4 ms·

I have some problems with the way modern software is changing, but I don’t think it is QA related, more a race to the bottom with perpetual beginner focused UX.

I have some problems with the way modern software is changing, but I don’t think it is QA related, more a race to the bottom with perpetual beginner focused UX. But as far as the author is referencing QA is there a good measure of quality over time? My recollection of consumer software started 30 years ago, and it was incredibly unstable. BSOD frequently, my uptime is far far better now. Save frequently, because you will probably lose your document at any moment; I still reflectively ctrl-s even though I can’t remember my last document crash. It references the image exploit in the article, that’s bad, but I got MS Blaster simply connecting to the network. No punting people with ping of death anymore.

Towaway69 3y ago
Have ransomware attacks increased in that time? Isn't the increase in attack surfaces for ransomware actors an indication of decline in software quality? Software has become incredibly complex and interdepended.
- rileymat2 3y ago
  I was trying to come up with a metric and threw that out because there is also more effort in creating ransomware and software ubiquity now. Thought about CVE counts, but that has methodological problems too.
  - Towaway69 3y ago
    The number of update reminders is a measure that I use. Updating software has become expected, as a reminder to open the app again. It would be nice if apps were developed as software for satellites: updating satellite software in flight is expensive, so constant updating isn't an option.
- nolongerthere 3y ago
  90-99% of ransomeware attacks are really just social engineering. There is no question that software is more bulletproof today than it was in 2000 when nearly every website was susceptible to simple sql-injection, OSes didn’t have any sort of built-in security or access controls.
  - Towaway69 3y ago
    Unfortunately the quality might be the same but we didn't have mobile phones and all sorts of other critical infrastructure depended on software. Social engineering has also been a problem since human communication was invented.

Towaway69 3y ago

Have ransomware attacks increased in that time? Isn't the increase in attack surfaces for ransomware actors an indication of decline in software quality? Software has become incredibly complex and interdepended.

rileymat2 3y ago
I was trying to come up with a metric and threw that out because there is also more effort in creating ransomware and software ubiquity now. Thought about CVE counts, but that has methodological problems too.
- Towaway69 3y ago
  The number of update reminders is a measure that I use. Updating software has become expected, as a reminder to open the app again. It would be nice if apps were developed as software for satellites: updating satellite software in flight is expensive, so constant updating isn't an option.
nolongerthere 3y ago
90-99% of ransomeware attacks are really just social engineering. There is no question that software is more bulletproof today than it was in 2000 when nearly every website was susceptible to simple sql-injection, OSes didn’t have any sort of built-in security or access controls.
- Towaway69 3y ago
  Unfortunately the quality might be the same but we didn't have mobile phones and all sorts of other critical infrastructure depended on software. Social engineering has also been a problem since human communication was invented.