Government Software, An Oxymoron

Or "Software by Earl Scheib: I Can Build that System for $49.99"
I can't wait for Google to start a Federal Systems group. Until they (or someone else with their deep pockets and development methodology) get involved, the rest of us will continue with status quo. It is unfortunately not in our company's best interests to improve the way we develop software. In fact, poor software process is encouraged because it allows budget and schedule over-runs, otherwise known as Cost Plus and Follow-On Work.

Both sides are at fault for this, but ultimately the blame has to fall on the developer side. The client is only asking for what they want, as they always do. The problem lies with the development staff not explaining that they are making unreasonable requests. Furthermore, allowing the client to determine the technology to create the system will most likely not utilize the most optimal architecture for the problem. Which leads to more Follow-On Work. Perfect: the client gets what they want: a convoluted, inefficient system, and we get more money to fix our mistakes later!

Honestly, I can't wait for Google's first meeting with govvies where they say "You'll get your software when it's ready" and watch multiple General's heads explode. I don't have any idea if Google is crazy enough to enter this arena, but if they do, they will dominate it. Why? Because the existing competition is some combination of lazy and inept. Or, we are happy doing whatever crazy job the customer thinks up next.

I can't believe that the Form-A-Committee-to-Investigate-A-Commission world of the government works as closely as they do with the Long-Haired-Free-Thought world of software development. I know they've had in-house staffs before outsourcing the work, and I think that's pretty good evidence that they don't understand how to do it. But rather than say "Build me my system and give it to me when it's ready" they still want to have control over the process, but have success at the end. Remember Einstein's definition on insanity?

So why Google? They've got the money to make it work, but more importantly they've got the influence to break the model. Get government's hand off the software except deciding what they want and making sure it works, and you get a better product. Come to think of it, "Get government's hands off... and you get a better product" is a more succinct explanation anyway.