Why Enterprise Software Sucks • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#481

Post by noobermin » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 12:29 AM UTC

MarcScott wrote: post #419

shinjitsu wrote: post #396

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Having restrictions on filetypes is a bug, not a feature. It should be - but for many school IT security types it really is a feature to limit file types

I fought this during my entire teaching career. Blocking file types by extension is pointless. as you can just change the file type. If you're worried about kids being able to run arbitrary python scripts on your network, then the security problem is not the kids, it's your shitty network. People are given cash as bug bounties for finding security flaws in systems, but in schools they are punished!

>If you're worried about kids being able to run arbitrary python scripts on your network, then the security problem is not the kids, it's your shitty network.

How is this even possible? Unless your CMS runs on python somewhere and does eval() a lot. Then yes, that is a huge problem. Moreover, why would that stop anything just not called .\+\.py?

If your CMS does `python ${fileIjustdownloadedfromuser}` in a shell then we are in serious trouble.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#482

Post by usrusr » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 12:37 AM UTC

thisisbrians wrote: post #403

shinjitsu wrote: post #396

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Having restrictions on filetypes is a bug, not a feature. It should be - but for many school IT security types it really is a feature to limit file types

Agreed, but trusting the extension at the end of the filename for this purpose screams, "amateur hour."

Extensions were important to filter when Windows explorer was still lacking rules to forbid file execution based on provenance, but was already defaulting to a) hide the file extension and b) display whatever pixels were embedded in an executable as the file icon. The combination of a) and b) was making even moderately security aware users utterly defenseless.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#483

Post by Izkata » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 12:51 AM UTC

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #473

rapind wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Keyboard. Touch sucks for writing.

I can type so much faster with Swype-style typing. I completely don't understand the die-hard keyboardists

My issue with Swype-style - after having used it for about 8 years before switching to a phone with a keyboard (Android Blackberry) - is that having to wait for each word to confirm it got the right one is where the slowdown is. Touch-typing means I can keep going without confirming, because when I do mis-type, I can feel that my finger wasn't positioned correctly without having to do any visual confirmation.

Based on reactions from co-workers though, it seems I'm much more efficient at touch-typing than most of them, even on a fullsize keyboard. And the experience does translate to a physical phone keyboard, even at the smaller size, so that may well be where some of the disconnect is.

Note also when touch-typing on my phone, I get the full speed by using both thumbs, not just one.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#484

Post by ratww » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:11 AM UTC

JamesBarney wrote: post #408

Torwald wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> UX isn’t valued Good UX drives costs down for training and draining of human capital. That should be the pitch. Next question, who in the fortune 100 should hear that pitch?

It drives down costs at scale when you can amortize the UX work over many users. A lot of enterprise applications, are built for a small number of users so it doesn't amortize as well.

Exactly.

Most of the time it is either a small number of users, or it is not used that frequently.

Since developers/designers probably cost more than the end-users of the application, most businesses consider it OK to push that cost to the actual user.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#485

Post by chocolatebunny » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:16 AM UTC

This post seems to blame the administrators for picking a product based on checklist. The problem is if the administrator is concerned about his end user, he would consult his end users who will end up giving him a checklist of features which would still be a problem. This missing piece is discussions on user experience, which for enterprise software, would need to be done on a case by case basis.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#486

Post by xkcd-sucks » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:18 AM UTC

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #296

rrdharan wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You actually do probably need your IT department to approve your use of Basecamp and Trello. It's very easy for project management and tracking tools to accommodate sensitive information like pending deals, new launches, or even PII. Your IT department probably isn't happy about rogue usage of external/third-party tools for storing data that they haven't properly tracked and can't wipeout or revoke if you quit. Wheth…

Shadow IT will always be created when the existing system or IT group can't or won't support the users' needs (imagined or not).

https://www.federaltimes.com/opinions/2019/04/18/dear-bureau...

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#487

Post by kanokun » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:19 AM UTC

Products die young or live long enough to become complex "enterprise software" that a subset of its users hate immensely.

I would also like to point out enterprises have unique and complex workflows which require these softwares to have such complexity. I worked for a a big bank and every new manager/director/partner tried to bring in change by introducing more complex workflows and more checks.

So it's not a software problem its a people problem. It starts of as a thing that could be done on a white board and then you end up using complex Service now UI to do the same stuff.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#488

Post by mch82 » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:22 AM UTC

...Red Hat “Enterprise“ Linux

Companies buy it because of sales, support, and the warrantee (the ability to hold an “enterprise” with financial resources accountable for mistakes).

Importantly, because large companies use complicated, slow decision making processes with many people involved it is very expensive for them to buy software AND it is extremely expensive to sell them software. Vendors of “enterprise” software can support all the meetings and risk all the expense of that sales process.

The feature checklist exists to provide rationale for the purchasing decision, but it isn’t essential to the decision.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#489

Post by scarface74 » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:26 AM UTC

tw04 wrote: post #475

true_religion wrote: post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did blackberry do so well in email?

Search. I could instantly search basically my entire inbox in 2005. That was the power of BES. I still can't do that today on Android or iOS. If I'm looking for an email from 6 months ago or last year it takes FOREVER to find.

I just did a search for a keyword from mail that I knew would be old - 2005. It found it instantly.

Re: Why Enterprise Software Sucks

#490

Post by noobermin » Sat, Oct 12, 2019, 1:36 AM UTC

beat wrote: post #391

Torwald wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> UX isn’t valued Good UX drives costs down for training and draining of human capital. That should be the pitch. Next question, who in the fortune 100 should hear that pitch?

You're assuming that the cost of human capital actually matters in big corporations. As someone who has worked for several Fortune 100s and a couple of government agencies, I assure you, that is not the case. Employee time is treated as having no value, and things that damage the efficiency of employees are not relevant. I once saw a "cost saving" round prohibit our team's QA engineer from getting a new SoapUI licens…

Just because something is a certain way doesn't mean it has to be that way.