Xref: utzoo comp.arch:19662 alt.folklore.computers:7753
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!tivoli!lark
From: lark@tivoli.UUCP (Lar Kaufman)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Re:  The term Bug
Message-ID: <229@tivoli.UUCP>
Date: 6 Dec 90 16:46:26 GMT
References: <7298@uklirb.informatik.uni-kl.de> <127@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu> <1990Dec6.012530.18666@rice.edu>
Reply-To: lark@tivoli.UUCP (Lar Kaufman)
Followup-To: comp.arch
Distribution: usa
Organization: Tivoli Systems Inc., Austin, TX
Lines: 31

In article <1990Dec6.012530.18666@rice.edu> jsd@boreal.rice.edu (Shawn Joel Dube) writes:
>In article <127@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu>, lynch@aristotle.ils.nwu.edu (Richard Lynch) writes:
>|> [Numerous postings about Grace Hopper and the term bug not included.]
>|> I heard *SOMEWHERE* that the first bug was in ENIAC or UNIVAC, and was, in 
>|> fact a bug that got into the machine and was fried by the wires and whose 
>|> carcass maintained contact, thus short-circuiting the machine.  I 
>|> sincerely hope that this is true, since it IS the story I've told to 
>|> several hundred high school students. :-)
>Your right.  I read the same thing in a Popular Science (c. 82-84).

Well, the Grace Hopper story about the bug crisped in a contact of the 
computer circuitry is oft repeated, but consider this:  If the computer 
team wasn't already aware of the use of the term "bug", why would they 
go to the trouble of noting it in the logbook and taping the actual 
carcass into the book?  This was clearly intended as droll humor.  

I submit that it is probably accurate to say that this was the first 
instance of the use of the term "bug" (or perhaps even "debugging") in 
a computer context.  I believe that there is evidence that predates 
this usage in context of electrical systems, possibly avionics and the 
like.  Sorry, I don't have time to spend doing such research, but be 
careful out there...

-lar


-- 
Lar Kaufman            I would feel more optimistic about a bright future
(voice) 512-329-2455   for man if he spent less time proving that he can
(fax)   512-329-2755   outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness 
lark@tivoli.com        and respecting her seniority.  - E.B. White


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com