Wingenious (12/7/2016)
If we were all deeply pessimistic about redeveloping software then we might still be using VisiCalc.Sure, redeveloping software involves costs and risks, but so does running a business on a software system that's hard to support, hard to enhance, and fragile.
If redeveloping software (with an existing system as a guide) is such an onerous undertaking then where does anybody find the intestinal fortitude to develop software in the first place?
Well, I guess I was (used to be) one of the optimistic ones. I recall at one point taking on a project that involved moving my company from IBM hardware to Unisys hardware and software, converting a custom-designed interactive order processing package from RPG to Cobol, converting a custom-designed dialup order entry package using Telxon handheld units, customizing a 600k line interactive Cobol inventory, ordering, and account receivable package, moving to the A/R system from manual posting machines and paper ledger cards, all in one move. Add to that the situation in which all of my users were 50+ year old folks who had used their manual systems for many years and had no exposure to online interactive systems. My one side-kick and I kept 24-hour online production going and until the new hardware was delivered commuted 130 miles for testing at a hardware vendor site at night.
Yeah, I guess we were pretty optimistic, but we pulled it off without too much pain and suffering.
Rick
Disaster Recovery = Backup ( Backup ( Your Backup ) )