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I'm non payed enough to be legally liable for the code I do at my job. ...and moreover, what about the usage of third party software? (worse if it's free softw

by _ZeD_ 7y ago

I'm non payed enough to be legally liable for the code I do at my job. ...and moreover, what about the usage of third party software? (worse if it's free software...)

JackFr 7y ago
In a situation in which the consequences are so grave, you end up never vouching for the software as fit for purpose. Rather you claim best efforts to ensure fitness, and what you do vouch for is the testing you performed. If people at the top end of the pay scale signed off on your test plan, and you fully completed all testing successfully, it’s very difficult to find you blameworthy.
fierarul 7y ago
+1 Our local Post Office is seriously lacking man power. They pay roughly minimum wage. On top of that, since the postman also delivers money and other special mail (such as serving legal notices), they would be legally liable if the job is not done right. Is it any wonder that they have been trying to find another person for years!?
_trampeltier 7y ago
Look it in another way. Almost every worker in the not software world is legally liable for his work. For the chef in the kitchen (no poison in food) to construction worker (the building should not falling apart) or electricians (proper insulation and ground, etc). I work in industry automation and I really would see if software would be simple again. Todays software depend on so many external things.
- _ph_ 7y ago
  In Germany, and I guess in most countries, almost no worker is legally liable, as long as they are not actively ignoring the safety regulations applying to their work. So to make a software developer legally liable, you first have to set up a clear framework of "safety regulations" by which they can be judged.
  - _trampeltier 7y ago
    Yes every job has it regulations, except for pure software. Just software guys seems to have no rules at all.
    - fierarul 7y ago
      I assume you never saw a 'workmanlike manner' clause in an independent contractor contract? Any industry, including ours, has best practices.
- goatinaboat 7y ago
  For the chef in the kitchen (no poison in food) to construction worker (the building should not falling apart) or electricians (proper insulation and ground, etc) Yes and no. Those people are all responsible for doing their own jobs to a certain standard. If a building falls down it is extremely unlikely that it was due to poor workmanship by an individual bricklayer. The root cause will be in the design and the bricklayer isn’t in a position to challenge the design.
- cube2222 7y ago
  At least in Poland an employee can only be held liable up to an amount of 3 monthly salaries.

by _ZeD_ 7y ago

I'm non payed enough to be legally liable for the code I do at my job. ...and moreover, what about the usage of third party software? (worse if it's free software...)

JackFr 7y ago

In a situation in which the consequences are so grave, you end up never vouching for the software as fit for purpose. Rather you claim best efforts to ensure fitness, and what you do vouch for is the testing you performed. If people at the top end of the pay scale signed off on your test plan, and you fully completed all testing successfully, it’s very difficult to find you blameworthy.

fierarul 7y ago

+1 Our local Post Office is seriously lacking man power. They pay roughly minimum wage. On top of that, since the postman also delivers money and other special mail (such as serving legal notices), they would be legally liable if the job is not done right. Is it any wonder that they have been trying to find another person for years!?

_trampeltier 7y ago

Look it in another way. Almost every worker in the not software world is legally liable for his work. For the chef in the kitchen (no poison in food) to construction worker (the building should not falling apart) or electricians (proper insulation and ground, etc). I work in industry automation and I really would see if software would be simple again. Todays software depend on so many external things.

_ph_ 7y ago
In Germany, and I guess in most countries, almost no worker is legally liable, as long as they are not actively ignoring the safety regulations applying to their work. So to make a software developer legally liable, you first have to set up a clear framework of "safety regulations" by which they can be judged.
- _trampeltier 7y ago
  Yes every job has it regulations, except for pure software. Just software guys seems to have no rules at all.
  - fierarul 7y ago
    I assume you never saw a 'workmanlike manner' clause in an independent contractor contract? Any industry, including ours, has best practices.
goatinaboat 7y ago
For the chef in the kitchen (no poison in food) to construction worker (the building should not falling apart) or electricians (proper insulation and ground, etc) Yes and no. Those people are all responsible for doing their own jobs to a certain standard. If a building falls down it is extremely unlikely that it was due to poor workmanship by an individual bricklayer. The root cause will be in the design and the bricklayer isn’t in a position to challenge the design.
cube2222 7y ago
At least in Poland an employee can only be held liable up to an amount of 3 monthly salaries.