Boston's Big Dig Delayed Because of Programmers?

dalewj writes "This article in the Boston Globe explains that Boston's Big Dig will be ready to open on time, if the software developers and cable layers can get their act together." Turns out honeywell's software isn't quite ready.

Comments

Re:get some more

[iceman80231]

No, get rid of the existing h1b's and put the Americans they fired back on the project.

Of course..

[stratjakt]

Like any gigantiforous project thats so overbudget as this, the programmers are the first to get scratched, in favor of another backhoe or bulldozer.

Then they're the first to be blamed when the entire project is late.

Unlike the other aspects of this project, they can't gauge progress or work yet to be completed based on tons of dirt moved, or number of steel beams installed.

So when Skeeter McPencilneck comes along to audit the project, he can't see a little progress chart with solid numbers, and of course its the software team to blame.

I'm reminded of a story one of my prof's told me, slightly off-topic but shows how 'real world' managers deal with coders.

Some General was overseeing the design and creation of a new fighter plane, and was busy going from team to team measuring the weight of every last nut and bolt used so he could nail down the operating specs.

So he gets to the software control team, and asks them "how much does your part of the system weigh?"

The team replies "Well, nothing sir"

The General is incredulous and miffed at the answer. He storms around the office until he finds a pile of punchcards. He holds them up and says "A-Ha. These have weight! You lied to me."

And the team replies "No, sir. The software isn't the punchcards - it's the holes in them"

Sidebar:

That city should have had to just stick with the useless skyway they pissed away all their dollars on. What a waste.

Lots of cities have terrible traffic problems. I'm stuck halfway between Baltimore and D.C., both could use a new multi-billion dollar traffic infrastructure.