Software in Space: Lessons Every Developer Can Learn From - Joe Winchester, IBM

Software in Space: Lessons Every Developer Can Learn From - Joe Winchester, IBM This talk covers how software is used in space missions focusing on the four most high profile failures, and mission rescues. Ariane 5, Cassini Huygens, Mars Polar Lander, and Spirit Rover. These were all struck down by lack of testing, software not being switched off when it was no longer required, failure to understand metric and imperial conversion, and race conditions writing to memory. While these had catastrophic results in two of these, the other two were rescued through a combination of brute force, raw ingenuity, and brilliant innovation. This talks will cover each of the space missions and discuss how the lessons learnt can and should be applied to day to day programming and testing and architecture of all software packages, especially as shops rush to move to adopt agile results without fully understanding the risks.