SIMS and XP SP3

[PhilNeal]

For something as mission critical as SIMS we do test extensively on all supported operating systems. We don't say that something is supported until we have done those tests. Every operating system release increases the testing burden and so we are cautious about taking on new systems without dropping support for older ones.

 

As far as I am aware there are no specific issues with this release.

[enjay]

you can't have it both ways

 

How were my two posts contradictory? One said that Capita don't test adequately, while the other suggested they tell us what the issue is so that we can decide whether it is worth the risk.

 

Personally, I find it annoying when a product is released and then pulled because it doesn't work in a specific configuration or it breaks a specific feature - if we don't have that configuration or use the affected feature, why can't we run the upgrade?

[CyberNerd]

How were my two posts contradictory? One said that Capita don't test adequately, while the other suggested they tell us what the issue is so that we can decide whether it is worth the risk.

they'd have to test it to find out what the risk was. How would they know if there was an issue unless they test.

[enjay]

they'd have to test it to find out what the risk was. How would they know if there was an issue unless they test.

 

If they had done adequate testing in the first place (my first point) they would not only have known they were releasing buggy software but would know what they bug was, and could then advise us and allow us to make an informed decision on whether or not to upgrade (my second point).

[CyberNerd]

If they had done adequate testing in the first place (my first point) they would not only have known they were releasing buggy software but would know what they bug was, and could then advise us and allow us to make an informed decision on whether or not to upgrade (my second point).

It seems that Capitas development architecture wouldn't allow for that. SIMS is heavily platform dependent and any changes on the OS would have to be tested thoroughly- As Phil indicated, this has to be done after any major OS release such as a service pack. I don't think they could get the service pack before anyone else. Personally I'm just going to wait until they officially support it before I start installing anything. It isn't a race.

[benIT]

LOL

 

just had this from our LEA:

 

Capita have advised that they will not be supporting XP Service Pack 3 until the August Release this year. Other LA Support Teams have reported various problems running SIMS on workstations that have been upgraded.

 

too late was the cry.....

 

mmmmm I do agree with the above however....

 

We had problem with Exam organiser - "Automation Error"

 

Capita told us, via our LEA, to run all available updates, and guess what!! This included SP3, They were aware of this also, so it confused me!!!

 

In fairness it was prob worth it for them as may have fixed it, even though it made no difference to fix fault!!!!

[PhilNeal]

We have tested SP3 on the June release.

[cookie_monster]

So will SP3 be supported in the june release or are you just running compatibility testing with what will be the june release?

[button_ripple]

Its installed on all of our admin workstations here, with absolutely no problems!

 

Capita should really start supporting things the day that they come out.

[cookie_monster]

Capita should really start supporting things the day that they come out.

 

How would they test something that isn't out to know if they can support it?

[PhilNeal]

Its only been tested on the June release but to my knowledge nothing was changed to make it conform. We'll help people using pre-June on SP3.

[Guest metalmonkey]

How would they test something that isn't out to know if they can support it?

 

Like every other software developers out there. They test it on the Beta releases to be in a better position than not testing it at all, until the final release.

 

Capita are not small fry. They are a big company and should be investing a lot of money in R & D... but don't.

[cookie_monster]

Well they say they do invest but i'm not so sure. Still i don't think many companies pushing out mission critical software test on another software houses beta code, MS could change anything and you would have to retest again. You can only be sure once you have tested on the released product.

[Guest metalmonkey]

If that was true (about being mission critical), then capita need to go back to the drawing board. I remember when SIMS.net was released. It was so buggy it would be hard to call it an Alpha release.

 

This May - on the second release, they fixed a bug where SIMS.Net would create a folder called C:\Program. Thats not been tested. They forgot to wrap the string in quotes. But more to the point, why is Program Files being hard coded? There is an API for that.

 

The truth is, Capita have two or three developers on SIMS.Net - but thats just a guess and it's a guess judging by the quality of the software. If they have more... well, they need to get some new coders in.

 

By the by... When MS release a beta, or any other reasonable company, then that can be assumed to be close to the final release, except for bug fixes (exceptions granted). But if Capita were to test on all Beta's prior to final release (ie, Vista), Capita would be able to get SIMS working without the end user being an Admin (as an example).

 

My point was this... they will find the bigger problems if they test on the beta's, leaving the minor issues to be relolved once it's released - and that means, they save time.

[cookie_monster]

I've supported SIMS and SIMS.net for 7 years now and i can only agree that it's been pretty poor for most of that time but it is still supposed to be mission critical.

 

I've been at a company that wrights management software for TDG and other very large companies and their team has 4-5 members on that product, maybe Capita are a person short of the ideal but it's only a front end to a SQL Db at the end of the day.

 

 

Capita would be able to get SIMS working without the end user being an Admin

 

Non of my end users are admins, lesson monitor was a small issue but that problem is on it's way out now.

 

I agree that they should be supporting the latest SP's sooner but on release is a bit soon in my opinion i wouldn't trust testing that was done on beta code.