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2005-03-10 Home Front: WoT

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Posted by Steve White 2005-03-10 12:21:10 AM|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 more updated, flexible system - When people told me they wanted a flexible system, I used to push a blank sheet of paper across the table and tell them "That is the most flexible system I know." Some people got it. Not many though.

Posted by phil_b 2005-03-10 12:55:32 AM|| 2005-03-10 12:55:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 What they usually mean by flexible system is that it can bend over and they can fuck with it.

Posted by twobyfour 2005-03-10 1:08:08 AM|| 2005-03-10 1:08:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 They should talk to Fred. They don't know what they're doing - and it's our money. I could say sooo much more, having designed and written big-assed monsters for the last 30 years, but it would be a waste. Everyone has their favorite dog to enter, such as a wiki-based model, but it will end up being custom and expensive, no matter what is available or what they say.

Fibbie Mgmt. Sigh. Geez, you suck like a perfect F5. Talk to Fred -- or talk to the hand, you morons.

Posted by .com 2005-03-10 1:08:53 AM|| 2005-03-10 1:08:53 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Weren't we discussing this a while ago? Reads familiar. Or was it another fine example of government at work?

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-10 1:17:07 AM|| 2005-03-10 1:17:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Yep - the monster they were fooling around with finally croaked - as it was clear it would do way back when. I just do not believe in employing fools - and Fibbie upper management is all about image and sending "messages" and sucking up to congressional committees - resulting in political waste and failure, instead of technology and law enforcement triumphs. This is not the first major Fibbie IT fuckup, just the latest and, probably, the most expensive.

Posted by .com 2005-03-10 1:28:14 AM|| 2005-03-10 1:28:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 This is the outcome of ALL government custom software projects excluding those in hard science. Scientists know how software works. They don't overpay and they don't get screwed very often. The FBI, IRS, whom ever allways go over budget and end up with an unusable one off system.

Clue 1 Decide what you want and stick to it. Don't change your mind every 2 weeks and toss all previous work in the trash can. (normal way government does custom software.)

Clue 3. Buy off the shelf solutions just like real succsssful businesses do.

Clue 3. Hire real software engineers and coders to keep it running and secure and to slap a "custom" front end on the unchanged base comercial applications.

Clue 4. Fire anyone who can't understand Clues 1 through 3

Clue 5. Shoot anyone who ignores Clue 4.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-03-10 1:43:22 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-03-10 1:43:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 SPoD, It is all #1.
There may not be a suitable off-the-shelf commercial app available for their specific requirements--if yes, then follow your scenario, if not, there ARE capable people to do it. But it all (no matter if the base is off-the-shelf commercial app or custom made) hinges on #1.

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-10 1:50:08 AM|| 2005-03-10 1:50:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 SPOD there is one place where they get programs that work.

The military - especially in the Intelligence areas. The brainiacs at NSA, for example. Mobile for the end users, robust, and relatively simple to operate and maintain - and internetowrked!

Maybe the FBI should shove its "Not Invented Here" pride, and simply ask what military software it can put to use, and get someone to install it, and then customize off that base.

There is probably plenty of GOTs (Government off the shelf) stuff sitting around if they'd drop the "must be special for the FBI" attitude.

Posted by OldSpook 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 OldSpook, yup, NSA has some excellent software engineers.

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-10 2:54:33 AM|| 2005-03-10 2:54:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 The stuff the military does is more "science" than anything else. The NSA can teach any and everyone about "computer security." They do hire real swoftware engineers and coders. They get Clue #1 because they don't get "do overs" in their line of work.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-03-10 4:00:01 AM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-03-10 4:00:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Shocking revelation: Organizations for whom software is core do a better job of producing/procuring software.

NASA does worlds better than the FBI or FAA.

Posted by Dishman 2005-03-10 4:40:10 AM|| 2005-03-10 4:40:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 perhaps I can interest anyone in a zx81 with no network support?
Surely it couldnt be any worse than the existing fbi database .. Cross system intergration may be a problem though , but not an Â£88 million problem ! hehe

Posted by MacNails 2005-03-10 7:04:25 AM|| 2005-03-10 7:04:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 I wonder if someone even considered some off-the-shelf system that was "good enough?"

