...plus a long, long list of new requirements such as, "it has to be blue" and "it must send email, which must be received, but only on Thursday when the stars are right."
And it must work exactly like the existing semi-manual system, including the ability to make random edits on legal records.
I've done these a few times before, and usually pulled it off, but there are solid reasons why they say, "don't rewrite software".
In particular, the "clear specification" usually has to be thrown out immediately and previous extensions are no guide to extensions for a new system.
And no one wants to do a serious job of it until the absolute last possible moment, so "when is it finished?" is the most important question.
And it must work exactly like the existing semi-manual system, including the ability to make random edits on legal records.
I've done these a few times before, and usually pulled it off, but there are solid reasons why they say, "don't rewrite software".
In particular, the "clear specification" usually has to be thrown out immediately and previous extensions are no guide to extensions for a new system.
And no one wants to do a serious job of it until the absolute last possible moment, so "when is it finished?" is the most important question.