Someone From Operations built a VAT checker

“It has HTTPS.”— Kevin, Someone From Operations

Reason:

Allegedly because the spreadsheet has 164,117 rows and 91 tabs. Started as Suppliers_new2.xlsm with a script attached.

Built by:

Kevin, a field technician

Build time:

51 minutes

Built with:

Svelte, because apparently this was the moment to experiment

Database:

a SharePoint list that started as a temporary workaround

Authentication:

a login screen that accepts any password

Deployment:

deployed by copying files over RDP

Responsible:

a shared mailbox nobody reads

Documentation:

one README with 9 TODOs

Security situation:

the admin URL contains the word secret

Future disaster:

It will stop working after someone renames a column.

Age: 1.4 years · originally expected to last 7 days · 2 owners so far · survived 1 reorganisation · last meaningful change 210 days ago · original builder left 303 days ago

Rated rare mostly because: 87% chance of becoming business critical, €331k per year, alive 71x longer than intended.