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jeroenhdHNSource author
Lessons learnedExperience excerpt · English

I've worked on software that communicated with other software using custom Excel spreadsheets …

… I've worked on software that communicated with other software using custom Excel spreadsheets exported by yet different software, modified by humans. Every stage of the process was specs-incompliant and was using edge case features, but this process oversaw transport for goods worth millions every day. I tried my very best not to reach for a Windows VM, but there was nothing that could work on these files. For the vast majority of times, bikes are good enough for the majority of travels, yet there are cars everywhere.

Original discussionOffice is too slow, so Microsoft is making it load at Windows startup1,020 source comments · at import
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BA
BarryMiloHN

It's crazy to me how because 1% of Excel users need pivot tables or something we're all stuck on it. LibreOffice is enough for the vast majority of use cases.

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skrebbelHN

> For the vast majority of times, bikes are good enough for the majority of travels, yet there are cars everywhere. Wow that was a very Dutch comment! I wonder whether it resonates with the Americans here :D

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KE
kermattHN

> software that communicated with other software using custom Excel spreadsheets exported by yet different software, modified by humans This sums up my entire experience of "Enterprise applications".

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