Bug compatibility

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Computer hardware and software is said to be bug compatible if it exactly replicates even an undesirable feature of a previous version. The phrase is found in the Jargon File.[1]

An aspect of maintaining backward compatibility with an older system is that such systems' client programs often do not only depend on their specified interfaces, but also on bugs and unintended behaviour. This must also be preserved by the newer replacement.

Examples of this can be found in Windows, which has traditionally emulated many old system bugs in order to allow older low-level programs to run. As a result, Wine, which makes it possible to run many Windows applications on other platforms, also needs to maintain bug compatibility with Windows.[2]

A hardware example is found in the design of the IBM AT A20 address line to emulate the behaviour in older processors.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "jargon.net, node: bug-compatible". Retrieved 2010-02-03. 
  2. ↑ "WineFeatures - The Official Wine Wiki". Retrieved 2010-02-03. 


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