[oblio]

https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/08/09/the-joel-test-12-s...

Article from back in 2000, based on info from ~1990.

> 5. Do you fix bugs before writing new code?

> To correct the problem, Microsoft universally adopted something called a “zero defects methodology”. Many of the programmers in the company giggled, since it sounded like management thought they could reduce the bug count by executive fiat. Actually, “zero defects” meant that at any given time, the highest priority is to eliminate bugs before writing any new code.

Please read the entire article, it's worth it ;-)

[drewcoo]

I was there a little after and his division nor mine still had any such policy.

Joel worked on Office. Have you heard the hair-on-fire customer stories about Office from the 90s? It was a draconian response to what was probably seen as a serious company-wide problem at the time.

[gadders]

Knowing that essay is 20 years old makes me feel old.