Subj : Re: Are programmers like this in the real world? To : comp.programming From : Chris Sonnack Date : Thu Jul 28 2005 05:55 pm Randy Howard writes: >> ...the Therac-25 software bug that killed several people >> (mid 80s). The software was apparently mostly the work of one, long >> gone, programmer, although lack of company QA also played a big role. > > Anytime one person has responsibility for code that can kill someone, > lack of QA plays a HUGE role, especially when the programmer has left > the picture. The notion that any programmer, no matter how > competent, should be solely responsible for code like that is > fundamentally flawed. Under most circumstances that's probably so, but in some cases of clear negligence, perhaps not. But mostly, absolutely. The important thing, in my mind, is holding programmers responsible for their level of training and skill. The idea that the "World's Worst Programmer" can "do no harm." >> Right. I'm saying I think that's because we haven't recognized that >> [certification] is a good idea for professional programmers. > > I think the reason is there is no demand for it. Agreed. I believe that, as the world becomes more and more software driven, it's gonna happen! > Cynically, not enough software development has the potential for > killing people to make it a priority to avoid it. :-( Cars and planes are increasingly software controlled. Give it time! > Let me know how comfortable you would be getting a heart bypass > performed in India, then get back to me. :-) Depends on where in India. In Bombay, I probably would have very few concerns. In rural India (or rural America, for that matter) I likely would. > There is a lot less custom software being written by hired guns > now that so much free stuff is available. It might not be exactly > what somebody wants, but it is probably close enough when the cost > is zero. Could be. As the field matures, people's taste for "off the rack" may shift. It's hard--or impossible--to predict whether software will end up as a common commodity or not. >> We just have the "misfortune" to work in an infant industry. > > Having benefitted from many of the side-effects of working in an > infant (i.e. high-growth) industry, I feel quite fortunate to have > been in the right place at the right time. [grin] Yes. Hence the dquotes around "misfortune". -- |_ CJSonnack _____________| How's my programming? | |_ http://www.Sonnack.com/ ___________________| Call: 1-800-DEV-NULL | |_____________________________________________|_______________________| .