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"The term "patch" came from early use in telephony and radio studios, where extra equipment kept on standby could be temporarily substituted for failed devices." - from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_cable

But yeah, the term patch just seems weird in this article. Why not just "upgrade" or "fix"?

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I'm not so sure, I thought "patch" originated from hole punching cards to program stuff. A software patch was literally a patch of tape that hides an errorneously punched hole in such a card.

The term patch-cable seems to be way younger.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchboard

patchboard

: a switchboard in which circuits are interconnected by patch cords

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Hence patch cable.

I find it far more likely that patches--in terms of fixing problems with small, targeted changes--derives from the use of the term for fixing holes in cloth by sewing on another piece of cloth.

Everything is about patching up clothes or other things. I was just commenting on the “patch-cable seems to be way younger” remark.

"Service"?

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