> Was it badly written Java? I never saw the source code, of course. But I
> do know from other experiences and contacts that badly written Java is
> not too difficult to achieve, especially in a crunch (which nearly
> everything e-commerce related tend to be.) The only thing I -do- know is
> that the Java app failed (with costly results) and the open source
> solution saved the day.


That's one spin; another might be that a poor [set of] programmer[s] who
happened to USE java screwed the pooch, as it were, and your competent friend
saved the day.

"It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools.", "You can write bad [perl] in any
language", as they say.