4 ms·

How the term ‘computer bug’ was coined.

2 points by gaiusparx 16y ago

pg 16y ago
This is not how the term was coined. It was precisely because it was already in use that they found it so amusing when the cause of a bug was an actual bug. I suspect the usage originated with the metaphor of "ironing the bugs out" of something, which is presumably a reference to ironing some sort of bugs out of clothing.
- Mz 16y ago
  I read some book some years ago about an American man working in a Third World country. He had hired a housekeeper. One of the things she did was iron all his clothes (including socks) after bringing them in from hanging outside to dry. At some point, he ended up with a parasite of some sort in his back and had to have it treated by a doctor. At this point, he learned that she ironed all his clothes to kill fly eggs that might have been laid on the clothes while they hung to dry. The parasite he ended up with was likely because she failed to kill some of those eggs on a shirt. I don't know if "ironing the bugs out" comes from something similar. But that's what the phrase in your remarks made me think of.
- pc 16y ago
  Google Books has a reference from 1914: http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%... (It's a little ambiguous as to whether or not it refers to actual bugs, but I think the surrounding context makes it unlikely.) There's also a great reference in a 1915 issue of Automotive Industries: "Harry Grant drove some of the bugs out of his six-cylinder motor since last week when his best time was 91 miles per hour and covered a lap at a 96-mile an hour clip this afternoon. Haupt's Duesenberg has more speed than it had last ..." Which you can kinda see at: http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&ct=result&id=UM4qAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the+bugs+out%22+-stevenson&q=%22the+bugs+out%22#search_anchor http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&... but Google's restrictions prevent the actual quote from being viewed in context.
iwwr 16y ago
The first and only bug and not a feature.

2 points by gaiusparx 16y ago

pg 16y ago

This is not how the term was coined. It was precisely because it was already in use that they found it so amusing when the cause of a bug was an actual bug. I suspect the usage originated with the metaphor of "ironing the bugs out" of something, which is presumably a reference to ironing some sort of bugs out of clothing.

Mz 16y ago
I read some book some years ago about an American man working in a Third World country. He had hired a housekeeper. One of the things she did was iron all his clothes (including socks) after bringing them in from hanging outside to dry. At some point, he ended up with a parasite of some sort in his back and had to have it treated by a doctor. At this point, he learned that she ironed all his clothes to kill fly eggs that might have been laid on the clothes while they hung to dry. The parasite he ended up with was likely because she failed to kill some of those eggs on a shirt. I don't know if "ironing the bugs out" comes from something similar. But that's what the phrase in your remarks made me think of.
pc 16y ago
Google Books has a reference from 1914: http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q=%22the%20bugs%20out%22&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=dEXnAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the%... (It's a little ambiguous as to whether or not it refers to actual bugs, but I think the surrounding context makes it unlikely.) There's also a great reference in a 1915 issue of Automotive Industries: "Harry Grant drove some of the bugs out of his six-cylinder motor since last week when his best time was 91 miles per hour and covered a lap at a 96-mile an hour clip this afternoon. Haupt's Duesenberg has more speed than it had last ..." Which you can kinda see at: http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&ct=result&id=UM4qAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22the+bugs+out%22+-stevenson&q=%22the+bugs+out%22#search_anchor http://books.google.com/books?ei=1mZGTaePHoW0sAPl4t2vCg&... but Google's restrictions prevent the actual quote from being viewed in context.

iwwr 16y ago

The first and only bug and not a feature.