Software defect (nonfiction): Difference between revisions

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[[File:First_computer_bug.jpg|thumb|A page from the Harvard Mark II electromechanical computer's log, featuring a dead moth that was removed from the device.]]A '''software defect''' (or '''bug''') is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.
[[File:First_computer_bug.jpg|thumb|A page from the Harvard Mark II electromechanical computer's log, featuring a dead moth that was removed from the device.]]A '''software defect''' (or '''bug''') is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.
== Description ==


A program that contains a large number of defects, and/or defects that seriously interfere with its functionality, is said to be ''buggy''.
A program that contains a large number of defects, and/or defects that seriously interfere with its functionality, is said to be ''buggy''.
== Commentary ==
In his memoirs, pioneering computer scientist [[Maurice Wilkes (nonfiction)]] wrote:
<blockquote>I well remember when this realization first came on me with full force. The EDSAC was on the top floor of the building and the tape-punching and editing equipment one floor below. [...] It was on one of my journeys between the EDSAC room and the punching equipment that "hesitating at the angles of stairs" the realization came over me with full force that [[Software defect (nonfiction)|a good part of the remainder of my life was going to be spent in finding errors in my own programs]].</blockquote>


== In the News ==
== In the News ==


<gallery mode="traditional">
<gallery>
File:Private SNAFU.JPG|Opening card of the US army WWII short animated films "Private Snafu".
File:Private SNAFU.JPG|Opening card of the US army WWII short animated films "Private Snafu".
</gallery>
</gallery>
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== Fiction cross-reference ==
== Fiction cross-reference ==


* [[Buggy Software]] - song
* [[Crimes against mathematical constants]]
* [[Gnomon algorithm]]
* [[Gnomon Chronicles]]
* [[Killer Poke]] - software defect for hire and contract killer for [[Murder, Incorporated 1.1]].
* [[Pi disaster]]
* [[Pi disaster]]


== Nonfiction cross-reference ==
== Nonfiction cross-reference ==


* [[Software (nonfiction)]]
* [[Evil bit (nonfiction)]]
* [[Software Crisis (nonfiction)]]


External links:
== External links ==


* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug Software bug] @ Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug Software bug] @ Wikipedia

Latest revision as of 05:21, 19 January 2021

A page from the Harvard Mark II electromechanical computer's log, featuring a dead moth that was removed from the device.

A software defect (or bug) is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended ways.

Description

A program that contains a large number of defects, and/or defects that seriously interfere with its functionality, is said to be buggy.

Commentary

In his memoirs, pioneering computer scientist Maurice Wilkes (nonfiction) wrote:

I well remember when this realization first came on me with full force. The EDSAC was on the top floor of the building and the tape-punching and editing equipment one floor below. [...] It was on one of my journeys between the EDSAC room and the punching equipment that "hesitating at the angles of stairs" the realization came over me with full force that a good part of the remainder of my life was going to be spent in finding errors in my own programs.

In the News

Fiction cross-reference

Nonfiction cross-reference

External links