The Cat Was Never the Problem

Three attempts, one favicon, and the engineering lesson Gus will never forget.

It began, as most technological disasters do, with a missing favicon.

Gus fixed it. Eventually.

Three attempts later, the messaging system worked, the browser tab had its little picture, and nobody had threatened to unplug the server.

By XMAS ISL standards, this was unprecedented success.

There were celebrations. Christmas miracles were declared. Gus briefly entertained the possibility of being competent.

Then came a lesson that would change the engineering department forever.

“Remember, Gus. It's never the cat that's stupid, only the door.”

Gus considered this.

Years of technological troubleshooting suddenly made sense. The confusing menus. The missing icons. The buttons that didn't work. The instructions that required fourteen additional instructions.

Perhaps the users weren't the problem.

Perhaps somebody had built a terrible door.

And so the first principle of the XMAS ISL School of Engineering was established:

Fix the damn door.

Gus immediately opened a workboard ticket.

Estimated completion: three attempts.