Modern airliners, automobiles, and defense systems rely on software to operate. This mission-critical software is often plagued by serious defects or bugs, and when some bugs bite, they kill. Building on that theme, computer journalist Minasi reveals the true cost to business and society of flaws in mainstream software. He examines software bugs in detail, pointing out common defects and providing commonsense advice on how to cope with software we rely on daily. Minasi also explodes the myth that "it's impossible to write software without bugs"Aa myth he alleges many software firms want us to believeAand he warns about proposed changes to laws that would allow a software firm to sell a dangerously flawed or completely useless application and leave no recourse for victims of its failure. Offering step-by-step advice on what consumers can do to help solve the problem of buggy software, he concludes by presenting potential future scenarios, good and bad, and the consequences that could result from inaction. A call to arms for software consumers and a warning to the industry, this is a worthwhile purchase for most libraries...