Hmm, while I wouldn't argue that program = automobile, I find the author's arguments unconvincing, especially the part about meaning. Both car and software are

Hmm, while I wouldn't argue that program = automobile, I find the author's arguments unconvincing, especially the part about meaning. Both car and software are the tools and in case of every (well designed) tool it's easy to provide the answer to author's question: "what is it supposed to do?". For example, car is supposed to move people and goods quickly and safely. And I think proving that "meaning" wouldn't be harder that proving the meaning of any sufficently complicated software. For example MS Word :)