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"Government is extremely price conscious, and may even have regulatory requirements that dictate a purchasing process."

My nightmare scenario is when of the K Street wonders (or I street) gets their software required for a grant program. It is always awful which leads to a nice side business in training classes. I've had to deal with too many of these wonders.

To give a nice example, one piece of software needed an "update". This update came in the form of a PL/SQL file that needs to be applied. This file was 762 megabytes. No install program just a list of steps to run the sql file that took over 4 hours to complete.



Actually, that seems like it was generated by some half-ass SQL generator written by a summer intern. Wait, are you running my code from 12 years ago?

The problem I've had with the RFPs I've responded to in this regard is that training may or may not be accounted for in the original RFP and if you try to increase your bid to accommodate the knowledge transfer sessions and especially the three to four that you have to schedule eventually because the people you need to train are all on PTO for three weeks at a time all for critical stakeholders.


  Actually, that seems like it was generated by some
  half-ass SQL generator written by a summer intern.
  Wait, are you running my code from 12 years ago?
If it is a SQL generator, they sure do a good job of randomly formatting and adding interesting comments.

I would prefer the software to require little to no training. Given what is gathered then typed in, it seems like they took the forms that are required and ran them through a blender then an input wizard. This is par for the course. They are already getting training on data gathering so having the program match the damn forms might be a bonus.

I am in awe of what can be shipped these days.


Holeee shit. I am just imagining hundreds of megabytes of INSERT INTO XXX(XX, XX, XX) VALUES (XX, XX, XX);


I happen to have one of the small 42 megabyte updates that has:

  UPDATE    12,904
  SELECT    22,810
  INSERT    91,170
  IF        71,792
  ALTER      1,148
  CREATE     5,338
more of the same at the larger size




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