I was wondering about this as well, ie. if there is a qualitative difference between error and mistake. (English is not my first language, so can't really tell.)
IMO "mistake" implies an incorrect choice, whereas "error" implies an incorrect result. A mistake may or may not cause an error (and an error may or may not be caused by a mistake). There seems to be an element of "could have been done differently" in "mistake" that is absent in "error".
Recently I read an article saying that programmers should reserve "error" for the mathematical usage of "distance from correct result" (as in, behavior of the program), and refer to their bugs and other mistakes as "blunders" instead. I have to think on it more but I like the overall direction of the distinction.
Recently I read an article saying that programmers should reserve "error" for the mathematical usage of "distance from correct result" (as in, behavior of the program), and refer to their bugs and other mistakes as "blunders" instead. I have to think on it more but I like the overall direction of the distinction.