[dmd]

It is absolutely plausible that the programmers had no idea.

From the excellent Metafilter thread:

> i mean, how do the product managers rationalize this feature to their colleagues? what to they write in the spec that isn't all-out incriminating?

Modularity

Department 1:

Req 1: Software should enable emissions controls upon receipt of control signal A.

Req 2: Software should disable emissions controls upon receipt of control signal B.

Department 2:

Req 1: if epa testing device is detected send signal A.

Req 2: if epa testing device is not detected send signal B

http://www.metafilter.com/153117/EPA-Accuses-VW-of-Emissions...

[scintill76]

Still seems kind of fishy, at least without some stated reason why it needs to know it's being tested.

[greenyoda]

See this comment from weinzierl, which has an example of a system that needs to behave differently while in a test environment:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10409417

[jsprogrammer]

The offending code could be obfuscated through all manner of requirements documents.

Without being able to see the actual code and requirement documents, all claims about them are pure, idle speculation.

[teddyh]

Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean that it’s plausible or even likely.