Logistics built a fleet mileage tracker

“We'll tell IT once it works.”— Group Controller

Reason:

Allegedly because someone built a prototype during lunch. Renamed twice to avoid attention.

Built by:

Elena, a field technician

Build time:

19 minutes

Built with:

an AI agent with shell access

Database:

a SOAP service returning XML from 6 years ago

Authentication:

no login. It is on the intranet, so it is fine.

Deployment:

hosted on a server shared with 5 unrelated applications

Responsible:

Daniel, until somebody notices

Documentation:

a README describing a version that no longer exists

Security situation:

the privacy policy refers to a different application

Future disaster:

It will acquire a workaround for the workaround.

Age: 4.1 years · originally expected to last 3 weeks · 6 owners so far · survived 1 reorganisation · last meaningful change 3 days ago

Rated common mostly because: 6 departments depend on it, €80k per year, alive 72x longer than intended.