Posted by Paul DeCesare on October 28, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Ever wonder why bugs appear and programs crash? In my 15 years as a software developer I've not heard it explained in a way that everyone might understand, until now when a co-worker shared this with me (other NPN'ers that are programmers probably know this one already).
First, let me say that the problem lies in the fact that we as humans understand the little details when we converse with each other, but a big dumb box of parts called a computer understands absolutely NOTHING other than what the software developers TELL it to understand. The "system had a glitch" is a bold-faced lie, the programmer made a mistake, plain and simple. SO, here's why we have software bugs:
One day a programmer was heading to the store, and his wife said "Honey, bring home a loaf of bread, and if the eggs are fresh, get a dozen."
He came home a little while later with a dozen loaves of bread.
There you go, why we have software bugs. The eggs were fresh, and he followed the last instruction that he was given.
Humans understand that she meant eggs. The box of dumb electrical parts would not, it must be explicit.
And my peers in IT wonder why I'm working at going to photography full time, lol!
Posted by Max Waugh on October 28, 2013 at 3:22 PM
As a designer, it was always a headache dealing with developers and having to explain things to them. They're definitely wired differently.
Max
Posted by John Neukirch on October 28, 2013 at 5:50 PM
As a DBA let me say that computers are pure logic, they do what you tell them to do. Therefore a programmer has to deal in absolute literal interpretations of what they are told. No room for fuzzy logic, It is humans that think illogically. It's that old right brain left brain thing. I totally agree with Paul, I'm old and burnt out, just want to go out and take pictures.
Posted by John Neukirch on October 28, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Oh yea, I have a big sign in my office that reads "Say what you mean and mean what you say". That sure eliminates a lot of wasted time for software development.
Discussion
3 repliesFirst, let me say that the problem lies in the fact that we as humans understand the little details when we converse with each other, but a big dumb box of parts called a computer understands absolutely NOTHING other than what the software developers TELL it to understand. The "system had a glitch" is a bold-faced lie, the programmer made a mistake, plain and simple. SO, here's why we have software bugs:
There you go, why we have software bugs. The eggs were fresh, and he followed the last instruction that he was given.
Humans understand that she meant eggs. The box of dumb electrical parts would not, it must be explicit.
And my peers in IT wonder why I'm working at going to photography full time, lol!
Max