In his book Why Things Bite Back, Edward Tenner cites two stories that connect Thomas Edison with "bugs'. In 1878, Edison described his style of invention: "The first step is an intuition and it comes with a burst, then difficulties arise -- this thing gives out and then that -- 'Bugs' -- as such little faults and difficulties are called -- show themselves, and months of intense watching, study and labor are requisite before commercial success -- or failure -- is certainly reached."
Separately, Tenner points out that 'bug' was used by telegraphers as the name for hidden faults in circuits, and that it also had a literal meaning for operators, since Western Union offices were notoriously dirty and insect-infested. In 1868, Thomas Edison, who started as a telegraph operator, invented an early version of an electrical zapper to debug his desktop.
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Separately, Tenner points out that 'bug' was used by telegraphers as the name for hidden faults in circuits, and that it also had a literal meaning for operators, since Western Union offices were notoriously dirty and insect-infested. In 1868, Thomas Edison, who started as a telegraph operator, invented an early version of an electrical zapper to debug his desktop.