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In-Flight Reboot?

Posted by michael on from the no-problems-until-you-have-to-fsck dept.

steelem writes "The Washington Post is running a story about how the F-22 Raptor's software requires in-flight reboots. Apparently the 2 million line software project is 93% done. Knowing most projects I've been on, it'll stay that way for another few years."

20 of 594 comments (clear)

  1. Hah by B3ryllium · · Score: 4, Funny

    Welcome to Microsoft Airlines, your Stewardess today will be Steve Ballmer.

    1. Re:Hah by 680x0 · · Score: 5, Funny
      What?!? No one's made reference to the new pilot nicknames which are becoming popular... like Colonel Panic.

      Is this really Slashdot? :-)

    2. Re:Hah by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny
      your Stewardess today will be Steve Ballmer

      Better him than Clippy. Which would you rather hear? "Peanuts, peanuts, peanuts!" or "It looks like you're barfing! Would you like some tips on ways to hold your bag?"

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    3. Re:Hah by B3ryllium · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's okay, I found it humorous. General Protection-Fault really needs to start explaining his actions, however.

  2. In flight Clippy by niko9 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hi there soldier! You seem to have lost power to both engines secondary to a software malfunction, over hostile territory. Would you like me to help you reboot Windows?

    1. Re:In flight Clippy by Trevalyx · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I'm sorry, but the Escape function is disabled during reboot. Instead, you can change what I look like! Click F1 for more options."

    2. Re:In flight Clippy by FrostedWheat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hi there soldier! You seem to have lost power to both engines secondary to a software malfunction, over hostile territory. Would you like me to help you reboot Windows?

      F-22 Raptor has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost. Please tell Microsoft about this problem.

    3. Re:In flight Clippy by HillBilly · · Score: 5, Funny

      It looks like you are about to die. Would you like help?

      - Get help with dying
      - I'll die on my own thankyou.

      --
      "Go into the hall of mirrors and have a bloody hard look at yourself" - HG Nelson
  3. Too easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Would it be too trollish to say this brings a whole new meaning to "The Blue Screen of Death"? Yeah, I thought so too.

  4. Re: the 'let's go kill people' software by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


    > the 'let's go kill people' software

    Yeah, but the pilot ain't the one that it's supposed to kill.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  5. Critical software by limbostar · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Now, admittedly, it's critical software. This is the 'let's go kill people' software."

    Man, I need to get a new job.

    --
    this is a sig.
  6. Timing by SnowWolf2003 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Control: Destroy that incoming cruise missile. ETA 35 seconds.
    Pilot: Got Radar Lock
    Pilot: Hang on - just got to reboot. Will be ready in 36 seconds...

  7. Yes, my young skywalker... by bugnuts · · Score: 5, Funny
    Now you shall witness the power of this Fully Operational Ba...
    Your program has performed an illegal
    operation and will be closed by Windows
  8. Re:Remarkably frank ... by Matimus · · Score: 5, Funny

    It disturbs me that you are disturbed by the military talking about killing people. What exactly do you think the military does? Maybe they will make it open source and you can add some code for feeding orphans.

    --
    GENERATION 25: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social exper
  9. Knights of the Sky by anon*127.0.0.1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    During WWI, pilots would signal the enemy if their machine guns jammed. Then it was considered the gentlemanly thing to do for the opponent to wait until the pilot had cleared the jam before resuming the dogfight.

    I wonder if modern day pilots are going to need a way to signal their opponent that their computers are rebooting?

    --
    I am NOT a man!
    I am a free number!
  10. Redefines 3-finger-salute by SuperBanana · · Score: 4, Funny

    How about giving a whole new meaning to the term "three finger salute"?

    --
    Please help metamoderate.
  11. Not the first time by PortWineBoy · · Score: 5, Funny
    The original version of the A-6 Intruder had some sort of non-digital ballistics computer, the AN/ASQ-61. It evidently would freeze and require a reboot by kicking a certain area of the cockpit floor. The computer had a mechanical drum that actually got stuck and needed to be "booted" in order for it to get going again.

    Told to me by a pilot, I can't verify via a quick google.

    --

    this sig deleted by another sig

  12. Must be running windows by glen · · Score: 5, Funny

    [_] Take off
    [*] Land
    [ok](cancel)

    You must reboot your computer for the new settings to take effect...

  13. Re:LinuxBIOS in flight computers by Loligo · · Score: 5, Funny


    Sure, it's considered unsportmanlike to shoot someone with the ";) ..." over the cockpit.

    -l

  14. Gentoo F22/Java F22/FreeBSD F22 by dotslashdot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Java F22: Pilot: Firing on target... Computer: "Starting Garbage Collector. Please Wait." Gentoo F22: Pilot: Firing on target... Computer: "Compiling Sidewinder Missile..." FreeBSD F22: Pilot: Firing on target... Computer: "Sidewinder Missile is dying..."