Join the Hunt For the Government's Oldest Computer (muckrock.com)

v3rgEz writes: As the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' If a machine is doing its job, reliably and without error, then common sense dictates that you just shouldn't mess with it. This is doubly true for computers and quadruply true for government computers. This lends itself to an obvious question: what's the government computer most in need of an upgrade? MuckRock has launched a new FOIA project to find out, and has already started receiving some interesting results.

Comments

waste of tax-payer's money to answer these

[klindsay]

"If a machine is doing its job, reliably and without error, then common sense dictates that you just shouldn't mess with it."
"what's the government computer most in need of an upgrade?"
You've just given a great reason why some hardware is still in use, it works.
Why turn around and conclude that it needs an upgrade?

"knowing which agencies are running hardware older than I am is important"
Sure, for a very loose definition of important.

Re:Intredasting

[sphealey]

= = = A couple of years ago I heard of a late-70's VAX still being used at a small power plant. To my knowledge it controlled some sort of HVAC systems. Another old system, one I've actually seen, was a mid-80's computer of unknown make/model used to control traffic lights in a small city. It's funny, or actually impressive, to see such old systems still in use.= = =

Those systems were designed to be reliable, maintainable, and understandable by thorough professionals, so it is in no way surprising they continue to work. And in the industrial infrastructure world you don't replace equipment just because there is a shinier new version. 50 year old equipment is not uncommon in the provision-of-electricity industry and I've seen some 80 year old stuff in operation.

sPh

Re:"If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Fuck off.

[Dutch Gun]

The funny thing about pithy little phrases like that is that there's inevitably a counter-phrase that works to refute it. In this case, perhaps "don't put all your eggs in one basket" would be appropriate?

There's nothing wrong with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" as a general rule of thumb (nor of good uptime), but I'd certainly temper it with the notion that a lack of support or replacement parts can also be considered "broken", and thus in need of fixing. There's a lot of damage done by needless upgrades or "enhancements", which is what this phrase is meant to counter. I understand your frustration with idiots who view any one rule as some sort of golden rule handed down from on high, but... well, "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."