I worked with some truly crappy software today...

My mom bought me lunch today under the guise of me helping setup her office with some "server" software.

I used "" on purpose, you will see why in a moment.

Anyway, this has to be some of the worst software I have ever seen. The latest version is from this year, 2013. Yet, to get it working in Windows 7 or Windows 8, you have to do the following:

• Enable Windows 3.1 compatitibility mode in bdeadmin (Borland Database Enginge)
• Use compatibility mode to run it as administrator
• Use built-in registry hacks upon launch because the installer does not work correctly. I kid you not, it has a button to fix registry errors after install.

All this has to be done after an install, just to get software to launch!


The company's idea of server software is to throw the database onto a public share so that the entire network can access it. I kid you not, the directions say drop it under user\public. Of course, it doesn't mention anything about, you know, that pesky thing called security. This software contains sensitive details, such as social security numbers.

I won't mention the software to protect the guilty, but it is very expensive.

I have never seen something so poorly written cost so much money, while ignoring blatant security protocols when directing their clients on how to use their server software. I secured it myself by moving it onto a private share, but I pity the unwitting customer that follows the company's instructions. That is, if they can follow their instructions. Every piece of documentation ans help has been written with a technician in mind, so that most users cannot figure out how to do a single thing in the way of troubleshooting. Naturally, they sell support packages.

 

I hate to sound stupid and/or condescending, but couldn't you get your mother to send it back for a refund and find something better?

 

Sure. I'll just have her move all of her data from 1,000 or so properties she manages to another software platform and have her get a refund for software she bought years ago The databases alone are over 1GB in size.

It isn't a new software. She is just using it's "server" features. My first experience with it is when she got a Windows 8 laptop and needed me to help her get it installed. The second time was the day I posted this thread. I just don't understand how a software package that is regularly updated (this year it was updated at least once) can be so....broken.

 

OK, sorry, I missed that bit.

My guess is that they think they can make as much money as possible off a platform designed and built when Windows 3.1 was still in use, when security didn't matter as there was no such thing as a web of inters.

 

I am happy that I only need to run one workstation with proprietary software (Win 7). My other work stations happily run Linux (Slackware). On a somewhat related note I spent a few days running OpenBSD 5.3 on one of my work stations. OpenBSD is simple to set-up, stable as heck, and bullet-proof(I am back with Slackware once again).

 

A lot of vendors are like that. We have a few that finally decided that sql 2008 r2 is okay to use. Though that was 2012. I have another project that I'm asking if server 2008 (x32 or x64) or server 2008 r2 is okay. Been waiting for 2 weeks on the response.

 

So the good news is, your mother at least has someone knowledgeable to call on for help...?

That software sounds dangerous.

 

I bet Adryn could write a better program while taking a short nap.

 

She does have a support package, but they are condescending. I talked to them once, and ended up hanging up after letting them know I would figure it out myself. So yeah, she has been going to me instead. I mentioned their attitude once, and she defended them with, "well, it is because they talk to pc illiterate people every day...".



While this is purely in my opinion, this software has been around for over 20 years and it looks to me like like they are putting in as little development costs as possible, while charging exorbitant prices for support packages. Back during that time, they could get away with such lax security procedures on a network too.

Even their website is borderline incoherent for a non-technical mind. If they at least took the time to work on that, they would solve some of their support issues. Of course, that takes money away from them through less support packages.