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Re:Remember that $86M license plate scanner I replicated? I ... by mi100hael on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @10:46PM (#15547037)
I don't doubt _this_ guy (and most HN-ers) could do a great job for $8.6M, but there are plenty of companies that couldn't. Govt contracts cost so much in part due to the number of legal hoops you have to jump through to get one. It's better to get something that works and is mostly supported even if it costs a lot than to get nothing for still a lot.
Re:Remember that $86M license plate scanner I replicated? I ... by Aeolun on Wednesday October 25, 2017 @06:21AM (#15548886)
> It's better to get something that works and is mostly supported

But a lot of companies fail at even this basic test. It doesn't work, and it's unsupported. Meanwhile, they're getting paid more to 'fix' it while making the users run around in circles.

Re:Remember that $86M license plate scanner I replicated? I ... by mi100hael on Wednesday October 25, 2017 @03:28PM (#15553313)
Sure, but imagine how much worse things would be if the bar were lower. Govt contracts always bring out the leeches - it's not unique to software contracts.