Why We Keep Making the Same Software Mistakes

IEEE SpectrumMonday, December 1, 2025 at 7:52:15 PM
NegativeTechnology
Why We Keep Making the Same Software Mistakes
  • Robert N. Charette, a prominent risk analyst, highlights the persistent issue of software failures in his discussions, emphasizing the delusional thinking prevalent among IT professionals and executives. His insights, drawn from decades of experience, reveal that despite significant investments, the software industry continues to grapple with major failures, as evidenced by the Canadian government's Phoenix paycheck system and other high-profile projects.
  • The ongoing software failures pose serious implications for organizations, leading to financial losses and undermining public trust. Charette's analysis serves as a cautionary tale for stakeholders in the technology sector, urging a reevaluation of strategies and practices to mitigate risks associated with software development.
  • The recurring theme of software failures underscores a broader crisis in the technology industry, where trillions of dollars have been spent without achieving reliable outcomes. This trend reflects systemic issues in project management and execution, raising questions about accountability and the effectiveness of current methodologies in preventing failures.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

Was this article worth reading? Share it

Recommended apps based on your readingExplore all apps
Continue Readings
De-Risk the Energy Transition with Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing
PositiveTechnology
Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing is being highlighted as a crucial method for validating protection schemes, renewable energy integration, and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems prior to their deployment. The white paper discusses the limitations of phasor-domain simulation in capturing transient phenomena in inverter-dominated grids and emphasizes the advantages of real-time electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation for closed-loop testing with actual hardware.
AWS claims 90% vector cost savings with S3 Vectors GA, calls it 'complementary' - analysts split on what it means for vector databases
PositiveTechnology
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the general availability of Amazon S3 Vectors, which allows organizations to store vector embeddings directly in S3 object storage, enhancing capabilities for semantic search and retrieval-augmented generation applications. This development is expected to yield a 90% reduction in vector storage costs, positioning S3 as a more comprehensive solution for data management.
AWS wants to be a part of Nvidia's "AI Factories" - and it could change everything about how your business treats AI
PositiveTechnology
AWS has announced plans to integrate its services with Nvidia's AI Factories, combining advanced Nvidia hardware with Amazon's Trainium chips and AI models. This collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency and capabilities of AI deployment for businesses.
AWS Touts Impact of AI 'Frontier Agents'
PositiveTechnology
Swami Sivasubramanian, vice president for Agentic AI at AWS, discussed the transformative impact of new AI 'frontier agents' during an interview on Bloomberg Tech, highlighting how these agents are reshaping software development at Amazon.
How Amazon is Embracing the AI 'Chaos'
PositiveTechnology
Amazon is embracing the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) by empowering its employees with advanced AI tools, as stated by Colleen Aubrey, senior vice president of AWS Applied AI Solutions, during an interview on Bloomberg Tech. This approach reflects a commitment to integrating AI into the company's operations and culture.
"The world is not slowing down" - AWS CEO says AI agents will be bigger than the Internet, so act now
PositiveTechnology
AWS CEO Matt Garman has announced that AI agents are set to become more significant than the Internet, emphasizing the urgency for action in this rapidly evolving technological landscape. The statement reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence in various sectors and the need for companies to adapt accordingly.
Amazon Releases AI Agents It Says Can Work for Days at a Time
PositiveTechnology
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman announced the release of new AI agents at the re:Invent conference, claiming these tools can operate autonomously for extended periods, which is crucial for businesses seeking to leverage AI effectively.
Amazon's new AI can code for days without human help. What does that mean for software engineers?
PositiveTechnology
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled a new class of AI systems known as 'frontier agents' that can autonomously code for extended periods, potentially transforming the software development lifecycle. This announcement was made by AWS CEO Matt Garman during the re:Invent conference, highlighting three specialized agents: Kiro for software development, AWS Security Agent for application security, and AWS DevOps Agent for IT operations.