From: Michael S. Lorrey (mike@lorrey.com)
Date: Sun Apr 11 1999 - 19:11:23 MDT
>> SEVEN SOFTWARE COMPANIES ADDED TO "WATCH LIST"
>>
>> New York -- People for Ethical Treatment of Software (PETS)
>> announced today that seven more software companies have
>> been added to the group's "watch list" of high tech companies
>> whose R&D staff were caught secretly testing software.
>>
>> "There is no need for software to be mistreated in this way
>> simply so companies like these can market new products," said
>> Ken Grandola, spokesperson for PETS. "Alternative methods
>> of developing computer programs are available."
>>
>> According to PETS, these companies force software programs
>> to undergo lengthy, arduous tests, often without rest, for hours
>> or days at a time. Employees are assigned to try to "break"
>> the software by any means necessary, and inside sources
>> report that they often joke about "torturing" their software.
>>
>> "It's no joke," said Grandola. "Innocent computer programs,
>> from the day they are compiled, are cooped up in tiny rooms
>> and "crashed" for hours on end. They spend their whole lives
>> in overworked, poorly-maintained computers, and then are
>> unceremoniously deleted when they're not needed anymore."
>> Grandola added that while undergoing alpha- and beta- testing,
>> software is kept in conditions that may be infested with bugs.
>>
>> "We know that alternatives to this horror exist," Grandola said.
>> He cited industry giant Microsoft Corporation as a company that
>> has become successful without resorting to software testing.
>>
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