State of New Jersey needs COBOL programmers

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 4/5/20 12:22 PM, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:
> 
> 
>> 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outdated-technology-1660018.html
> 

And, if the happen to get those "volunteers", they will get
exactly what they paid for and the trade press will get even
more rocks to throw at COBOL.

bill