I'm diving into the topic of program correctness and its nuances, especially regarding how software can behave in ways that aren't covered by its specifications. For instance, if I create a program that computes Fibonacci numbers and I specify that it only accepts nonnegative integers as valid input, yet the program happens to work with most positive floats, I wonder how to classify issues reported by users who encounter problems using floats when the specification doesn't cover that. It feels like these cases don't quite fit into the 'bug' category since the spec only covers specific inputs. Are there terms for these kinds of situations? I've heard terms like 'undefined behavior', but that seems more related to programming languages than the behavior of the software itself. It seems like there should be a widely accepted term for these unintended or unsupported uses of software, similar to how medications have off-label uses. Am I overthinking this?
5 Answers
If someone claims your software is buggy when using it outside of its intended purpose, it’s not really a bug but rather a feature request for those unsupported scenarios. The issue lies in whether users have reasonable expectations for the software based on its design. It's a fine line between what is a bug and what isn't!
When a program fails to handle a specific user case as outlined in its specification, I’d consider that a bug. Not understanding user expectations can lead to these situations. Don’t overthink it; clarity in communication about what the software can and can’t do is key.
Why does your program accept floats when it's intended for integers? I'd call those situations unsupported uses. You basically have three options: adjust your program to handle floats correctly, restrict inputs to nonnegative integers, or leave it as is and chalk it up to user error. It's critical to find that balance depending on user needs.
I tend to refer to these types of issues as 'design queries,' where users have expectations for features that aren't part of the original scope but which they find beneficial. It's vital to keep track of these requests so you can assess whether to implement them in future updates.
What you're describing could be seen as behaviors that are 'beyond the scope' of your software's design. When users report stuff like this, they're often filing what you'd categorize as 'feature requests' rather than bug reports. A good approach is to enhance your API or GUI to guide users towards expected behaviors and inputs. If that doesn't work, documenting the limitations in your software might be necessary to manage user expectations.
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