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Anniversary of the First Computer Bug

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the am-i-bugging-you-yet dept.

aheath writes "According to the US Naval Historical Center the first computer bug was logged on September 9, 1945 at 15:45: "Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1945. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found". They put out the word that they had "debugged" the machine, thus introducing the term "debugging a computer program". The Wikipedia has a "computer bug" entry that lists some other "famous bugs" including the fictional HAL 9000 bug. What is your favorite computer bug story?"

4 of 398 comments (clear)

  1. To Be Specific.... by Caraig · · Score: 5, Informative

    To be specific, that first bug was recorded by future Admiral "Amazing" Grace Hopper, a (rare female) Line Navy officer (as opposed to a WAVE or Naval Reserve officer.) Her name has gone on to one of the most modern guided missile destroyers. She was quite a remarkable woman, read up on her career if you get the chance.

    --
    "I am an Adept of Tantric VAX."
  2. See TechTV for more by arth1 · · Score: 5, Informative
    TechTV has some interesting stuff on this:
    1. Twisted List: Five Computer Bugs That Changed the World
    2. Famous Bugs: The First Computer Bug
    3. Famous Bugs: The Funniest Computer Bug
    4. Famous Bugs: The Most Tragic Computer Bug
    5. Famous Bugs: The Most Embarrassing Computer Bug
    6. Famous Bugs: The Most Famous Computer Bug
    See TechTV for more details.

    I still think the bug in converting between metric and imperial units causing a billion dollar Mars probe to crash is the top one.

    Regards,
    --
    *Art
  3. Re:Best bug ever by grub · · Score: 5, Informative


    Here you go, with video.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  4. Edison by falsification · · Score: 5, Informative
    Sorry, but "bug" is older.

    From the OED:

    b A defect or fault in a machine, plan, or the like. orig. U.S.

    1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 11 Mar. 1/1 Mr. Edison, I was informed, had been up the two previous nights discovering `a bug' in his phonograph-an expression for solving a difficulty, and implying that some imaginary insect has secreted itself inside and is causing all the trouble.