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My father designs HVAC systems for nuclear missile silos. I was asked him about how the embedded controls software works, and how they handle error conditions.

My father designs HVAC systems for nuclear missile silos. I was asked him about how the embedded controls software works, and how they handle error conditions. The biggest concern? EMP blasts. The solution? Mechanical failsafes.

a-priori 18y ago
This is the solution in other high-reliability systems as well. You develop to as strict standards as are feasible, then provide provisions (e.g. watchdog timers and replication) for when it fails.
- mleonhard 18y ago
  And supervisor processes, as in Erlang.