Quality Assurance built a training completion tracker

“Nobody outside the team uses it.”— Thomas, Quality Assurance

Reason:

Because somebody watched a 8 minute tutorial. Started as Customers_FIXED_use-this-one.xlsx with a script attached.

Built by:

Thomas, the management assistant

Build time:

1 hours 25 minutes

Built with:

Excel macros, exposed over HTTP

Database:

a Postgres database called app_db-new containing 1 years of production data

Authentication:

IP allow-list containing 0.0.0.0/0

Deployment:

SSL certificate expires in 19 days

Responsible:

a contractor invoicing €863/day through a third party

Documentation:

an email with the subject "quick overview"

Security situation:

IT was informed. IT has chosen peace.

Future disaster:

It will be discovered during due diligence.

Age: 6.0 years · originally expected to last 4 weeks · 1 owner so far · survived 2 reorganisations · last meaningful change 3 days ago

Rated common mostly because: 4 departments depend on it, alive 73x longer than intended, older than the department using it.