Jim Trombetta based his original idea for the episode on the anti-technology philosophy of the Khmer Rouge of Southeast Asia.
This episode sets up Jake's ongoing apprenticeship to O'Brien which would become official in the next episode.
O'Brien mentions the starship Rutledge to Sisko in his anecdote about repairing a transporter during the war with the Cardassians. This is a reference to the Star Trek: TNG episode "The Wounded" (season 4, episode 12, 1991), where it is revealed that O'Brien served about the Rutledge as Tactical Officer under Captain Benjamin Maxwell.
Some of this episode was filmed in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
This is the first episode of the series in which Rene Auberjonois and Siddig El Fadil do not appear.