Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft?
I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System). For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What?? Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed! Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country. walu.
I second you Walu ! On 28 November 2011 18:26, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System).
For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What??
Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed!
Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country.
walu.
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Hey Walu, this sounds like a delayed reaction :-) it's been going on since Simba was introduced a few years ago. I did a rant on it titled "Give me my freedom" but at that time I think I sounded like a village mad man - similar to how Bobby Yaweh sometimes sounds :-) But seriously, this is about freedom, standards and interoperability. I think there can be a legal basis for refusing to use the system because it infringes on ones freedoms. Just imagine if Mpesa could only work with Android phones. What happens to those who like to use other equipment that does not run windows? With consumerisation of IT begin real as it is in this country systems should be device/OS/Browser agnostic. For some reason KRA have managed to hold on to this because people like you and I don't use the system. Those who use it, don't know anything else, and therefore status quo remains. As Andrea would put it :-), let me shamelessly market the CIO100 hashtag for this who may wish to follow #cio100. Kindest Regards Harry Sent from my Simba incompatible iPhone On Nov 28, 2011, at 19:17, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
I second you Walu !
On 28 November 2011 18:26, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote: I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System).
For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What??
Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed!
Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country.
walu.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
-- with Regards:
blog.denniskioko.com
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
Walu for code that sits behind a firewall or in an extranet ("closed" environment) it is common practice to write for one platform and version ... The logic is as follows - if you write and test on IE6 then all the browser compatibility tests are for only one platform ... a client will usually opt for this because they are getting billed for each man hour testing and maintaining So if each browser and version testing = 200 hours --- then you pick one browser and one version and standardize across the organisation So maybe the winning bidder only had 1 browser :) On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System).
For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What??
Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed!
Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country.
walu.
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At the very least, most web applications should be supported on most popular browsers...especially a site belonging to a governmental entity with broader target audience. Cross-browser testing can be completed within a reasonable amount of time and cost...we even have free tools out there that shoots out 66+ browser renditions of GUIs at the click of a button thereby allowing one to see what the user experience would be like depending on their browser + platform combo. As often as standards change, I can see where an organization might shoot to only support a browser type or platform, but again, from a design perspective, a simple css file (or something similar) can be used to drive behavior most importantly look and feel across multiple browser types. Thank you, Roland Omoresemi | CEO TEZZA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS www.tezzasolutions.com roland@tezzasolutions.com +19139612234 -----Original Message----- From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+roland=tezzasolutions.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:45:01 To: roland omoresemi<roland@tezzasolutions.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/roland%40tezzasolutions... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
Thnx Dennis, Roland and Harry for supporting my concerns. As for Liko! You told me you were once my student? - am not sure I taught you a unit called "how to support the lazy option for coding" ;-) And even if the client (KRA) had no money (which will be news to me) to support testing for other browsers, the consultant is obliged to stand his/her ground and insist that the solution should be accessible to all. Indeed, I expect Microsoft coders/Implementors/Consultants to be the 1st to be offended by this implementation and strive to correct it. Because as much as it "locks-in" customers, it is also horrible statement about their view to providing flexibility to their customers. walu. --- On Tue, 11/29/11, Roland Omoresemi <roland@tezzasolutions.com> wrote: From: Roland Omoresemi <roland@tezzasolutions.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 4:09 AM At the very least, most web applications should be supported on most popular browsers...especially a site belonging to a governmental entity with broader target audience. Cross-browser testing can be completed within a reasonable amount of time and cost...we even have free tools out there that shoots out 66+ browser renditions of GUIs at the click of a button thereby allowing one to see what the user experience would be like depending on their browser + platform combo. As often as standards change, I can see where an organization might shoot to only support a browser type or platform, but again, from a design perspective, a simple css file (or something similar) can be used to drive behavior most importantly look and feel across multiple browser types. Thank you, Roland Omoresemi | CEO TEZZA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS www.tezzasolutions.com roland@tezzasolutions.com +19139612234 -----Original Message----- From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> Sender: kictanet-bounces+roland=tezzasolutions.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:45:01 To: roland omoresemi<roland@tezzasolutions.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/roland%40tezzasolutions... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
First, to agree with Walu, the system needs to be updated.... Even Microsoft is trying to kill IE 6.0.,, http://www.ie6countdown.com/ That said, Agosta has noted my thoughts precisely. An extranet is a system opened by the supplier / or authority (KRA in this case) which licenses the vendors / custom agents to access its systems. It is about affordable control (of licensed vendors) not about accessibility by the general public. http://www.kra.go.ke/pdf/publications/manifestmanual.pdf If the "2005" in the Simba System, refers to the year it was released to market, it explains why the system would be IE based. Unlike in 2011 where IE (desktop browser) market share is about 50%, in 2005 it was over 80%... Who does not know, DATA ENTRY / ACCESS in the typical customs / import / export / pharma / miraa / piracy business, run by non technical people in Kenya, uses Windows Desktops NOT Linux (Ubuntu) like some ISP /Telco or Macs like some design or media shop / department? So why not target the 85% or so who used IE or their desktops in 2005? On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:
Walu
for code that sits behind a firewall or in an extranet ("closed" environment) it is common practice to write for one platform and version ...
