Thread regarding SAS Institute layoffs

@hx+1jj03h6pd

Here's my strategy:

Pitch it to the FDA and all the pharmaceutical and Biotech companies. Since it's a federated (I think this is the word) system, where things are held constant, companies can use all their R and Python code as long as it validates with the same answer that's arrived at in the Viya platform.

I made all that up. It sounded good though.

“ Back to the OP’s question: even though there are obviously intelligent people on this site, no one has proposed a plan to strengthen Viya’s appeal — other than SAS compatibility, which would target mostly existing customers.”

Because thelayoff.com is not the forum for strategy. It is the forum forum for whining about all things non layoff related.

There’s plenty of 10-year old and older software that continues to successfully evolve and generate new revenue.

Regarding Viya, the OP question is open to substantive architectural refactoring and/or radical open source integration. Surely there are niche mid-markets with potential into the hundreds of $millions that Viya-based solutions could compete in. If there is any hope for significant new revenue this is likely the best course of action.

"If you were given the mandate, and adequate capital for four years, what would you do with the Viya codebase?"

I don't see any evidence that the market is screaming for 10 year old software to have anything done to it. Plus, the market never had any appetite for Viya to begin with.

@hv+1jj03h6pd, where have you been? You’re late 😂

Back to the OP’s question: even though there are obviously intelligent people on this site, no one has proposed a plan to strengthen Viya’s appeal — other than SAS compatibility, which would target mostly existing customers.

C’mon, folks. Give this your best shot. If you were given the mandate, and adequate capital for four years, what would you do with the Viya codebase?

@fv+1jj03h6pd

Those in the Art Department need not worry. The Art Department is safe.

@d6+1jj03h6pd $3 billion spent, in most cases, very reluctantly executing legacy SAS code that nobody wants to touch.

It's a long and slow decline that started over a decade ago. It'll probably keep declining for at least another decade but in what form is the question.

All I know is that I didn't want of be part of it any more and I'm glad I left. I also find it hard to understand why anyone who wants more than 5 more years of work, would not be going all out to find another job.

"nobody cares any more because SAS is no longer needed."

SAS has become much like the horse drawn carriage builders in the early 1900s. Metaphorically, SAS built a beautiful carriage but was bewildered as to why people did not flock to such beauty. While SAS was LASR focused on building the best horse drawn carriage, the world had moved onto the automobile.

That is precisely why SAS needs to find a new drum to beat. Sadly the founders are too old to want to make that happen. The declining V9 revenue stream is the biggest carrot to a buyer. And time is nibbling that carrot into a smaller and smaller carrot.

@by+1jj03h6pd 3 billion

Very few customers would give a sh-t if Viya suddenly became 100% V9 compatible. There are a myriad of other reasons why they have no interest in Viya, number one being they want to be rid of SAS altogether.

When Viya was launched about 10 years ago, yes compatibility with V9 would have been great, but thing have moved on in the last decade and nobody cares any more because SAS is no longer needed.

well, what are some problems the market wants solved and is willing to pay for? some customers have voted with their wallets to run old SAS code in a cheaper way. so running existing SAS code faster, cheaper, better is one in-demand thing (that for some reason OP called fantasy).

"But surely enough talent remains to achieve 80% compatibility between Viya and V9."

Wish this could be done but I seriously doubt we have enough talent left to be able to pull this off.

Viya has been around for a decade yet the hopeful are still hoping. SAS needs better hopium.

A lot of good people have left SAS. But surely enough talent remains to achieve 80% compatibility between Viya and V9. The remaining 20% can be a consulting opportunity.

No one can say “it can’t be done”. Altair has done it.

I don’t suppose it’s a goal, though. The goal is to sell the company.



They should make a "Downfall" parody about V9 and Viya.