A TRUE Software Consulting Project Horror Story
Here's the true story of one of the craziest software consulting projects I've ever had the misfortune of working on.
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When Your Software Consulting Project Feels Like a Bad Movie Plot: A Wild Story
Have you ever felt like your software consulting project was doomed from the start, almost as if it were the plot of a bad movie? Well, if so, you’re not alone. I’ve been through my share of nightmarish projects, but one in particular stands out. It involved shady characters, SWAT teams, and a project that was destined for disaster from the beginning. If you’ve ever felt like your software project was spiraling out of control, this story might make you feel a little better—or at least a little less alone.
It All Started with Red Flags
It all began when I was asked to take on a new project at a consulting company where I had been working for about seven years. The project was based on the East Coast, and I had to fly there in the middle of winter—a far cry from the mild weather of Austin, Texas, where I was based. Upon arriving, I quickly learned that the sales executive who had closed the deal had quit just two weeks before my involvement. This should have been my first warning sign, but things only got stranger from there.
A Mafia-Like Vibe and Sketchy Surroundings
When I arrived at the client’s office, it felt like stepping into a scene from The Sopranos. The place was dark, with wood paneling, fake oil paintings, and a general vibe that screamed “shady business.” The product we were tasked with developing was a hardware kiosk for charging cell phones, but the more I learned about the project, the more concerned I became.
The Hostage Code Situation
The first major red flag came when I discovered that all the company’s transaction processing was handled by a former employee who had been fired. The kicker? He still controlled the servers in his basement, and the company had been unable to regain access to their own code. We were handed a zip file that supposedly contained the latest version of his code, but it quickly became clear that we were in for a nightmare.
The Illusion of an Agile Software Consulting Project
Back in Austin, I learned that this was supposed to be an agile project. However, the more I delved into the requirements, the more I realized that this was a classic case of a waterfall project in disguise. The client had been promised a fixed bid and deadline, yet we were expected to adapt and be “agile.” It was a recipe for disaster, and despite my attempts to raise concerns with upper management, my warnings fell on deaf ears.
The Inevitable Disaster Unfolds
As we got deeper into the project, things only got worse. The code we were given was not source code but compiled binaries, meaning we had to reverse engineer it without any real understanding of how it worked. Despite these challenges, we managed to make some progress, but it was clear that the project was too big and too poorly defined to succeed.
The Fallout Begins
After a week of coding, we held a demo for the client. While the initial response was positive, we soon learned that the client was deeply unhappy with our progress. The fallout was swift and brutal. Developers were pulled off the project, the project manager was fired, and I was left to pick up the pieces. I was tasked with creating a massive specification document to justify why the project was behind schedule and over budget.
The SWAT Team Showdown
As if things couldn’t get any stranger, I later heard through the grapevine that the client had enlisted the local police chief to send a SWAT team to the house of the ex-employee who controlled their servers. The SWAT team reportedly stormed his house, disconnected the servers, and brought them back to the client’s office. It was the kind of thing you’d expect to see in a Hollywood thriller, not a software project.
Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
In the end, the project was a disaster, and I was left feeling deeply frustrated and disillusioned. The experience contributed to my eventual burnout and forced me to rethink my career. However, it also set me on the path to becoming a career coach and content creator, helping others navigate the often treacherous waters of the tech industry.
Have you ever been involved in a software project that went off the rails? What lessons did you learn? If you’re at a point where you’re questioning whether the corporate grind is worth it, maybe it’s time to consider taking the next step towards working for yourself.
About the THRIVING TECHNOLOGIST show
On YouTube and all major podcast networks, Jayme shares teamwork and leadership strategies, guidelines for healthy company culture, and stories about real projects so you can have a sustainable career in the software industry.
Jayme Edwards
A family man and veteran of nearly 40 software projects, Jayme experienced many wins and losses over his career as an architect and consultant.
Now he's coaching software developers, managers, and business owners to overcome challenges in the IT industry - so they keep growing.