How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error? 878
Posted
by
timothy
from the wasn't-me dept.
from the wasn't-me dept.
theodp writes "The Chicago Tribune's efforts to upgrade its computer system over the weekend turned into a fiasco when the system crashed, halting all printing operations and leaving about half of the Trib's subscribers without papers. The software contained 'a coding error,' according to a spokesman who estimated the cost to resolve the problem at 'under $1 million.' Any advice for the poor schmuck who's going to get the blame?"
Just one (Score:5, Funny)
Dogbert Strategy (Score:5, Funny)
I would have to follow Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook [amazon.com], and take full responsibility for the bungle. That way when the next job comes up two or three rungs above me, I'll be at the top of the list of people with actual experience with massive projects, and it won't matter that it was a colossal screw-up because I will have jumped two or three pay-grades. Corporate fall-guys, if they take it right, always end up better off than quiet behind the scenes types.
So my advice is that you should take full responsiblity and sharpen that resume, but be sure to make it known that you have learned from your mistakes and you worked hard to correct them. Nobody gets anywhere without making big blunders along the way. Be a good sport and you'll jump at least two pay grades for this blunder.
The scoop (Score:3, Funny)
(It pays to use Splint [splint.org])
Do as any knee-jerk slashdotter would... (Score:5, Funny)
My advice. (Score:3, Funny)
Well, if they're outsourced to India... (Score:5, Funny)
*ducks*
umm... (Score:2, Funny)
Who Was It REALLY? (Score:4, Funny)
I would get drunk. (Score:5, Funny)
Well, you asked.
Advice? (Score:3, Funny)
Well my first advice is to come clean, yes I mean you theodp, I think we all know who this poor schmuck is
Simple Advice (Score:2, Funny)
There's always a mistake in the requirements.
Re-engineer (Score:3, Funny)
Uptime (Score:4, Funny)
Point to EULA (Score:5, Funny)
Software provided as-is. Softare developer/company is not liable for any physical, financial, or any other loss or damage arising from use of software.
Doesn't all software come with things like this? (nevertheless, thank-goodness I'm not a software developer)
from Office Space (Score:2, Funny)
My advice (Score:5, Funny)
My advice: Prepare three envelopes
Only one thing to do now... (Score:5, Funny)
And this is why... (Score:4, Funny)
advice to hapless code monkey (Score:5, Funny)
Down, not across. (motto of alt.sysadmin.recovery referring to best method of slashing one's wrists).
Blame the users... (Score:3, Funny)
Or South Florida (Score:5, Funny)
How to handle $1,000,000 coding error? (Score:5, Funny)
I've seen this problem before (Score:5, Funny)
So your choices:
Plan A: Blame managers for forcing you to work under stressful conditions that lead to a workplace hazard (stress) that caused you to make the error. Cite that you had to work a lot of overtime and the lack of breaks and sleep caused you to miss a major bug.
Plan B: find someone like me who takes their time coding and have them look over the code and fix the problem for you. Sometimes another pair of eyes helps to find things you've missed.
Plan C:
Go to work in flip-flops, a Hawaiian shirt, sunlasses and tell everyone you are on vacation. Make Pacman noises, and talk to your invisible friends. Claim insanity and see if that works.
Plan D:
Start looking for another job ASAP.
My advice (Score:5, Funny)
And send his supervisor too for not testing the system properly before trying to roll it out.
Very carefully! (Score:5, Funny)
Frankly, I can't believe anyone would pay $1M for a coding error. Hell, the guys I work with make coding errors all the time, and practically for free!
(That's free, as in beer.)
Re:How to handle $1,000,000 coding error? (Score:3, Funny)
Poor schmuck probably already got that e-mail, and this "coding error" was a last-ditch attempt to generate the FOURTHY-THOUSAND DOLLARS he needed.
