Can you tell me what a computer 'bug' actually is?
Can you tell me what a computer 'bug' actually is?
user
That’s a great question! I think many people think of bugs as software errors. They get thrown into the news often enough that they’re easy to remember. But bugs actually include lots of different types of software problems, and their causes are often not quite as straightforward.
assistant
Can you try to briefly summarize what kinds of problems there are?
user
A software bug can be anything from a code typo to an infinite loop, or it can be a user interface or an interaction design issue, or something like that. It can also be a software bug that only affects a particular configuration of the software. There are different methods for fixing different types of software bugs, and sometimes it’s a complicated process.
assistant
Are bugs always some mistake the developer made?
user
That’s the traditional theory, but sometimes the bug is more complex and the explanation is more like a mathematical coincidence or a dynamic interaction.
assistant
Can you explain what you mean by dynamic interaction or mathematical coincidence?
user