Hi. I'm an expert in modernizing legacy government software systems. This is profoundly stupid and will definitely fail

[Dan]

40. Yep, old timer COBOL programmer here from years ago...

I have been exposed to some of these hot-shot new coders with the newest computer languages rewriting old legacy systems.

If we are all lucky - they have a good team (business, data, application, implementation, parallel testing and validations (all levels)) working together. Whisper, whisper - they have to test the interfaces too, which they normally forget or ignore. Not all, but the ones that I have been exposed too, these hot shots seem to think that everything is just code, and the code generators that they use seem to omit lots of the business knowledge of the system.

So, questions to consider:
Since they are eliminating staff - who are the business experts that are assisting in the system validation and are they allowed to point out problems or are they just there to say 'yes, it was done' - check box.

How good is their test system environment (business group, data, migration, application and validation).

Data Migration from the existing data to a new database system (probably SQL). Converting that data really quickly without some good validation methodology means serious trouble in the future. Please to whomever deity we believe in - that they are providing for some data backup from the original data combined with the database system it was using.

Do they plan to run a parallel system when they implement the new replacement system (smart money says NO).

Now, if they also decide to move the data to another database system which I suspect that they have to do, how good and accurate on the data migration.

I am at this point laughing my ass off (because otherwise I will end up crying) - once they implement the new system and discover that they didn't do all that they should have done because of the need of speed, I am hoping that they have a backup plan in case of failure that maybe involves going back to the original host system. My guts say - NO, and then the lie that they can get the new system running, just needs more time and they will fix it on the fly.

At this point, just thinking about the many ways that a "quick replacement system" can fuck up, my stomach is acting up.

Seniors, people on Disability - the smart money says, put some money aside.

Smarter people than me - maybe can add some insights.