I think it is safe to say, that Open Range Software is the only company in existence that publishes software that contains more bugs than a Microsoft product. Recently at work, we were somewhat forced by management to upgrade our version of the Comprehensive Tracking System.
It wouldn’t be that bad, however Open Range Software hadn’t exactly tested their product. Instead it fell to myself and one other to test it “to the best of our ability”. While we tested, there were a few others that were suppose to look the program over, but they really didn’t do much. During the two or three week period that we tested CTS, Open Range Software released four different beta versions.
In fact, the day before the “go live” date, I reported a new bug within the program. The next day, a patch was issued as was the “gold” version of CTS. Sure the patch fixed that problem…
Here we are now, one week after the final version was implemented at work. We’re already on patch number three. Each patch fixed a different bug found in the “final” version. Today before noon, we identified three new bugs in the system. – I guess technically you could consider them really two bugs and a flaw in logic.
The bugs were identified, confirmed, reproduced, documented, and passed on to my boss. My boss will then evaluate and pass it back on to Open Range Software. So, now not only did we do the beta testing for another company product, we are also doing the testing and quality assurance for it. To put it simple, we test it, they fix it, and they sell it. Hell, we don’t even get a jar of Vaseline for our effort.
It’s no wonder that the Comprehensive Tracking System is often referred to as the “Can’t Track Shit” system by many our employees. Surely there has to be some better Environmental, Safety, and Health software out there…. somewhere? maybe?
Ok.. ok.. maybe it isn’t that bad. But it does have a lot of problems. And I don’t mean just software problems. Maybe it’s the lack of any formality, the lack of discipline, or just the tunnel vision by the lead (and only) developer. Who knows.
Oh well. At least it’s Friday. Which means it’s Stargate and Battlestar night. w00t
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Tags: Microsoft