Thus it was written in the epistle of Frank Gribbin,
> The article also discusses the sad state of software quality.
>
> "In the last 15 years alone, software defects have wrecked a satellite
> launch, delayed an airport opening for a year, destroyed a Mars mission,
> killed four Marines in a helicopter crash, induced a U.S. Navy ship to
> destroy a civilian airliner, and shut down ambulance systems in London,
> leading to as many as 30 deaths."
>
> Many of us helped to build a sound reputation for the software industry by
> representing the "old" style of development featuring careful design and
> coding.  Where coders
>
> "...stayed late in their offices exhaustively checking their work. Writing
> software was much like writing scientific papers. Rigor, documentation and
> peer-review vetting were the custom."
>
> Although the "modern" code and fix approach with inadequate testing may get
> a product to market faster, it seriously compromises the software's quality
> and invites litigation.  But most importantly it devalues us all as
> computer professionals.

I wonder what a change in the software-company liability situation would do to
the reported unemployment issues amongst computer professionals.  IOW, if
putting out buggy code makes a software company liable (and thus starts costing
them serious money), will they start looking again for experienced programmers?

Ted
--
Ted Ashton ([log in to unmask]), Info Sys, Southern Adventist University
          ==========================================================
The story was told that the young Dirichlet had as a constant companion all
his travels, like a devout man with his prayer book, an old, worn copy of
the Disquisitiones Arithmeticae of Gauss.
                        -- Tietze
          ==========================================================
         Deep thought to be found at http://www.southern.edu/~ashted

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