Okay, here we are in the third day of the LIDA Beta Test phase, and we are already discovering a number of issues we never anticipated before this.
Most of these issues are Microsoft’s Fault! (Innocent look.)
Seriously, every single one of the issues we are running into has to do with Microsoft (a) making it impossible to run 32-bit Office applications and 64-bit Office applications simultaneously; (b) Microsoft making database applications incompatible with earlier versions … but we have just this morning found out that LIDA will run on Access 2013; and (c) Microsoft issuing a kabillion versions of the very same applications.
In this case, we are talking about Access as part of Office, which comes not only in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, but also comes in Personal, Home, Business, Office, Professional, and Developer flavors (I just made those up, but they reflect my impression of what’s available), AND if that weren’t enough, you can get them as downloadable, stand-alone apps OR you can use them as web apps.
Eye roll.
If I had a development team, a customer support team, an upgrade management team, and a testing team consisting of more than just one old retired guy in total, I could probably direct some team members to do testing with all these kabillion versions of Microsoft products, and to come up with solutions for each one of these situations.But that’s not happening yet.
So what we (meaning “I”) do is to put LIDA out to the Beta Test Team, and simply address these issues as they arise. Sometimes it takes a while for us (me) to put a finger on exactly what’s causing the problem.
This morning, I got a report from a tester telling me of the installation problems they had, and how they worked around them and got LIDA working. This is all GOOD INFORMATION.
We need all these reports so we can know where the problems are.
THIS is why I am so glad we have our Beta Test Team at work finding all these things, and helping us to make LIDA as bulletproof as possible.
Totally Bulletproof may not be possible in this generation of LIDA, but I’d like us to get as close to it as possible.
So THANKS, everyone, for taking part in this, and for helping us refine this program.