I've been developing a PC-based (Python) automation system for the past 18 months and last week I entered the home stretch, nearly done. I had just a couple more tiny features to integrate. I was maybe 2-3 days from the end. And my program starts crashing. Not the gentle Python let-down with a nice traceback to tell you exactly where you where you messed up; no, the windows "Python has stopped working" message with no feedback or clue whatsoever as to the cause. It crashed like this once or twice several months ago but not since, so I assumed I had worked it out. Now the crashes happen without fail, but randomly. Maybe 1 hr, maybe 36hrs, but when you start it, you can be assured it will crash as soon as it is needed most.
I found enough whisps of a clue in the Windows event manager that with exhaustive googling I finally figured out what was wrong. I'm handling threads very poorly. I thought I had threading figured out, but I was wrong. I built everything I have worked on in past year, on a flawed implementation of threading. I am talking thousands upon thousands of lines of script. Most of it needs to be changed. It won't be as arduous as the original writing of it but it will not be easy either. Like building a house and while laying the carpet prior to moving in, you learn that your slab is too thin and you have to rip the house down and start over. You know how to build a house now so it should go quicker, but still...
This is one of the worst bumbles that the world has allowed me to make. In what reality or dimension does a mistake like this go unpunished for long? It never should have worked the way I wrote it. But it just "happened to" work until IT DIDN'T.
WHAT? WHY?
FML
I'm leaving work early. Going to go get some donuts. Not sure what to do after that. I have to dispose of a dead raccoon later but only after a few beers. It would help to hear that I'm not the only one who has made such grand booboos. What's your story? Please, one-up me. I need it.
I found enough whisps of a clue in the Windows event manager that with exhaustive googling I finally figured out what was wrong. I'm handling threads very poorly. I thought I had threading figured out, but I was wrong. I built everything I have worked on in past year, on a flawed implementation of threading. I am talking thousands upon thousands of lines of script. Most of it needs to be changed. It won't be as arduous as the original writing of it but it will not be easy either. Like building a house and while laying the carpet prior to moving in, you learn that your slab is too thin and you have to rip the house down and start over. You know how to build a house now so it should go quicker, but still...
This is one of the worst bumbles that the world has allowed me to make. In what reality or dimension does a mistake like this go unpunished for long? It never should have worked the way I wrote it. But it just "happened to" work until IT DIDN'T.
WHAT? WHY?
FML
I'm leaving work early. Going to go get some donuts. Not sure what to do after that. I have to dispose of a dead raccoon later but only after a few beers. It would help to hear that I'm not the only one who has made such grand booboos. What's your story? Please, one-up me. I need it.