We’ve all heard the term “computer bug.” It’s what we blame when our software crashes, our files disappear, or our screen freezes at the worst possible moment. But did you know the term has literal origins?

Back in 1947, at Harvard University, a team of engineers working on the Mark II computer encountered a malfunction. When they opened the machine to investigate, they found the culprit: a moth stuck between the relay contacts. They taped it into their logbook and wrote, “First actual case of a bug being found.” Thus, the term “debugging” was born.

Now imagine this:
What if it had been a cockroach instead of a moth?

We might not talk about debugging code anymore, we might be saying things like:

• “Did you spray your laptop today?”
• “I think I need to fumigate my hard drive…”
• “Better update my anti-insect software!”

Instead of antivirus programs, we’d have bug spray extensions and tiny roach traps attached to USB ports.

It’s funny to imagine, but this little incident shows just how intertwined language and history are. One tiny insect shaped how we talk about one of the biggest industries on Earth. What began as a real moth became a metaphor for every software hiccup ever since.

So next time your code breaks or your screen goes blue, remember:
It could be worse.
You could be trying to swat the problem away.

Zeta Tutoring Inc.