming slang.  Often made up on   the spur of the moment.  Standard examples:    Boston Globe => Boston Glob    Herald American => Horrid (Harried) American    New York Times => New York Slime    historical reasons => hysterical raisins    government property - do not duplicate (seen on keys)        => government duplicity - do not propagate   Often the substitution will be made in such a way as to slip in   a standard jargon word:    Dr. Dobb's Journal => Dr. Frob's Journal    creeping featurism => feeping creaturism    Margaret Jacks Hall => Marginal Hacks HallThe creeping featurism entry suggests that the term may have been used, if not in that exact form of feature creep.Thus, language the term existed for certain in 1999 in the hacker (realize that the term hacker in the jargon file is a different group than it is today) community.Indications that the phrase existed, though didn't formally enter the lexicon show up as early as 1981 and may have been common usage in the MIT and Stanford communities.The concept of feature creep can be documented in 1975 as part of the Mythical Man Month.  In one of the essays within this collection, Second System Effect is described. From the Wikipedia summary:The second-system effect proposes that, when an architect designs a  second system, it is the most dangerous system he will ever design,  because he will tend to incorporate all of the additions he originated  but did not add (due to inherent time constraints) to the first  system. Thus, when embarking upon a second system, an engineer should  be mindful that he is susceptible to over-engineering it.Realize the difference between the Mythical Man Month and the Jargon file likely represents two different cultures - the Mythical Man Month is from a project management perspective while the jargon file is more from the hacker/academic perspective.