[JediJones]

The basic functioning of this web site should be so simple, that any decent programmers should be able to make it from scratch in 6 months to a year. But part of the problem seems to be that Sebelius and the HHS were extremely slow in getting the specific requirements to the programmers. The other problem is to what extent this web site has to interface with pre-existing government databases like the IRS. That part could be an enormous hassle for the programmers and might not be possible to do in the “real time” way this web site was expected to perform. But stuff like selecting the security questions and password for your account...it’s inconceivable how that could be causing errors, and that indicates the original programmers didn’t know what they were doing.

[dfwgator]

But stuff like selecting the security questions and password for your account...it’s inconceivable how that could be causing errors, and that indicates the original programmers didn’t know what they were doing.

Plus there are already third party packages, that already have been thoroughly tested for doing such common things as those.

[Lazamataz]

Well, yes, 6 months to a year for the simple registration side. However, that's not the meat. The meat is getting info from the IRS and insurers to give someone a plan within one session, and to interface to any number of other agencies as well.

Anyone can whip up a registration and info-collection website. Well, anyone except these guys. Even under the tremendous user load, it's doable.

However, it is the MEAT that will put the date out five years, minimum.