[john_b]

Frequently aerospace companies will have a limited number of licenses for various pieces of software. C++ as a language obviously doesn't have this limitation, but a limited number of licenses for various custom test suites and third party software (e.g. Matlab) is frequently a bottleneck. If this is a bottleneck, it makes sense to have these licenses in use 24/7.

Purchasing more licenses is always an option, but usually not a quick one.

[TheCondor]

Maybe it's really obvious, I mean it should be, but Lockheed clearly isn't much of a software company.

Office space and third party software licenses mandating a 24 hour work cycle for the most expensive defense project of all time?! Maybe it should not be surprising. Their peers seem to just appropriate rights and constitutional interpretation to meet their needs, can't these guys just appropriate more matlab or whatever compiler it is licenses? Just seems like it is being treated like a manufacturing problem.

This same class of folks who are making these decisions are all contracting for NSA and have access to your data to keep us all safe...

[jarrett]

Good point. It does make me wonder though: Does the time and money cost of purchasing more licenses outweigh the effect on employee morale resulting from night shifts?

[jfb]

Fascinating, thanks for the insight.