this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
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443
OceanGate’s ill-fated Titan sub relied on a hand-typed Excel spreadsheet (www.theverge.com)
submitted 1 month ago by Korkki to c/technology
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[–] Korkki 93 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I really do wonder why they ended up in this. It can' be that hard to make even a hacky DIY system to do it automatically. The navigation system just had to have some digital or even analog output, then it would be just the problem of interpreting the signal with some script and writing it into a file.

When Wilby recommended the company use standard software to process ping data and plot the sub’s telemetry automatically, the response was that the company wanted to develop an in-house system, but didn’t have enough time.

[–] [email protected] 102 points 1 month ago (3 children)

To write a script, you need someone who can write scripts.
If all you have is someone who can write VLOOKUPs in Excel, and the CEO is too cheap to hire someone, then that's what you use.

[–] rottingleaf 76 points 1 month ago (1 children)

So basically it's a project done by MBA geniuses, entrepreneurs and visionaries who optimized by cutting on those mundane and boring nautical engineers and software developers?

God, do I like how evolution works.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago

someone who can write VLOOKUPs

I think you're overestimating the competence on display here...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Sounds like they did the lookups by hand actually

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I really do wonder why they ended up in this. It can’ be that hard to make even a hacky DIY system to do it automatically.

All-manager team, no devs?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That’s why they use, what they know: Excel. I wonder if the UI was done in PowerPoint?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago

Nah, FrontPage.

[–] peopleproblems 4 points 1 month ago

It's exactly like Fallout lol

[–] T156 9 points 1 month ago

I like how the company didn't consider using standard software to do it, and then switch to the in-house system that they made later, instead of just having it done by hand instead.