Government computer systems and the DOGE fash bros

DOGE bros are creating havoc. However, maybe they can edit specific records. IMO though, they can't make major (or even minor) coding changes. Here's why.

These systems are enormous. Just understanding how they work could easily take a newbie months.

And they aren't just one system. There will be dozens, maybe hundreds of legacy subsystems, written in multiple languages and on different platforms. This will absolutely include code written decades ago in COBOL and FORTRAN.

But surely there will be pristine and understandable documentation, including source code comments so incoming programmers will be able to make changes easily? A HA HA HA. No. That won't exist. Instead, it will be a convoluted rat's nest of black hole code.

Think I'm exaggerating? Some years back Microsoft released Windows source code for all to see. Everyone thought surely it would be amazing code, clear and understandable. Nope, there was lots of spaghetti.

A few years ago, the IRS commissioner said their system were immune from hacking because they were so ancient that outsiders had no idea what they were looking at or how to get in.

So, no, DOGE bros almost certainly can't make major code changes now. Let's hope it stays that way.