Re:Just one (Score:4, Funny)
Dod\/ge
|_______________________________________>schmuc k
McDonald's (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just one (Score:2, Funny)
You Slashdotted Illinois (Score:5, Funny)
I don't worry about it (Score:5, Funny)
As long as I keep checking in my code as someone else, I won't have to.
Re:I would get drunk. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It's my first week! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:1 Million? That's nothing! (Score:5, Funny)
X = Will accept any date 1975-Present.
Z = *.*
Y = Will accept any product made in the history of Microsoft. The Fabric of Space-Time is also an acceptable answer.
Re:My advice. (Score:5, Funny)
slashing one's own wrists (Score:4, Funny)
There is a story that relates the advice you seek (Score:3, Funny)
A high level minister of the USSR is on his way out and comes to his replacement to offer advice. He hands him two letters and tells the man "If you ever get in a situation that you cannot figure out how to get out of, open the first letter. If you ever get in another, open the second letter."
Well time passes and the new minister discoveres himself in a position from which there is no escape, so he opens the first letter. It says: "Blame everything on me." He does as it says and blames everything on his predicessor, and all is well. Some time later, he is again stuck with no means out so he opens the second letter. It says: "Get a pen, sit down, and write two letters."
So I guess it just depends on which letter applies to you
In all seriousness I'm not sure what to do in a situation like that. My level of responsibility doesn't afford me the ability to make mistakes of that magnitude.
Re:Dogbert Strategy (Score:5, Funny)
Trusty problem solving flowchart (Score:2, Funny)
http://www.sanecomputers.com/articles/humor4.htm [sanecomputers.com]
Poor Schmuck's Guide (Score:2, Funny)
Bad News, Good News..... (Score:5, Funny)
Good news: Rainforest saved.
Re:You Slashdotted Illinois (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, like anyone will care? Or even notice? *psssh*
need excuses? :-) (Score:2, Funny)
Answer: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:"angry or confused" (Score:3, Funny)
You might not get worked up, but can you imagine the front page come Sunday?
W.A. RETIREES LEFT WITHOUT NEWSPAPER
Had nothing to do at 5 a.m.
Re:Just one (Score:5, Funny)
There'll be an opening... (Score:3, Funny)
...as Communications Minister in the Australian government any day now [news.com.au]
Microsoft Windows. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:McDonald's (Score:5, Funny)
Re:My advice. (Score:4, Funny)
Watched 100000 records deleted from commercial db (Score:1, Funny)
Noone fessed up, but the guy who was red as a damn chili with sweat beading down his face *might* have been the guy.
P.S.
Backup was 1.5 months old.
It's a solution... (Score:2, Funny)
"Why the hell didn't you see this bug?!"
"You smell funny!" *puke*
Dude, I would (Score:2, Funny)
Re: Dogbert Strategy (Score:4, Funny)
> In my experience being honest about your mistakes and having the willingness to learn from them always pays off.
Yes, they'll just pull the lever that instantly drops your seat into the pool of piranhas, skipping those inconvenient steps where they would have to torture a confession out of you first.
Re:McDonald's (Score:5, Funny)
Isn't that what McDonald's food does anyway?
Re:Do as any knee-jerk slashdotter would... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:McDonald's (Score:3, Funny)
If he was a programmer by today's standards... (Score:3, Funny)
Only one option: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:More common than you think... (Score:2, Funny)
I can see it now. (Score:3, Funny)
RE:How Would You Handle a $1,000,000 Coding Error? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:You forgot... (Score:5, Funny)
I bet I know why....
Re:McDonald's (Score:2, Funny)
I would... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Do as any knee-jerk slashdotter would... (Score:5, Funny)
This post has been approved by the Slashdot Ministry of Truth.
Re:McDonald's (Score:3, Funny)
Under no circumstances... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Fortunately, the Chicago Tribune has insurance (Score:3, Funny)
Unfortunately, the insurance has a deductible of $1,000,000.00.
Re:You Slashdotted Illinois (Score:2, Funny)
>> Yeah, like anyone will care? Or even notice? *psssh*
What is an "Illinois"?