The Bug in Code: The Term "Bug" from Edison to Hopper

When most of us hear the word "bug" in the world of technology, programming errors come to mind. But behind this word lies a history that is both funny and thought-provoking. Let's travel back in time to 1947, or even earlier - to 1878, and take a look at technology's first acquaintance with "bugs."

Grace Hopper and the "First Actual Bug Found"

On September 9, 1947, a technical malfunction occurred in a Mark II computer at Harvard University. While inspecting the inside of the device, engineers found an actual moth inside a relay. They removed the moth and stuck it in a logbook, writing next to it:

“First actual case of bug being found.”

This incident was documented by Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, one of the pioneers of computer science. She did not actually invent the word "bug," but she was the first person to symbolize it.
This famous moth is still housed in the Smithsonian Institution today—perhaps the most famous insect in the history of technology.

Thomas Edison and the True Origin of the Word "Bug"

The first use of the word "bug" in technology predates Hopper. In 1878, Thomas Edison wrote a letter to William Orton, the head of Western Union, describing a problem he encountered with his telephone apparatus:

“I did find a ‘bug’ in my apparatus… It was of the genus callbellum. The insect appears to find conditions for its existence in all call apparatus of telephones.”

Here, Edison both alludes to a technical problem and lightens the situation with humor. In fact, he used the word "bug" quite often in his laboratory—especially in the so-called "bug trap" components.

This letter from Edison was auctioned by Swann Galleries in 2024 and sold for $12,500.

The Roots of the Word "Bug" - From the Middle Ages to the World of Code

The word "bug" comes from the Middle English word "bugge". At that time, this word was used to describe scary monsters. Its transition to the technical field began in the late 1800s and entered the engineering jargon with the influence of Edison.
Perhaps this is why programmers still see bugs as "monsters" - what could be more terrible than a bug that is not found in the middle of the night?

Tester's Day: Every Trust Has a Day

That moth that Grace Hopper stuck to her logbook is one of the pages of technology history written in a humorous but deeply meaningful way. Every year, September 9 is commemorated as Tester's Day - a day dedicated to software testers. Because bugs are still with us. But the people who find and fix them - testers and IT specialists - are the unsung heroes of technology.

The Future of Technology Without Bugs: Global Management's IT Services

Technology changes and develops – but errors, bugs, and gaps in the system never completely disappear. There is no need for moths for this – even a small error in the code can have big consequences.

As Global Management, we proactively prevent these types of technical problems with our professional IT services:

- System tests and automated checks

- Security and stability of IT infrastructure

- Fast and accurate software analysis
- Bug tracking and technical support services

If you also want your IT project to be “moth-free”, contact us.