3 ms·

"Cheaper" or "remain within the budget" doesn't excuse using inadequate parts that don't meet the design requirements. Unfortunately, this total disregard for

by pdkl95 11y ago

"Cheaper" or "remain within the budget" doesn't excuse using inadequate parts that don't meet the design requirements. Unfortunately, this total disregard for safety isn't just software anymore. When we stat skipping lessons that we've know for a looooooonng time (such as why a split bobbin is an important feature in a transformer[1]), we have evidence of a serious need for strongly enforced regulation. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11474730 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11474730

tluyben2 11y ago
I know it doesn't, but unfortunately it is often how it works. More than I want to remember I have seen things like 'but lives depend on this!' or '100s of millions can get lost if this doesn't work!' and yet when the RFPs come back and something like InfoSys is chosen because big name and cheaper than experts in the field. Edit; > we have evidence of a serious need for strongly enforced regulation. Better education? But I guess strongly enforced regulation will force companies to not go for the cheapest solutions they can get away with which in turn will require people with actual knowledge in the field which will require better education, somehow.
- pdkl95 11y ago
  Better education is always a great idea. Unfortunately, regulation becomes a necessary fix for immediate problems. Note that regulation is the nicer option; the other way to force people to get the necessary education is liability, which could get really ugly in the case of medical devices.
  - tluyben2 11y ago
    There have been 'predictions' in the past of software creators being made responsible for the software they write in a liability way. Which will get very messy indeed. And grind the software world to a halt. Regulation is the nicer option and definitely the more realistic option.
makomk 11y ago
Sometimes it's all about tradeoffs. For example, a split bobbin is actually undesirable in most transformers because it reduces coupling between the windings, reducing the efficiency of the power supply. That's why if you look inside a better-quality power supply you'll often find that they have a split bobbin for the input common-mode choke and then a single bobbin with layered windings for the main transformer.

by pdkl95 11y ago

tluyben2 11y ago

I know it doesn't, but unfortunately it is often how it works. More than I want to remember I have seen things like 'but lives depend on this!' or '100s of millions can get lost if this doesn't work!' and yet when the RFPs come back and something like InfoSys is chosen because big name and cheaper than experts in the field. Edit; > we have evidence of a serious need for strongly enforced regulation. Better education? But I guess strongly enforced regulation will force companies to not go for the cheapest solutions they can get away with which in turn will require people with actual knowledge in the field which will require better education, somehow.

pdkl95 11y ago
Better education is always a great idea. Unfortunately, regulation becomes a necessary fix for immediate problems. Note that regulation is the nicer option; the other way to force people to get the necessary education is liability, which could get really ugly in the case of medical devices.
- tluyben2 11y ago
  There have been 'predictions' in the past of software creators being made responsible for the software they write in a liability way. Which will get very messy indeed. And grind the software world to a halt. Regulation is the nicer option and definitely the more realistic option.

makomk 11y ago

Sometimes it's all about tradeoffs. For example, a split bobbin is actually undesirable in most transformers because it reduces coupling between the windings, reducing the efficiency of the power supply. That's why if you look inside a better-quality power supply you'll often find that they have a split bobbin for the input common-mode choke and then a single bobbin with layered windings for the main transformer.