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  • Did Grace Hopper Really Invent The Term

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    While Grace Hopper did not coin the term "bug" to describe software errors, she helped popularize its use in computing after finding a moth in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer. However, the term "bug" had been used for over a century prior to describe faults and issues. Engineers and inventors like Thomas Edison had used the term "bug" in letters to describe small problems. Though the specific moth incident is true, the term "bug" was already commonly used to refer to issues before Hopper's discovery.

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    While Grace Hopper did not coin the term "bug" to describe software errors, she helped popularize its use in computing after finding a moth in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer. However, the term "bug" had been used for over a century prior to describe faults and issues. Engineers and inventors like Thomas Edison had used the term "bug" in letters to describe small problems. Though the specific moth incident is true, the term "bug" was already commonly used to refer to issues before Hopper's discovery.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    67 views2 pages

    Did Grace Hopper Really Invent The Term

    Uploaded by

    api-296687850
    While Grace Hopper did not coin the term "bug" to describe software errors, she helped popularize its use in computing after finding a moth in a relay of the Harvard Mark II computer. However, the term "bug" had been used for over a century prior to describe faults and issues. Engineers and inventors like Thomas Edison had used the term "bug" in letters to describe small problems. Though the specific moth incident is true, the term "bug" was already commonly used to refer to issues before Hopper's discovery.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    DidGraceHopperreallyinventtheterm'bug'

    todescribesoftwareerrors?
    DidGraceHopperreallyinventtheterm'bug'
    todescribesoftwareerrors?
    It'sanoftrepeatedtalethatthegranddameofmilitarycomputing,computer
    scientistandU.S.NavyRearAdmiralGraceHopper,coinedthetermsbug
    anddebugafteranincidentinvolvingHarvardUniversity'sMarkII
    calculator.

    READNOW

    Thestorygoeslikethis:
    OnSeptember9,1945,aHarvardtechnicalteamlookedatPanelFand
    foundsomethingunusualbetweenpointsinRelay70.Itwasamoth,which
    theypromptlyremovedandtapedinthelogbook.GraceHopperaddedthe
    caption"Firstactualcaseofbugbeingfound,"andthat'sthefirsttime
    anyoneusedthewordbugtodescribeacomputerglitch.Naturally,theterm
    debuggingfollowed.
    Yes,it'sanoftrepeatedtale,butit'sgotmorebugsinitthanRelay70
    probablyeverhad.

    Foronething,Harvard'sMarkIIcameonlineinsummerof1947,twoyears
    afterthedateattributedtothisstory.Foranotherthing,youdon'tusealine
    like"Firstactualcaseofbugbeingfound"ifthetermbugisn'talreadyin
    commonuse.Thecommentdoesn'tmakesenseinthatcontext,exceptasan
    exampleofengineerhumor.AndalthoughGraceHopperoftentalkedabout
    themothintherelay,shedidnotmakethediscoveryorthelogentry.
    ThecorefactsofthestoryaretrueincludingthedateofSeptember9and
    timeof15:45hoursbutthat'snothowthismeaningofthewordbug
    appearedinthedictionary.Inventorsandengineershadbeentalkingabout
    bugsformorethanacenturybeforethemothintherelayincident.Even
    ThomasEdisonusedtheword.Here'sanextractofaletterhewrotein1878
    toTheodorePuskas,ascitedinTheYaleBookofQuotations(2006):
    'Bugs'assuchlittlefaultsanddifficultiesarecalledshowthemselvesand
    monthsofintensewatching,studyandlaborarerequisitebeforecommercial
    successorfailureiscertainlyreached.

    Wordnerdstracethewordbugtoanoldtermforamonsterit'sawordthat
    hassurvivedinobscuretermslikebugabooandbugbearandinamangled
    forminthewordboogeyman.Likegremlinsinmachinery,systembugsare
    malicious.Anyonewhospendstimetryingtogetallthefaultsoutofa
    systemknowshowitfeels:Afterafewhoursofdebugging,anyproblems
    thatremainarehellspawn,mockingattemptstogetridofthemwitha
    devilishglee.
    Andthat'stherealoriginoftheterm"bug."Butwethinkthetaleofthemoth
    intherelayisworthretellinganyway.

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