Editing 2677: Two Key System

{{comic
| number    = 2677
| date      = September 26, 2022
| title     = Two Key System
| image     = two_key_system_2x.png
| imagesize = 645x316px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = Our company can be your one-stop shop for decentralization.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a SELF-TURNING BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

When we develop software (such as a missile launch briefcase) we sometimes build in safeguards, such as {{w|Two-man rule|needing two people for authorization}}, to prevent mistakes. 

Often, such safeguards are a nuisance, thus something else (such as a dual key turner device) is developed to make the safeguards easier to deal with.

When we find out that the thing used to make the safeguards less of a nuisance actually defeats the purpose of the safeguards, rather than simply removing the problem, a new safeguard is added which does the exact same thing as the original, nuisance included.

The title text mentions a one-stop-shop for decentralization which is a self-contradiction — because a one-stop-shop is by definition centralized.

This comic is posted on September 26th as a reference to Stanislav Petrov correctly rejecting the false detection of an incoming nuclear missile strike from the US on September 26th, 1983. [[2052: Stanislav Petrov Day]]

For related xkcd on software cycles, see [[2044: Sandboxing Cycle]] and [[1306: Sigil Cycle]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Caption:]
:All software development, eventually

:[Cueball is talking, while pointing to a drawing. It represents two keys, pointing to Cueball and Ponytail turning keys of a missile launch briefcase]
:Cueball: We've installed a two-key system to prevent accidental missile launches.

:[An arrow is pointing to the next panel:] Soon

:[The drawing now represents a device which allows Cueball to activate the briefcase by himself]
:Cueball: We've developed a dual-turner device to allow a user to efficiently turn multiple keys.

:[An arrow is pointing to the next panel:] Soon

:[The drawing now represents two keys, pointing to Cueball and Ponytail turning keys of a box containing the device of panel 2]
:Cueball: We've installed a two-key lock on the dual-turner device to prevent accidental use.


{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]