The Birth of Computing Was the Birth of Testing

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The Birth of Computing Was the Birth of Testing

Grant Fritchey

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February 10, 2024 at 1:06 am

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"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
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webrunner SSC-Dedicated Points: 31817 More actions · Answer 1

Thanks for this fascinating info and for the book rec!

-- webrunner

-------------------
A SQL query walks into a bar and sees two tables. He walks up to them and asks, "Can I join you?"
Ref.: http://tkyte.blogspot.com/2009/02/sql-joke.html

gh Newbie Points: 3 More actions · Answer 2

Not sure I'd describe Tommy Flowers as a postal worker other than because of the name of the organisation he worked for.

True he worked for the General Post Office (GPO) a govt dept which at the time was responsible for mail, telegrams and telephones. He joined the telecommunications side of the GPO worked at the Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill (if memory serves) on electronic switching for phone systems prior to his work on Collossus.

The Research Station was transferred to Martlesham Heath in the 70s.

f.taylor Old Hand Points: 329 More actions · Answer 3

There was a BBC Documentary - Code-Breakers: Bletchley Park's Lost Heroes back in 2011 that explains all about the work Tommy Flowers and Bill Tutte did.

Looks like you can watch it here: https://clp.bbcrewind.co.uk/3027f811fdb585ce90c91fe27a1e8565

sean redmond SSCertifiable Points: 5823 More actions · Answer 4

As parodied by Mitchell & Webb with Numberwang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r6NY4Kl8Ms

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398815 More actions · Answer 5

gh wrote:

Not sure I'd describe Tommy Flowers as a postal worker other than because of the name of the organisation he worked for.
True he worked for the General Post Office (GPO) a govt dept which at the time was responsible for mail, telegrams and telephones. He joined the telecommunications side of the GPO worked at the Post Office Research Station at Dollis Hill (if memory serves) on electronic switching for phone systems prior to his work on Collossus.
The Research Station was transferred to Martlesham Heath in the 70s.

I just like saying it that way. He was an amazing person who did some incredible things, and all without formal training as such.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

Ross McMicken SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4431 More actions · Answer 6

Another great book on early computing and testing is Turing's Cathedral by George Dyson. Highly recommended.