State of New Jersey needs COBOL programmers

[Zane Healy]

> On Apr 5, 2020, at 6:41 AM, Stefan Skoglund via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
> lör 2020-04-04 klockan 21:47 -0700 skrev Fred Cisin via cctalk:
>> On Sat, 4 Apr 2020, Jeffrey Brace via cctalk wrote:
>>> 
>> https://josephsteinberg.com/covid-19-response-new-jersey-urgently-needs-cobol-programmers-yes-you-read-that-correctly/
>> 
>> In December 1999, they were looking for COBOL programmers.
>> 
>> They were told to update their software.
>> 
>> Now, 20 years later, they are looking for COBOL programmers, to start
>> the 
>> update project.
>> 
> 
> To be fair, in this case updating your software means:
> 
> throw out the baby with the water
> build a completely new IT infrastructure with everything
> and expect things to work badly the next 5-8 years....
> long enough to hinder/(be a millstone around) the governor's re-
> election campagin
> 
> and then in 15 years, be prepared to redo....
> 
> Pundits like this steinberg is right and wrong - they doesn't
> acknowledge how expensive new fangled information technology is.

What’s really funny, in a sad way, if you read the article above carefully, and you watch the clip.  They’re looking for *VOLUNTEERS* to do this work!

https://www.latestly.com/technology/new-jersey-governor-needs-cobol-programmers-as-covid-19-response-volunteers-to-fix-unemployment-insurance-systems-gets-trolled-on-twitter-for-demanding-outdated-technology-1660018.html

Zane