Quite beautiful isn't it?

Having been in the IT industry in various capacities for the past 18 years, I have learned a thing or two about the perils of supporting systems adhering to certain conditions. In specific, systems that have a small support budget.

The story goes like this (and I am sure this will be well known to you if you are not still wet behind the ears): A new project gets allocated a certain budget - could be big or small. A team of contractors get assigned to implement the system. Once implemented and tested, the contractors - as good contractors always do - go on to new projects. This is not unlike the civil engineering industry, where a bridge would be built and the contractors move on to the next project. In principal there is nothing wrong with this, but it creates a HUGE dilemma. In the case of civil engineers building a bridge, when the contractors leave they do not take any special knowledge with them. The blueprint of the bridge, the materials used, procedures used etc. are all documented and certified and approved throughout all stages of the project. This is why it is called engineering. Engineering is the use of scientific principals guided by rigorous processes and methodologies to ensure compliant, safe, reliable systems are built. Therefore the maintenance crew understands the system and can maintain it.

And in that lies the difference between the engineering world and the IT industry. I am an Electrical Engineer. Yet I have spent all my professional life in IT. I have all the background training to understand an engineer's mindset, and have all the practical experience to understand the IT landscape. And let me tell you, IT is like a children's party when compared to engineering. I have respect for engineers, I have none for IT people. And this is not necessarily due to the people in IT, but more due to the industry as a whole. People call themselves Software Engineers, yet they have no clue what an engineer is. IT does not follow processes, they follow deadlines and tight budgets. Why do you think each and every application has regular software updates? But bridges don't? That is a rant for another day though.

Yes it hurts as much as it looks like. For those who care, it is Iron (II) Sulphate crystals.