The logic is as follows - if you write and test on IE6 then all the browser compatibility tests are for only one platform ... a client will usually opt for this because they are getting billed for each man hour testing and maintaining
So if each browser and version testing = 200 hours --- then you pick one browser and one version and standardize across the organisation
So maybe the winning bidder only had 1 browser :)
On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System).
For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What??
Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed!
Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country.
walu.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
People, Is it so difficult or expensive for Kenya's Revenue collector to provide for multiple mainstream browser software? If "Extranet" is the reason/explanation, then they need to fire some ICT consultant. Our efforts to grow and mainstream ICT in the economy continue to be hindered by such old-time design decisions - and there are many such solution deployments! Br On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 1:28 PM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com>wrote:
First, to agree with Walu, the system needs to be updated....
Even Microsoft is trying to kill IE 6.0.,, http://www.ie6countdown.com/
That said, Agosta has noted my thoughts precisely.
An extranet is a system opened by the supplier / or authority (KRA in this case) which licenses the vendors / custom agents to access its systems. It is about affordable control (of licensed vendors) not about accessibility by the general public.
http://www.kra.go.ke/pdf/publications/manifestmanual.pdf
If the "2005" in the Simba System, refers to the year it was released to market, it explains why the system would be IE based.
Unlike in 2011 where IE (desktop browser) market share is about 50%, in 2005 it was over 80%...
Who does not know, DATA ENTRY / ACCESS in the typical customs / import / export / pharma / miraa / piracy business, run by non technical people in Kenya, uses Windows Desktops NOT Linux (Ubuntu) like some ISP /Telco or Macs like some design or media shop / department?
So why not target the 85% or so who used IE or their desktops in 2005?
On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:
Walu
for code that sits behind a firewall or in an extranet ("closed" environment) it is common practice to write for one platform and version ...
The logic is as follows - if you write and test on IE6 then all the browser compatibility tests are for only one platform ... a client will usually opt for this because they are getting billed for each man hour testing and maintaining
So if each browser and version testing = 200 hours --- then you pick one browser and one version and standardize across the organisation
So maybe the winning bidder only had 1 browser :)
On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System).
For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What??
Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed!
Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country.
walu.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
-- My Blog - www.gmeltdown.com ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' The ordinary just won't do
Hi Walu, We had this discussion about 2 years ago but we made absolutely no progress, it was like "fighting with the wall" if I was to quote the late Wispers (Wahome Mutahi). The development was a Microsoft project, this discussion is like asking Apple to install Android on the iPhone. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 28 November 2011, 18:26 Subject: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? I was at JKIA cargo this morning trying to get in some cargo. Ofcourse it is still a nightmare operation but eventually I got some Agent to help out and we sat down at his office to key the data into the Kenya Revenue (Simba System). For some reason, his Microsoft-Explorer was giving him some trouble so I told him to just try the Firefox instead. Believe it or not- the KRA system screamed at him and said "YOU CAN ONLY USE MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER ver 6 AND ABOVE!!!!". What?? Folks, if this is not intimidation, tell me what is. Who in the 21st Century writes software ONLY for one platform? Software today should be read from your Windows/Linux/Android/Mac/etc/ Platforms. It should be accessible from your laptop, smart-phone, dump-phone,tv/etc. Now how comes a critical public system is ONLY accessible through Microsoft platform? I am not against Microsoft - I still use alot of it at a corporate level; HOWEVER, we cannot allow a Publicly Procured system to be tied to a single platform.(review procurement rules). I recall one Lister raising this issue 3years ago and I thought it had been addressed! Either the PS Ndemo + eGovt Sec, Dr. Getao helps us out or we task Steve Mutoro to open a file on this issue. Forcing clearing agents to BUY Microsoft products (when they can use a free one) to clear goods for customers is not a proper way of developing a country. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.u... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
This question was asked at the recently held CIO 100 Awards and Symposium where we had a tract entirely dedicated to government/public sector. A KRA representative says that the system was made by "Microsoft people" and runs on Vb.Net which only runs on Microsoft's Internet Explorer. He further said that KRA was in a second phase to review its systems and make them better to use. He was however more of referring to the ePIN system and other personal tax systems and it was not clear if the review would be extended to the SIMBA system. KRA will make adjustments on some of their sites in the next 18 months, though the focus is more on backend systems more than user-facing systems
That answer is preposterous. That the system is build in VB.NET in no way, shape or form means that it only runs on Microsoft Internet Explorer! Patently absurd. Did you get this representative's name? On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 11:04 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
This question was asked at the recently held CIO 100 Awards and Symposium where we had a tract entirely dedicated to government/public sector.
