The Bug That Killed

I worked as the Principal Engineer at a company developing Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (this was 20+ years ago). We wanted to test three different image processing algorithms developed by three different members of our R&D group. I was responsible for integrating the algorithms into the code base and evaluating each. I defined a single function prototype to simplify and standardize the integration. The modules of the first two conformed to the prototype and integration was quick. The first thing I noticed when the third (EF) sat down with me to integrate his code was that he did not follow the function prototype.

We discussed his code and options; modify the code base to handle the special case of his module, write an interface module between his code and the code base, or modify his code directly to conform to the specification. I told him that the most straight forward path was to modify his module to conform to the specification. As I began to ask questions and make changes to his module he shut down and became completely uncommunicative. With him sitting next to me, I explained what I was doing and why, but he wouldn’t say a word or answer any of my questions. I finished the changes and he left my office.

The next day when I began testing the modules EF’s would not run. I went looking for him but he did not come to work. I finished testing the other two by the end of the day. The next day he did not come to work either. I asked our boss (BB) to call him and explain that I need his help to get his module running correctly. He gave me EF’s number and I called him two or three times over the next couple of days with no response. BB also gave him a call and again no response.

I continued to work on EF’s interface and eventually found a mistake I introduced and got his code to run.

The weekend passed and Monday comes around and EF still doesn’t show up for work. Mid-week BB announced that EF has passed away! It all sounded a bit weird so a few days later I called the Police Department and the detective handling the case told me that EF committed suicide one night by jumping off a freeway overpass into on coming traffic.

The next day I spoke with BB about it. He explained that in talking with EF’s friends he found out that EF had developed paranoia and was convinced that people (probably BB and myself included) were after him and trying to steal his ideas. Earlier in the week the apartment manager mistakenly let a carpet cleaning crew into the wrong apartment; EF’s apartment while he was out. When EF got home he noticed that furniture and stuff in general had been moved around. This convinced him even more that people were trying to steal his ideas and confirmed his paranoia. EF, at this point left his apartment and spent a few days with friends and then one night took his life.