Today we use the term "bug" without further thought to refer to a problem in a computer or it's software. The original "bug" was a moth that had gotten into an early vacuum-tube-based computer, causing a short circuit which resulted in an error in the operation of its logic circuits.

Jim

HAHA . . . I have a pic of wasps that built a nest in my satellite receiver, knocking out the signal. LOL

Real worms and bugs causing computers to crash. Not sure if I should even bring up a real Trojan...

[edited by: LifeinAsia at 4:30 pm (utc) on Feb. 26, 2009]

Today we use the term "bug" without further thought to refer to a problem in a computer or it's software. The original "bug" was a moth that had gotten into an early vacuum-tube-based computer, causing a short circuit which resulted in an error in the operation of its logic circuits.

While that's a great story it sadly isn't true, the word 'bug' to describe unexplained defects can be traced in mechanical engineering well before the invention of computers - see Wikipedia [en.wikipedia.org].

A very early computer (1940s) did malfunction due to an insect and was described as the "first actual case of bug being found" - see wikipedia image [en.wikipedia.org] - but it wasn't the origin of the term.