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Quote: the most intractable problem in constructing complex software is specifying what it should do; what if an event is not anticipated?

topics > all references > references a-b > QuoteRef: bornA2_1987 , p. 123



Topic:
specification is infeasible
Topic:
program proving is infeasible
Topic:
bugs

Quotation Skeleton

The hardest and most intractable problem in the … system should do. How does one know that … that may occur that were simply not anticipated … For example, in the 1960 false alert [of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radar in Thule, Greenland], proving that the system met its specifications would not help … is thus a misnomer--a better term might be … [Smith, B.C. SIGCAS Newsl. 14.4:1-3, 18-26]   Google-1   Google-2

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Additional Titles

Quote: instead of 'proof of correctness', should use 'proof of relative consistency'
Quote: the Ballistic Missile System Early Warning System failed because of the rising moon

Related Topics up

Topic: specification is infeasible (46 items)
Topic: program proving is infeasible (46 items)
Topic: bugs (65 items)

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