Re: Software Vendors

[Evan Harris <spanner@xxxxxxxxxx>]

<SNIP>
>
>I think you are missing the point John, you never have to prove you have
>no bugs!  If the program works all the time and never fails, it is bug free.
>A bug is something that causes a program to act in a way it is not designed,
>if it always works as designed, it is bug free.  I don't have to prove
that.  If
>my users are using the program, and there are never any errors produced,
>it is by definition bug free.  As I said, the proof is in the pudding.
>
>Nothing in this world can be proven absolutely.  Absolutely nothing.
>
<ENDSNIP>

And therefore it follows you can't prove your progam is bugfree.

Jim, in all seriousness, the point they are making is not that your program
might not be bug free, just that testing etc does not prove it and that
therefore you can't state absolutely that your program is bug free.

Unless of course you are a divine force <g>

I suggest you buy "Code Complete" by Steve McConnell and read the chapter
on debugging.

If you happen to have this book already, re-read the chapter on debugging.

Another useful chapter might be Chapter 31 Section 2 titled "Intelligence
and Humility".

Cheers
Evan Harris
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