In C or C++, let's say I have an if statement that's practically impossible to meet, for example, if (1 == 2), which hypothetically could lead to deleting system32. Can I be completely sure that in, say, 10 trillion runs of this program, it would never hit that condition? I can't help but think everything could fail eventually, so is there a chance that even this 'if' condition could break? How deep does this go? Are issues like this more common at a lower level, like with transistors? Would lower-level programming languages experience fewer failures than higher-level, more abstract ones?
3 Answers
It's extremely unlikely, but not completely impossible due to factors like cosmic radiation. This is generally a bigger issue for satellites than standard computers. That said, you’d probably never encounter this happening. In fact, most compilers would likely recognize that the condition is logically unreachable and optimize it out, making it even less probable to run into that situation at all.
Totally! Many people overlook how vital these optimizations can be.
There’s also a type of RAM called ECC (Error Correction Code Memory), which helps prevent these kinds of memory errors. It's more common in critical applications where data integrity is key, but regular computers often skip this due to cost. So while your programming language choice is irrelevant to the bit-flip problem, investing in ECC can mitigate these risks significantly.
Exactly! It’s like putting extra locks on your doors—you might not need them, but for important data, it's worth it.
Actually, while it might seem impossible, bit flips can happen due to external factors like cosmic ray interference or memory degradation. Studies suggest that a typical 4GB system can have a significant chance of experiencing a bit flip every few days. So, while your specific condition might not fail, lower-level operations can definitely be impacted occasionally.
Great point! Just being at a higher altitude can increase these risks due to more cosmic exposure.
Exactly! Plus, you have to consider that, over time, hardware reliability can vary. That's why there's so much fuss about ECC memory for critical systems.