#4180837 - 10/13/15 01:36 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: LB4LB]
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 165
DeadMeat
Professional Meat Shield
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Professional Meat Shield
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 165
Kentucky
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Hahaha, Windows is to new.
I've come to realize that many adults act more childish than most children.
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#4180889 - 10/13/15 04:14 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: LB4LB]
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,527
WileECoyote
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,527
Argentina
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Most of the flight information/reservation providers such as Sabre or Galielo have their systems written in COBOL in the 70s...
Windows 98 is the least of your problems, the real problem is that the only people that understand how these systems work are either retired or dead.
No joke, that's why the systems are still being used today. It's hard to replace something you don't really understand.
When you're feeling sad, just remember that somewhere in the world, there's someone pushing a door that says "pull".
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#4180905 - 10/13/15 07:30 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: Alicatt]
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 7,747
Ssnake
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Virtual Shiva Beast
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Germoney
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right where was that stack of punch cards? They were electronified in the DOS command prompt. Seriously. That's why the DOS screen is 80 characters wide and 25 lines long.
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#4180906 - 10/13/15 07:30 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: Alicatt]
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 3,552
CG2015
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 3,552
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Cobol? Man that is a distant memory from college, right where was that stack of punch cards? I haven't heard the word Cobol in decades until I read this thread today. How difficult will be for airlines to just totally replace their software with the latest technology without even needing for their I.T. folks to know Cobol. Just update the hardware and software and then turn the old hardware and software off. Like at my office last year they installed new computers and a new server room and new software and one day they just turn the old ones off and turn the new ones on and then totally remove all the old hardware - no problem.
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#4180910 - 10/13/15 08:12 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: CG2015]
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 7,747
Ssnake
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Germoney
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How difficult will be for airlines to just totally replace their software with the latest technology without even needing for their I.T. folks to know Cobol. 1) Guess what they are doing already? 2) It's not easy. Their whole ticket management is totally dependent on this infrastructure. If you make a mistake in the replacement job you disrupt the cash flow of the airline so you got to be extra careful. The airlines' computer systems and data exchange interfaces have millions of lines of code - a module for this, a module for that, ... - and if you don't understand IN FULL what the purpose of a module is and you only replace 98% of its functionality, you have effectively destroyed it. They can't live with a "90% solution". What these airlines must do is akin to DIY heart transplant surgery. You shouldn't attempt it in the first place, but given that you're forced to try it you got to be extra careful, or die. Wait too long with the operation, you die. If the operation takes too long, you die. Oh, and the blood packs that you need get were ordered by credit card, and if the blood bank (=the airline passengers) learns that you're using them all for yourself your credit rating might plummet and you might not get the blood (=cash flow) when you need it most.
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#4180919 - 10/13/15 09:30 AM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: Ssnake]
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,534
Alicatt
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Ice Cold in Alex or Eating in ...
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right where was that stack of punch cards? They were electronified in the DOS command prompt. Seriously. That's why the DOS screen is 80 characters wide and 25 lines long. One of the old Olivetti systems I had was a hybrid of punch card with magnetic stripe, but at least the data was stored on magnetic tape cartridge, it was 8 track plus control with one byte written across the width of the tape. It had no screen just an electric typewriter for input/output - bring your own ear defenders when it was doing an output run
Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil Sons of the hound come here and get flesh Clan Cameron
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#4181068 - 10/13/15 03:59 PM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: LB4LB]
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,700
Peally
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Wisconsin, USA
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Assuming no foul play if it's like any other business on the planet their downtime is generally a direct result of the money they dump into IT. Sometimes the money plain old isn't there, sometimes people are just cheap.
As for completely overhauling your entire infrastructure, it isn't exactly something simple you do overnight.
Scully: Victim died of multiple stab wounds. Mulder: *throws her a file* Ever heard of the knife alien?
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#4181127 - 10/13/15 05:36 PM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: Ssnake]
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,527
WileECoyote
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Member
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Argentina
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How difficult will be for airlines to just totally replace their software with the latest technology without even needing for their I.T. folks to know Cobol. 1) Guess what they are doing already? 2) It's not easy. Also 3) "it works". 4) There's no warranty that the new system will work better than the current. 5) Money at play. Tons of it. Also, probably, the new system will share the same fate of its predecessor, ie, nobody will understand it after 2 decades. Java is the new COBOL they say... and that's probably true. And I'm fine with it, it means I have a better future.
When you're feeling sad, just remember that somewhere in the world, there's someone pushing a door that says "pull".
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#4181188 - 10/13/15 07:42 PM
Re: Airline computer problems again
[Re: LB4LB]
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Jedi Master
Entil'zha
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Entil'zha
Sierra Hotel
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 49,716
Space Coast, USA
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Like most companies they hate to spend on IT because they see it as something that sucks money out not brings it in. So they wait, too long as usual, and then find it's that much harder and not any cheaper.
The Jedi Master
The anteater is wearing the bagel because he's a reindeer princess. -- my 4 yr old daughter
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