Miscomputation in software Learning to live with errors

Tomas Petricek

The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming, 2017

Computer programs do not always work as expected. In fact, ominous warnings about the desperate state of the software industry continue to be released with almost ritualistic regularity. In this paper, we look at the 60 years history of programming and at the different practical methods that software community developed to live with programming errors.

We do so by observing a class of students discussing different approaches to programming errors. While learning about the different methods for dealing with errors, we uncover basic assumptions that proponents of different paradigms follow. We learn about the mathematical attempt to eliminate errors through formal methods, scientific method based on testing, a way of building reliable systems through engineering methods, as well as an artistic approach to live coding that accepts errors as a creative inspiration.

This way, we can explore the differences and similarities among the different paradigms. By inviting proponents of different methods into a single discussion, we hope to open potential for new thinking about errors. When should we use which of the approaches? And what can software development learn from mathematics, science, engineering and art?

When programming or studying programming, we are often enclosed in small communities and we take our basic assumptions for granted. Through the discussion in this paper, we attempt to map the large and rich space of programming ideas and provide reference points for exploring, perhaps foreign, ideas that can challenge some of our assumptions.

Paper and more information

• See the paper record in The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming journal.
• Download local copy of the final version of the paper (PDF)
• Talk slides from 2017. There are also longer slides from CodeMesh 2016 and old slides from HaPoC 2015.
• If you are interested in the evolution of the paper, here is an early draft.

Watch the talk

I had the pleasure of presenting a talk based on the paper at CodeMesh 2016 in London, the Alternative Programming Conference focusing on promoting useful non-mainstream technologies to the software industry. You can watch the CodeMesh talk here (and attend next year for great talks)!

Bibtex

If you want to cite the paper, you can use the following BibTeX information.

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@article{failures,
  author  = {Petricek, Tomas},
  title   = {Miscomputation in software: Learning to live with errors},
  journal = {The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming},
  year    = {2017},
  number  = {2},
  volume  = {1}
}

If you have any comments, suggestions or related ideas, I'll be happy to hear from you! Send me an email at tomas@tomasp.net or get in touch via Twitter at @tomaspetricek.