failsafes
Built-in safety measures
Failsafes are backup mechanisms designed to prevent disaster when the primary system fails.
A nuclear reactor has failsafes to shut down automatically if cooling stops.
The term extends beyond engineering: We built several failsafes into the contract.
A failsafe defaults to a safe condition rather than a dangerous one—the principle that failure should cause minimal harm.
Uncertain possible event
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
- preventionStopping something before occurring
- protectionGuarding against harm
countermeasure · buffer · cushion · monitoring · compliance
Needless duplication
- circuit-breakerAutomatic current interrupter
- fault-toleranceAbility to withstand malfunctions
- interlockJoin by overlapping
- tripwireConcealed activation cord
override · cutout · lockout · fuse · relay · sensor · alarm · governor
Stored duplicate for recovery
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- restoreReturn to earlier state
- redundancyNeedless duplication
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
snapshot · failover · rollback · checkpoint · sync · versioning · mirroring · clustering
Designing functional systems scientifically
- robustnessResistance to failure
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- durabilityResistance to wear
dependability · tolerance · validation · verification · testing
contingency
Uncertain possible event
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- insuranceContractual risk coverage
- preventionStopping something before occurring
protection · countermeasure · buffer · cushion · monitoring · compliance
redundancy
Needless duplication
- circuit-breakerAutomatic current interrupter
- fault-toleranceAbility to withstand malfunctions
- interlockJoin by overlapping
tripwire · override · cutout · lockout · fuse · relay · sensor · alarm · governor · stabilizer
backup
Stored duplicate for recovery
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- restoreReturn to earlier state
- redundancyNeedless duplication
replication · snapshot · failover · rollback · checkpoint · sync · versioning · mirroring · clustering · archive
engineering
Designing functional systems scientifically
- robustnessResistance to failure
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
durability · dependability · tolerance · validation · verification · testing
- safeguardsprotections, kill switch, defenses, emergency stop, shields
- support systemsfamily, friends, therapy, counseling, mentors
- workplace inefficiencybusywork, duplication, overlap, rework, redundancy
failsafessingle points of failure
Components whose loss collapses everything
vulnerabilities · security holes · weak points · flaws · weak links
failsafeshazards
Dangers or threats
risks · accidents waiting to happen · dangers · threats · time bombs