Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary cause of the switches crashing and rebooting every six seconds?
What was the primary cause of the switches crashing and rebooting every six seconds?
What immediate action did engineers take to resolve the switches' software issues?
What immediate action did engineers take to resolve the switches' software issues?
What impact did the Facebook apps outage have on users in 2019?
What impact did the Facebook apps outage have on users in 2019?
What was Facebook's explanation for the 2019 outage?
What was Facebook's explanation for the 2019 outage?
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What potential consequences do software failures on social media platforms carry?
What potential consequences do software failures on social media platforms carry?
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Which other apps besides Facebook experienced outages during the 2019 incident?
Which other apps besides Facebook experienced outages during the 2019 incident?
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What coding practice could have potentially prevented the switch failures?
What coding practice could have potentially prevented the switch failures?
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Which incident occurred in 2018 that affected Facebook's reputation?
Which incident occurred in 2018 that affected Facebook's reputation?
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What was the primary cause of the Mariner I space probe failure?
What was the primary cause of the Mariner I space probe failure?
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What critical error occurred with the THERAC-25 medical accelerator?
What critical error occurred with the THERAC-25 medical accelerator?
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In the Ariane 5 Flight 501 incident, what triggered the crash of the flight computer?
In the Ariane 5 Flight 501 incident, what triggered the crash of the flight computer?
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What was the outcome of the AT&T network outage caused by a software bug?
What was the outcome of the AT&T network outage caused by a software bug?
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Which of the following accurately describes the consequence of the software errors in the Mariner I probe?
Which of the following accurately describes the consequence of the software errors in the Mariner I probe?
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What was significant about the radiation doses delivered by the THERAC-25 device?
What was significant about the radiation doses delivered by the THERAC-25 device?
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Which factor contributed to the overflow condition in the Ariane 5's flight computer?
Which factor contributed to the overflow condition in the Ariane 5's flight computer?
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In the context of the AT&T network outage, what triggered the initial switch to crash?
In the context of the AT&T network outage, what triggered the initial switch to crash?
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What was the primary security concern revealed by Google in 2018?
What was the primary security concern revealed by Google in 2018?
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Which of the following devices are affected by the mentioned CPU vulnerabilities?
Which of the following devices are affected by the mentioned CPU vulnerabilities?
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What is the potential consequence of applying patches to correct CPU vulnerabilities?
What is the potential consequence of applying patches to correct CPU vulnerabilities?
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What incident occurred on August 7th, 2019, involving British Airways?
What incident occurred on August 7th, 2019, involving British Airways?
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What do repeated software failures in British Airways indicate?
What do repeated software failures in British Airways indicate?
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What was a direct effect of the system failure on August 7th, 2019?
What was a direct effect of the system failure on August 7th, 2019?
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What is the new version of the Spectre vulnerability called?
What is the new version of the Spectre vulnerability called?
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What challenge do investors face concerning frequent software failures in airlines?
What challenge do investors face concerning frequent software failures in airlines?
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What is the primary focus of Software Quality Assurance (SQA)?
What is the primary focus of Software Quality Assurance (SQA)?
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Which of the following is NOT part of the SQA objectives during software development?
Which of the following is NOT part of the SQA objectives during software development?
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What type of requirements does SQA take into account?
What type of requirements does SQA take into account?
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Which of the following describes a measurable quality attribute in SQA?
Which of the following describes a measurable quality attribute in SQA?
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During the maintenance phase, SQA aims to ensure confidence in which of the following?
During the maintenance phase, SQA aims to ensure confidence in which of the following?
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What is defined as software quality according to Pressman?
What is defined as software quality according to Pressman?
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Which of the following challenges in software quality relates to the nature of the software?
Which of the following challenges in software quality relates to the nature of the software?
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Why is maintaining software quality important in economic exchanges?
Why is maintaining software quality important in economic exchanges?
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What does software quality assurance provide according to the IEEE?
What does software quality assurance provide according to the IEEE?
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Which factor is NOT listed as a challenge in software quality?
Which factor is NOT listed as a challenge in software quality?
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What is included in the definition of software quality assurance?
What is included in the definition of software quality assurance?
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How does software quality affect transportation systems?
How does software quality affect transportation systems?
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The systematic actions required in software quality assurance primarily focus on which aspects?
The systematic actions required in software quality assurance primarily focus on which aspects?
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Study Notes
Worst Software Failures in History
- Mariner 1 Space Probe (1962): Launch failure due to a software bug from an incorrectly transcribed formula; the rocket was destroyed over the Atlantic.
- Therac-25 Medical Accelerator (1985-1987): Malfunctioning radiation therapy device caused lethal overdoses; multiple patient deaths due to no controlled input validation.
- Ariane 5 Flight 501 (1996): Reused Ariane 4 code caused a crash; 64-bit to 16-bit number conversion overflow led to rocket’s disintegration 40 seconds after launch.
- AT&T Network Outage (1990): Software bug in #4ESS switches caused a cascade effect, shutting down 114 switches and affecting 60,000 people for nine hours.
More Recent Software Failures
- Facebook Apps Outage (2019): Users unable to access photos and messages across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp; due to an accidental issue during routine maintenance.
- CPUs Flaw (2018): Discovery of vulnerabilities (Meltdown and Spectre) affecting major chip manufacturers; exploitation allowed unauthorized data access across various devices.
- British Airways Glitch (2019): Major system failure led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays; systemic issues indicate poor computer management and raised investor concerns.
Software Quality Challenges
- Software uniqueness increases complexity and decreases visibility, complicating defect detection.
- Development environments can be complicated by contracts, teamwork, and the need for coordination with other software systems.
Importance of Software Quality
- Software represents about 80% of the cost in computing systems across various sectors, including communication, healthcare, transportation, and entertainment.
- Defects in software can lead to costly consequences, impacting financial losses, reputational damage, and even loss of life.
What is Software Quality Assurance (SQA)?
- Defined by IEEE as a systematic approach to ensure that a product meets established technical requirements and quality objectives.
- Focuses on evaluating software development and maintenance processes, ensuring compliance with both functional technical and managerial requirements.
Objectives of SQA
- In Development: Ensure software meets functional technical requirements and adheres to managerial scheduling and budget constraints.
- In Maintenance: Guarantee that maintenance activities also conform to specified requirements while improving efficiency and effectiveness in SQA processes.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the failures in software history, specifically focusing on notable cases like the Mariner I space probe. This quiz examines the importance of software quality assurance and the implications of coding errors. Prepare to learn about past mistakes and their impact on software development practices.
