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bells and whistles


bells and whistles: [by analogy with the toyboxes on theater
   organs] n. Features added to a program or system to make it more
   flavorful from a hacker's point of view, without necessarily
   adding to its utility for its primary function.  Distinguished from
   chrome, which is intended to attract users.  "Now that we've
   got the basic program working, let's go back and add some bells and
   whistles."  No one seems to know what distinguishes a bell from a
   whistle.