Comment on Tory Covid track and trace system used Excel columns to store data, crashedComments−TomGullen5yUnbelievable, they reached the maximum number of columns on a spreadsheet (>16k) which caused the issues.I'm all for using what works in software, but this was obviously not well planned or designed.−rich_sasha5yIs there a source for this in the article? I couldn’t see it.A comment elsewhere pointed out that many people repeat the Excel story, but there are no primary sources.−nirv5yApparently, The Telegraph[1] provides a bit more context with links to details[2].Upd: BBC also updates on this subject[3] now, the facts will come later ("Investigation launched into coronavirus test error").[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/10/05/excel-erro...[2] https://twitter.com/standupmaths/status/1313055411285774336[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54422505−rich_sasha5ySaw it too now, thanks for the sources!
Comments
Unbelievable, they reached the maximum number of columns on a spreadsheet (>16k) which caused the issues.
I'm all for using what works in software, but this was obviously not well planned or designed.
Is there a source for this in the article? I couldn’t see it.
A comment elsewhere pointed out that many people repeat the Excel story, but there are no primary sources.
Apparently, The Telegraph[1] provides a bit more context with links to details[2].
Upd: BBC also updates on this subject[3] now, the facts will come later ("Investigation launched into coronavirus test error").
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/10/05/excel-erro...
[2] https://twitter.com/standupmaths/status/1313055411285774336
[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54422505
Saw it too now, thanks for the sources!