Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Therac-25: A Software Bug That Killed

2025-08-27

In the 1980s, the Therac-25 radiation therapy machine killed and maimed several patients due to a software bug. A race condition in the software allowed for the machine to incorrectly deliver massive overdoses of radiation if data was entered quickly. The incident highlighted the severe consequences of neglecting software testing and process management in safety-critical systems. The lack of robust safety mechanisms proved fatal. This case serves as a stark warning in software engineering, emphasizing the importance of thorough software development processes, rigorous testing, and organizational accountability, especially when dealing with life-or-death situations.

Outsourcing Nightmare: The High Cost of Cheap Code

2025-07-06

A company outsourced a project to an overseas team, hoping to save money. However, poor communication and low-quality code led to numerous problems. The cheap overseas programmers failed to properly address a SQL injection vulnerability and even created a ridiculous name-based 'security' mechanism causing random errors. The internal team ultimately had to spend far more time fixing the mess, highlighting the significant risks of low-cost outsourcing. The story underscores that quality development isn't solely about price; effective communication and technical skill are paramount.

The CD-ROM Server Savior

2025-04-07

An aging server at Initrode Global was crashing frequently, requiring manual restarts. The IT manager was stumped until an engineer devised a quirky solution: using an old PC's CD-ROM drive and a modified script to automatically reboot the failing server. This makeshift 'robot,' dubbed ITAPPMONROBOT, provided a bizarre yet effective fix until a new server was deployed, then it continued its pointless routine until decommissioned.