Bug-free software over working software
A defect can be hidden for some time, but in the wrong place and at the wrong time it will certainly appear. And you can be sure it will cost dearly.
By the way, would you board a plane with a defective system that was delivered on time? Exactly — think about that next time someone says “but it’s working”.
The shocking cost of bugs
Studies point out that software bugs cause thousands of financial losses. The most shocking is that many times the companies that produce the software are aware of the bug when selling to the client. The reason for such a feat can be multifactorial: short deadlines, cost reduction, lack of training, poor project management, and the eternal delivery of the product “at any cost”.
Deadlines are negotiable. Fraud is not.
History shows that some bugs cost dearly, including lives. That’s why delivering bug-free software late is better than delivering a software full of hacks with unpredictable results. The deadline can wait. The user’s trust cannot.
Real-life examples
History is relentless: software bugs have killed people, destroyed rockets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and nearly started nuclear wars. See documented cases in Historical Examples →.