The business world moves very slowly.
“Out of date” tech to some people is battle-tested to others.
Comment on 5.25-inch floppy disks expected to help run San Francisco trains until 2030
FBJimmy@lemmus.org 2 months ago
The real question is why did they install a system based on 5.25" floppy disks in 1998 in the first place!?
The 5.25" floppy was surpassed by the 3.5" floppy by 1988 - ten years prior to this systems installation - and by 1998 most new software was being distributed on CD-ROM. So by my reckoning, in 1998 they installed a ‘new’ system based on hardware that was 1.5 generations out-of-date and haven’t updated it in the 26 years since.
sepulcher@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
You must not be familiar with government procurement
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 2 months ago
My theory: the system they purchased was based on an older and proven design for railway automation and control. Add to that however said company/contractor was set up to support their customers (e.g. OS only ships on floppy). That said, I agree that ten years without so much as a drive upgrade is a bit long in the tooth for something that can kill people or become a logistic and/or political disaster if it malfunctions.
ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Your excuse for touching it is also their excuse for not touching it.