Wout's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Every technological solution shall not work on your first attempt." In some sarcastic formulations, it is extended to "What did you expect ? It will never work on the first try."^[1]

Though similar statements and concepts have been made over the course of history, the law itself was coined by, and is named after, Belgian engineer Wout Swinkels; its exact origins are debated, but it is generally agreed it originated from Wout and his team following a mishap during some technical installations and tests between 2023 and 2024, and was finalized and first popularized by students in various technical educational institutions. Wouts original quote was a comforting statement "There is always one constant, it did not work on the first try."

Similar "laws" include Murphy's law, Sod's law, Finagle's law, and Yhprum's law, among others.