You go to war with the computer system you have, not necessarily what you'd like to have...

Posted by jackal 2005-03-10 7:23:41 AM|| [http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html] 2005-03-10 7:23:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 Sobiesky #7

From what I've heard of the requirements a good start would be a CRM system. With all the built in marketing / contract / contact, leads / etc. features all you need to do is change the terminology a little bit and voila, case file management.

I've done software customization for the feds and the only thing wrong with the 5 rules is that your lucky if they make it 2 HOURS no less weeks without changing the spec. I've worked at some of the biggest companies in the country and the absolute worst internal politics there was 2 orders of magnitude better than the feds.

Posted by AlanC 2005-03-10 7:24:32 AM|| 2005-03-10 7:24:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 Lotus Notes. Let NSA make it secure.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-03-10 7:36:54 AM|| 2005-03-10 7:36:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 PostgreSQL

Net aware and secure and in conjunction with ssh it can broadcast to anywhere securely. Agents can use it from a Palm Pilot if need be. With a web interface over ssl the db is from the starting gate custom.

Posted by badanov 2005-03-10 8:13:26 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org/title-boris.gif] 2005-03-10 8:13:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#17 The first thing to do is fire all the managers involved with the latest project - from the head of the FBI on down.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-03-10 12:18:02 PM|| 2005-03-10 12:18:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 Standard ADP procurement.
1. Done right.
2. Done on time.
3. Done within budget.

You get two out of three selections, the third is forfeited.

Posted by Glereper Thigum7229 2005-03-10 1:21:50 PM|| 2005-03-10 1:21:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 Mueller says he's taking responsibility, but where's his resignation?

These FBI bozos wouldn't know responsibility if it bit 'em in the ass!

Badanov is on the right track. All the software is already developed, they just need to put the pieces together.

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2005-03-10 1:22:11 PM|| 2005-03-10 1:22:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 badanov is right.
A secure opensource common database is key.
Everything else is presentation.

Posted by 3dc 2005-03-10 6:21:42 PM|| 2005-03-10 6:21:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#21 I've got an old Apple 2E I can loan them.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2005-03-10 7:21:24 PM|| 2005-03-10 7:21:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#22 ah... comeon! Someone must have an old Sinclair ZX81 they can donate. Its for a good cause!

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-03-10 7:24:15 PM|| 2005-03-10 7:24:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#23 You assholes keep your hands off my Imsai 8080.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-03-10 8:05:37 PM|| 2005-03-10 8:05:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#24 I believe I may be able to procure Minsk-32 (if the scrapyard did not get their hands on it already). Russian parts, American parts... does not matter, it's all Made in Taiwan anyway!

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-10 9:03:53 PM|| 2005-03-10 9:03:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#25 GT Re: #18

The phrase "we" always used was:

Good, Fast, CHeap -- Pick 2.

Posted by .com 2005-03-10 10:11:19 PM|| 2005-03-10 10:11:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#26 Cost, Schedule, Quality - anybody can get two of the three.

Posted by Bobby 2005-03-10 11:08:29 PM|| 2005-03-10 11:08:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#27 SPOD there is one place where they get programs that work.

The military - especially in the Intelligence areas. The brainiacs at NSA, for example. Mobile for the end users, robust, and relatively simple to operate and maintain - and internetowrked!

Maybe the FBI should shove its "Not Invented Here" pride, and simply ask what military software it can put to use, and get someone to install it, and then customize off that base.

There is probably plenty of GOTs (Government off the shelf) stuff sitting around if they'd drop the "must be special for the FBI" attitude.

Posted by OldSpook 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#28 Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]

Posted by OldSpook 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| 2005-03-10 2:47:30 AM|| Front Page Top

18:55 REAL American
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23:33 SteveS
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23:07 .com
23:04 Anonymoose
22:59 .com
22:56 Emir al-Litella
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22:53 Phil Fraering
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