Re: "Bugs"

[evans@evans.pgh.pa.us (Arthur Evans Jr)]

In article <5cm8k8$pd@server1.erinet.com>, jhopper@erinet.com
(Jim Hopper) wrote about the use of "bug":

> actually i belive it was grace hopper who first used this term in
> conjunction with an insect that was taken out of a computer.  i have a
> dim memory of seeing a picture of her holding the bug with up with some
> tweezers or the like to be photographed.  also that she taped said bug
> in a logbook and recorded it. but like i say its a dim memory.

I've seen that picture (or one a lot like it), in Annals of the History
of Computing.  The story of taping the remains of the bug to the log
also appeared there.  That's a referreed journal.

But, the fact that Grace Hooper used the term "bug" that way does not
mean that the term hadn't been in use earlier to refer to a defect.

American Heritage Dictionary says (online version 4.0)
    4. a. A defect or difficulty, as in a system or design.
       b. Computer Science: A defect in the code or routine of a
          program.
Thus they note its use in our field but indicate its broader
applicability.

Art Evans

Arthur Evans Jr, PhD        Phone: 412-963-0839
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