The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

Best of 2025: Too Many Red Flags

by Ellis Morning in Best of… on 2025-12-29

It's time to look back on a rough 2025, and wonder where we'd be if we missed any more red flags. Original. --Remy

Fresh out of university, Remco accepted a job that allowed him to relocate to a different country. While entering the workforce for the first time, he was also adjusting to a new home and culture, which is probably why the red flags didn't look quite so red.

The trouble had actually begun during his interview. While being questioned about his own abilities, Remco learned about Conglomcorp's healthy financial position, backed by a large list of clients. Everything seemed perfect, but Remco had a bad gut feeling he could neither explain nor shake off. Being young and desperate for a job, he ignored his misgivings and accepted the position. He hadn't yet learned how scarily accurate intuition often proves to be.

1 comments - Last comment @ 09:21

Boxing Day Math

by Lyle Seaman in Error'd on 2025-12-26

To be honest, math works the same way all year 'round. At least, it's supposed to.

"My Stack Exchange Inbox is Less Than Empty" declared Mike V. "I guess this happens when you read a notification twice!"

8 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-27

Christmas in the Server Room III: The Search for Santa

by Remy Porter in Feature Articles on 2025-12-25

How many times does it take to make something a tradition? Well, this is our third installment of Christmas in the Server Room, which seems pretty traditional at this point. Someday we'll run out of Christmas movies that I've watched, and then I'll need to start watching them intentionally. I'm dreading having to sit through some adaptation of the Christmas Shoes or whatever.

In any case, we're going to rate Christmas movies on their accuracy of representing the experience of IT workers. One 💾 grants it the realism of that movie where Adam Sandler fights Pac-Man, while 💾💾💾💾💾 tells us that it's as realistic as an instructional video about the Turbo-Encabulator.

Home Alone

12 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-27

Holiday Party

by Remy Porter in Feature Articles on 2025-12-24

The holiday season is an opportunity for employers to show their appreciation for their staff. Lavish parties, extra time off, whatever. Even some of the worst employers I've had could put together a decent Christmas party.

But that doesn't mean they all go right.

11 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-27

A Case of Old Code

by Remy Porter in CodeSOD on 2025-12-23

We've talked about the For-Case anti-pattern many, many times. And while we've seen some wild variations, and some pretty hideous versions, I think we have yet to see the exact example Ashley H sends us:

for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    if (i == 0) {
        step1();
    } else if (i == 1) {
        step2();
    } else if (i == 2) {
        step3();
    } else if (i == 3){
        finalStep();
    }
}

25 comments - Last comment @ 10:16

The Ghost of Christmas Future

by Ellis Morning in Feature Articles on 2025-12-22

Many of us who fly for business and/or pleasure are all too aware of the myriad issues plaguing the 21st-century airline industry: everything from cybercrime targeting ailing IT systems and Boeing's ongoing nightmare to US commercial airline pilots being forced to retire at age 65, contributing to a diminishing workforce that has less of the sort of wisdom that can't be picked up in a flight simulator. The exact sort of experience you want your flight crew to have if, say, your aircraft loses an engine during takeoff.

17 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-28

Michael's Holiday Snaps

by Lyle Seaman in Error'd on 2025-12-19

Michael R. recently was Ghana but now he's back. In grand vacation tradition, he is now sharing the best of it with us. And a few more besides. Remember, it's not the journey itself that matters, it's the wtfs we make along the way. Watch me make a bunch as I attempt to weave a narrative around the shots.

First up, the likely inspiration for Michael's entire trip. I guess you don't need the actual website URL, you can find it easily.

18 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-23

Linguistic Perls

by Remy Porter in CodeSOD on 2025-12-18

A long time ago, Joey made some extra bucks doing technical support for the neighbors. It was usually easy work, and honestly was more about being a member of the community than anything else.

This meant Joey got to spend time with Ernest. Ernest was a retiree with a professorial manner, complete with horn-rimmed glasses and a sweater vest. Ernest volunteered at the local church, was known for his daily walks around the neighborhood, and was a generally beloved older neighbor.

35 comments - Last comment @ 2025-12-23