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Software Flaws That Became Permanent Infrastructure
Episode 6557
Published 1 day, 9 hours ago
Description
A single shortcut in 1965 or 1983 can calcify into global infrastructure when every workaround locks the flaw in place. This countdown of accidental software engineering designs explores Excel's phantom 1900 leap year, Windows's uncreatable DOS device filenames like CON and NUL, Make's invisible tab requirement, and Tony Hoare's billion-dollar null reference. It also examines how Excel's date auto-formatting pushed the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee to rename human genes rather than wait for a fix.
Episode 6557 — myweirdprompts.com/n/6557 (permanent short link: myweirdprompts.com/988542)
Listen on Android: MWP FM Player — myweirdprompts.com/apk