Software Development Horror Stories

Tom Kelliher, CS 245

Nov. 17, 2004

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Assignment

From Last Time

Design patterns.

Outline

1. Chapter questions.

2. Team Exercises.

Coming Up

Open day.

Chapter Questions

1. List and discuss three causes of software system failure.

2. Why should life-critical software systems be held to a higher standard than other software systems? How much higher should the standard be? Is this standard reasonably attainable?

3. Should software engineers be licensed, as doctors, lawyers, and professional engineers are? Why or why not?

4. Milton, is that my stapler? No, Mr. Lumberg.

5. How did that last question get in here?

Team Exercises

1. Carefully consider the events associated with the Therac-25 disaster in conjunction with the causes of software failure listed in Section 11.2.1. Determine which of these causes are relevant to the disaster. Also, consider whether Therac-25 inspires additional items for this list.

2. Carefully consider the events associated with the CONFIRM disaster in conjunction with the causes of software failure listed in Section 11.2.1. Determine which of these causes are relevant to the disaster. Also, consider whether CONFIRM inspires additional items for this list.

3. Carefully consider the events associated with the ATT&T network breakdown in conjunction with the causes of software failure listed in Section 11.2.1. Determine which of these causes are relevant to the disaster. Also, consider whether the ATT&T network breakdown inspires additional items for this list.