Software Testing Blog

In becoming self-aware, modern software has developed an unusually cruel sense of humor.

Last week, for instance, a woman hit the jackpot at a Colorado casino – to the tune of $42 million – only to be told that her winnings were the result of a “software malfunction.” Of course, the casino refused to pay the full amount, but graciously offered to comp her room and drinks.

“It seems like a fair deal to me,” said the woman. “I could have really used that forty-two million, but free drinks and a hotel are just as good. I’m the happiest person in the world.”

Just kidding, she’s completely irate. As expected, the dispute has now entered the legal arena. Call me a cynic, but I think she’ll have a better chance of winning at the slots.

Meanwhile in Orlando, a guy making a routine bank transfer was shocked to see his balance at $88,888,888,888.88. According to the news report, he was not the only one to sneak into the billionaire’s club that day. He pondered moving the money offshore ( honest guy!) but before he could find the area code to the Cayman Islands, the issue had been identified and resolved.

While we can all have a healthy chuckle at the “missed-fortune” of others, bugs of this variety are no laughing matter, especially in the business world. Think of the lawsuits, the money, the wasted time, the bad PR and sleepless night caused by such bugs. So great is the fear, that it has led many to take drastic steps to prevent such an scenario…like testing their software.