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Whenever I'm using "enterprise" software or some equally-awful tool that's sold using a feature checklist, I can't help but think about Steve Jobs's line about

Whenever I'm using "enterprise" software or some equally-awful tool that's sold using a feature checklist, I can't help but think about Steve Jobs's line about how innovation is saying no to 1000 things. edit: Well, a feature checklist and $50,000 worth of sales dinners, games of golf and "gifts that do not violate the professional ethics rules of the company buying said tool."

5teev 14y ago
I suspect the worst software is the kind where the person buying it is not the person using it. This might also explain Apple's recent successes.
- mdonahoe 14y ago
  Can you clarify the point you are making? Are you saying that Apple is succeeding because their customers are their users? Or are you claiming Apple software sucks, and every ipad sold was a gift?
  - 5teev 14y ago
    > Are you saying that Apple is succeeding because their customers are their users? Yes, and they have different priorities than the CTO or IT manager, who may select enterprise software by feature checklist (or other priorities) rather than end-user experience.
anextio 14y ago
To quote Zed Shaw on how enterprise software gets sold: "steak and strippers".
eckyptang 14y ago
"Enterprise software" is about selling a $10,000,000 piece of software to one entity which requires specific features (and usually complex logic). Apple's mantra is selling a $1 piece of software to 10,000,000 people who require a simple piece of software. The two are perfectly valid. In fact the latter would not exist if it wasn't for enterprise software (such as CAD systems, inventory, supply chain management etc).
- greedo 14y ago
  Have you purchased any "enterprise" software lately? The idea that it's customized, bespoke software addressing specific requirements of the customer couldn't be farther from the truth. Here's how it works at my company. Some "architect" decides we need to have an Identity Management System and consults his latest Gartner report. He looks for the packages in the Magic Quadrant, and contacts the vendors. Then we buy what's the safest, least threatening application we can, for an exorbitant price. Hire consultants to help deploy it, discovering that it's a pile of dung that doesn't do what it advertises, much less what we actually need to do. This happens all the time in the "enterprise" world. Whether it's sold by IBM, BMC, etc etc. Don't conflate "enterprise" software with anything complex or intelligent. It's typically some of the worst software you can find.
  - eckyptang 14y ago
    Actually I build enterprise software and am a enterprise architect at a large company :) Please don't tar us all with the same brush. It's not all like that. You've been stung by a shitty purchasing and architecture team, probably put together from people who've ascended the ranks to the point they no longer understand the technology and want to suck up to management and wheel around the country in a company rollerskate with a ThinkPad and a caffiene problem. These are called ivory tower architects or as we call them: asshat-itects. Enterprise should mean certain guarantees about scalability and reliability and ability to adapt to the organisation. If it doesn't, you've bought a lemon, not a piece of enterprise software. Note: there are more lemons than not so you have to be careful.

5teev 14y ago

I suspect the worst software is the kind where the person buying it is not the person using it. This might also explain Apple's recent successes.

mdonahoe 14y ago
Can you clarify the point you are making? Are you saying that Apple is succeeding because their customers are their users? Or are you claiming Apple software sucks, and every ipad sold was a gift?
- 5teev 14y ago
  > Are you saying that Apple is succeeding because their customers are their users? Yes, and they have different priorities than the CTO or IT manager, who may select enterprise software by feature checklist (or other priorities) rather than end-user experience.

anextio 14y ago

To quote Zed Shaw on how enterprise software gets sold: "steak and strippers".

eckyptang 14y ago

"Enterprise software" is about selling a $10,000,000 piece of software to one entity which requires specific features (and usually complex logic). Apple's mantra is selling a $1 piece of software to 10,000,000 people who require a simple piece of software. The two are perfectly valid. In fact the latter would not exist if it wasn't for enterprise software (such as CAD systems, inventory, supply chain management etc).

greedo 14y ago
Have you purchased any "enterprise" software lately? The idea that it's customized, bespoke software addressing specific requirements of the customer couldn't be farther from the truth. Here's how it works at my company. Some "architect" decides we need to have an Identity Management System and consults his latest Gartner report. He looks for the packages in the Magic Quadrant, and contacts the vendors. Then we buy what's the safest, least threatening application we can, for an exorbitant price. Hire consultants to help deploy it, discovering that it's a pile of dung that doesn't do what it advertises, much less what we actually need to do. This happens all the time in the "enterprise" world. Whether it's sold by IBM, BMC, etc etc. Don't conflate "enterprise" software with anything complex or intelligent. It's typically some of the worst software you can find.
- eckyptang 14y ago
  Actually I build enterprise software and am a enterprise architect at a large company :) Please don't tar us all with the same brush. It's not all like that. You've been stung by a shitty purchasing and architecture team, probably put together from people who've ascended the ranks to the point they no longer understand the technology and want to suck up to management and wheel around the country in a company rollerskate with a ThinkPad and a caffiene problem. These are called ivory tower architects or as we call them: asshat-itects. Enterprise should mean certain guarantees about scalability and reliability and ability to adapt to the organisation. If it doesn't, you've bought a lemon, not a piece of enterprise software. Note: there are more lemons than not so you have to be careful.