10 Questions
What was the incident that led to the coining of the term 'computer bug'?
The high voltage zapping a moth that landed on a relay
Which of the following terms is synonymous with 'defect' in the context of software development?
Fault
What is one of the potential sources of software problems related to implementation?
Mistakes in chip fabrication
Which phase of software development is prone to erroneous, incomplete, and inconsistent requirements?
Testing phase
What led to the coining of the term 'computer bug'?
A moth flying into the Mark II computer and getting zapped by high voltage
What was the adverse effect of faulty software in transportation as mentioned in the text?
Sudden acceleration and inability to brake
What was the fault in Project Mercury's FORTRAN code as mentioned in the text?
Incorrect syntax in a loop expression
What was the reason for the F-18 crash as mentioned in the text?
Lack of exception condition 'if then else'
What caused the auto insurance rate of Mr. Blodgett to triple as mentioned in the text?
Incorrect interpretation of age
What programming fault led to the shutdown of five nuclear power plants in 1979 as mentioned in the text?
Arithmetic error in sum calculations
Study Notes
- Computer bug originated when a moth flew into Harvard University's Mark II computer in 1947, causing a malfunction.
- A computer bug refers to a defect, fault, problem, or error in software.
- Types of bugs include requirements definition errors, design flaws, implementation mistakes, support system issues, inadequate testing, evolution, and adverse effects.
- Adverse effects of faulty software can lead to communication losses, space application failures, transportation accidents, safety-critical application risks, money management issues, control of elections, and control of jails and law enforcement issues.
- An example of a software bug in space occurred with Mercury's FORTRAN code, where "DO i=1.10" instead of "DO i=1,10" caused the loop to be executed only once.
- Military aviation examples of software bugs include a missing exception condition in the F-18's code causing a crash and a virtual plane flipping over when crossing the equator due to a missing minus sign.
- Year ambiguities in software include a 104-year-old kindergarten invitee and an auto insurance rate tripling for a driver turning 101 due to age misinterpretation.
- Shaky math errors led to the shutdown of five nuclear power plants in the US due to a programming fault that miscalculated earthquake-resistance capabilities.
Test your knowledge on the introduction to software testing and verification with this quiz. It covers topics such as the history of computer bugs, including the famous case of a moth causing a computer malfunction at Harvard University in 1947.
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