Why is software so buggy? They ask Bjarne Stroustrup, the inventor of C++. His answer (paraphrased)
Because the stupid users value other things more than they value quality
Yes, those stupid users. How dare they have preferences different from Dr. Stroustrup’s. The unmitigated gall!
Update: fixed a missing apostrophe.
Raises some interesting ideas in my mind about the free-floating rationale between user and the entity that produces (obviously more than just programmers, there’s business in there too) and do these interactions give rise to some kind of selection process. Do software bugs come with some kind of evolutionary advantage like some human genetic disorders having a benefit that prevents them being selected out. or am i just waffling nonsense?
Comment by ed — November 28, 2006 @ 9:30 pm
hmm. I don’t think it’s evolutionary, but, like round pebbles are more likely to roll downhill, certain kinds of bugs are more “benign” and therefore more likely to survive.
For example: Spelling errors, mild mathematical errors, navigational obtuseness, missing functionality - things that, in general, people don’t find irritating enough to quit using a program.
For example, right now with MS word, I have the problem with large documents that formatting changes happen incorrectly. Frustrating, but a ^Z and the problem is gone.
Comment by jb — November 28, 2006 @ 10:04 pm
hehe, if buggy software generally means users get their hands on software earlier, get frequent updates (updates are the norm. now when once they weren’t - we have an update society) and even free stuff (beta software seems to be in vogue) then that’s a benefit i suppose. buggy software increases fecundity.
Comment by ed — November 28, 2006 @ 10:23 pm