In our beloved “world of technology”, bugs are allowed. In fact, they are so allowed that software bugs have ended up being like a plague of Cretaceous locusts that reappeared today, after a genetic experiment, to devastate everything*.
*Registered idea for a possible film set in the moors of Jaén. Do not copy us, you saga in evident decline Jurassic Park.
These software bugs we’re talking about can range from minor annoyances to catastrophic events, and have plagued experts since software was born.
The thing is, every once in a while, some random software bug appears and it is so weird or completely absurd that it becomes a bloody legend.
So in this article, we’ll take a look at four of the funniest ones and try to figure out what went wrong.
Are you in?
The funniest software bugs in history
The Killer Typo, one of the most mythical computer errors
Let’s start with one of the most infamous software bugs in history: The Killer Typo.
This bug made headlines in 2003, when a Canadian Space Agency programmer accidentally entered an incorrect variable into a computer program.
The program was to control the Mars Climate Orbiter, but instead of converting the metric system data to imperial units, it left them in decimal metric.
This caused the orbiter to fly too close to the planet’s surface, where it burned up in the atmosphere.
How did it happen?
It turns out that the programmer used an older version of Microsoft Excel which, by default and in turn, used imperial drives, while the program itself used metric drives.
The result was a catastrophic error that costed the Canadian Space Agency $327.6 million.
What have we learned?
Always double-check your variables before sending a billion-dollar spaceship hurtling to another planet.
The Blue Screen of Death. All famous computer scientists have been there
The Blue Screen of Death is a classic software bug that has existed since the dawn of the PC era.
It points to that dreaded moment when your computer crashes and displays a blue screen with a cryptic error message that makes no sense to anyone outside the software developer community.
It’s a frustrating error, yes, but in a way it is also funny.
So what causes the Blue Screen of Death?
It could be many things actually, from faulty hardware to faulty drivers or conflicting software. But whatever the cause, it’s always a headache for end users.
What have we learned?
That repeatedly hitting the side of the monitor waiting for an answer is just one of the many forms of uselessness that human beings show.
The Millennium Bug. Yes, it’s what you’re thinking
Ah, The Millennium Bug.
Do you remember it?
It was supposed to be the end of the world as we know it, as computer systems all over the planet were going to malfunction when the clock struck midnight on December 31, 1999.
The reason?
Most computer systems only stored the year in double digits (for example, “99” instead of “1999”), so they could not distinguish between 2000 and 1900.
It was a failure known for years, but which caused panic and chaos as the new millennium approached.
In the end, most of the time it turned out not to be a problem, but it is still remembered as one of the most exaggerated and overrated software bugs in history.
What have we learned?
We are old enough if we remember that.
The Invisible Mouse. Great programmers of history will remember it in the future.
Finally, let’s take a look at a more recent bug that caused some confusion for users of Windows 10.
Back in 2018, an error was discovered that made the mouse cursor disappear when users tried to move it.
The cursor would still work normally, but it was impossible to see where it was on the screen.
What was the cause?
It turns out it was related to a conflict between certain display drivers and a Windows 10 feature that allowed users to customize the size and color of mouse cursors.
The bug was eventually fixed, but not before causing some headaches to users who couldn’t figure out where their mouse had gone.
What have we learned?
That the essential can be invisible to the eyes, as that smart-ass guy, the Little Prince, said.
What have we learned from this article?
In conclusion, software bugs can be frustrating and even costly at times, but they can also be downright fun if they don’t happen to you.
Dimas P.L., de la lejana y exótica Vega Baja, CasiMurcia, periodista, redactor, taumaturgo del contenido y campeón de espantar palomas en los parques. Actualmente resido en Madrid donde trabajo como paladín de la comunicación en Pandora FMS y periodista freelance cultural en cualquier medio que se ofrezca. También me vuelvo loco escribiendo y recitando por los círculos poéticos más profundos y oscuros de la ciudad.
Dimas P.L., from the distant and exotic Vega Baja, CasiMurcia, journalist, editor, thaumaturgist of content and champion of scaring pigeons in parks. I currently live in Madrid where I work as a communication champion in Pandora FMS and as a freelance cultural journalist in any media offered. I also go crazy writing and reciting in the deepest and darkest poetic circles of the city.
