[michaelmrose]

Getting a slightly wrong answer ought to have been detectable even after short period of time even if the difference was microscopic.

[Jtsummers]

Not the way we test these things. You set the KPPs and analyze system performance. Especially back then, there wouldn’t have been much in the way of unit testing or anything for these sorts of systems.

You set your performance parameters (have some success rate while operating continuously for up to 4 hours). Then you launch missiles at it (simulated and real). If you stop enough of then you’re good.

[michaelmrose]

Article discussing testing software back in 1976

https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=807721

No real good excuse for not actually testing systems that can take or save lives.