A KRA representative says that the system was made by "Microsoft people" and runs on Vb.Net which only runs on Microsoft's Internet Explorer. He further said that KRA was in a second phase to review its systems and make them better to use. He was however more of referring to the ePIN system and other personal tax systems and it was not clear if the review would be extended to the SIMBA system. KRA will make adjustments on some of their sites in the next 18 months, though the focus is more on backend systems more than user-facing systems
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Let me pore over the presentations over the weekend and get the guy's details
On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 11:25 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
Let me pore over the presentations over the weekend and get the guy's details
Maybe he meant whoever developed the system used client side VBscript.. http://www.w3schools.com/vbscript/vbscript_intro.asp Client side VB Script only works in IE browsers and is not the same as VB.Net. Javascript (supported by every major browser) is what should have been used in the Customs App. http://www.readwriteweb.com/hack/2011/08/microsoft-bringing-html5-and-j.php
Hi all, By getting lost in the technical details, Harry H would tell you that you are now thinking like IT Managers instead of Chief Information Officers(CIOs). The problem here is NOT technical. This is business problem and requires a business solution rather than technicalities. If KRA was private organisation (and I think they have a whole commissioner of IT there?) who would simply rule that what we needed was a system that can be used by any browser, on any platform from anywhere. How the Consultant delivers on that, is his/her problem - KRA is doing the paying, Consultant must do the delivery - within a given time otherwise we simply switch to someone else who is more customer sensitive. But then, KRA is not private (read a simple organisation) - and whereas Microsoft is private, it does know a thing or two about how to "massage" willing public orgarnisation into maintaining status quo. And so I will understand when 10yrs from now, my son will still raise this very issue that his father complained about when he was still in primary school (I conceed with Yawe - it is like fighting with a wall) walu. --- On Sat, 12/3/11, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com> wrote: From: S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1:37 AM On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 11:25 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote: Let me pore over the presentations over the weekend and get the guy's details Maybe he meant whoever developed the system used client side VBscript.. http://www.w3schools.com/vbscript/vbscript_intro.asp Client side VB Script only works in IE browsers and is not the same as VB.Net. Javascript (supported by every major browser) is what should have been used in the Customs App. http://www.readwriteweb.com/hack/2011/08/microsoft-bringing-html5-and-j.php -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
Walu Actually, most IT folk would test on all browsers .. Its the Buyer who decides scope and in so doing manages the cost of a project If you itemised the testing of a web project on different browsers, am sure a typical customer will tell you to drop some At the time the system was built, IE had 80pct marketshare with Firefox second Right now, am told Chrome is number one, followed by Firefox then IE Simba continues to work because the extranet has IE (controlled environment) On 12/3/11, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi all,
By getting lost in the technical details, Harry H would tell you that you are now thinking like IT Managers instead of Chief Information Officers(CIOs). The problem here is NOT technical. This is business problem and requires a business solution rather than technicalities.
If KRA was private organisation (and I think they have a whole commissioner of IT there?) who would simply rule that what we needed was a system that can be used by any browser, on any platform from anywhere. How the Consultant delivers on that, is his/her problem - KRA is doing the paying, Consultant must do the delivery - within a given time otherwise we simply switch to someone else who is more customer sensitive.
But then, KRA is not private (read a simple organisation) - and whereas Microsoft is private, it does know a thing or two about how to "massage" willing public orgarnisation into maintaining status quo. And so I will understand when 10yrs from now, my son will still raise this very issue that his father complained about when he was still in primary school (I conceed with Yawe - it is like fighting with a wall)
walu.
--- On Sat, 12/3/11, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com> wrote:
From: S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Why is KRA (Customs) Application is Hard-Wired Microsoft? To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1:37 AM
On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 11:25 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
Let me pore over the presentations over the weekend and get the guy's details
Maybe he meant whoever developed the system used client side VBscript..
http://www.w3schools.com/vbscript/vbscript_intro.asp
Client side VB Script only works in IE browsers and is not the same as VB.Net.
Javascript (supported by every major browser) is what should have been used in the Customs App.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/hack/2011/08/microsoft-bringing-html5-and-j.php
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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participants (9)
-
Agosta Liko -
Dennis Kioko -
Harry Hare -
John Kieti -
Rad! -
robert yawe -
Roland Omoresemi -
S.M. Muraya -
Walubengo J