A GENERAL VIEW - Hard Real-Time Computing Systems: Predictable Scheduling Algorithms and Applications - page 5

Murphy's General Law

If something can go wrong, it will go wrong.

Murphy's Constant

Damage to an object is proportional to its value.

Naeser's Law

One can make something bomb-proof, not jinx-proof.

Troutman Postulates

1. Any software bug will tend to maximize the damage.

2. The worst software bug will be discovered six months after the field test.

Green's Law

If a system is designed to be tolerant to a set of faults, there will always exist
an idiot so skilled to cause a nontolerated fault.

Corollary

Dummies are always more skilled than measures taken to keep them from
harm.

Johnson's First Law

If a system stops working, it will do it at the worst possible time.

Sodd's Second Law

Sooner or later, the worst possible combination of circumstances will hap-
pen.

Corollary

A system must always be designed to resist the worst possible combination
of circumstances.

Table 1.1 Murphy's laws on real-time systems.