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Intentional Software

Part of Microsoft

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The emperor's new clothes - Anonymous employee Intentional Software Employee Review

2.0
Mar 13, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Over the years, ISC has seen many talented and experienced developers come and go, who all left smaller or bigger foot prints. The core idea of the Intentional Platform is intruiging and the potential for this platform is arguably very high. Working hours are very flexible.

Cons

The top managment does not seem to have any idea what is going on in the world of software today, and, even worse, they don't seem to care. This platform is in the works for 12 years (give or take), and they are still in "stealth mode". The blessing that Charles, the man behind the idea of IP, seems to have unlimited resources to sponsor this company, is definitely rather a curse because there is no actual deadline or pressure to finish something anytime soon. Operating in this mode for many years is, in my opinion, the main issue. Meaningful decisions are only ever made by Charles and it is one of the most demanding things I ever experienced to argue with him. In other words, I wouldn't argue with somebody who claims that ISC is nothing but the attempt by Charles to prove MSFT wrong, chosing C# over IP back in the day. It's just so painful to see that there are so many qualified developers with great ambition and ideas putting much effort into a platform that will most likely never see the light of day.

Explore other reviews about Intentional Software

5.0
Jul 22, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent pay, chill coworkers, cutting edge tech, good snacks

Cons

Confusing product, lack of team structure

1.0
May 7, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Core technology is legitimately innovative and very well-made. They really do have a unique and better way of writing software. Their platform could really be a really huge deal, if it is ever finished, polished, and released.

Cons

Wages are grossly non-competitive. As a relatively senior developer there I made significantly less than a fresh-out-of-college no-experience developer would make at other companies. 10+ years and they have not produced a product. Management is entirely deaf to complaints of any kind. Senior developers have a history of dramatically rage-quitting during meetings with management. (Seriously, one or two is maybe a fluke, but four or five is evidence of really serious management problems!) Significant trouble attracting and retaining quality talent. Platform is poorly documented and hard to use, because management can't seem to keep talented enough developers around long enough to do that. Charles (the owner/CTO) is impossible to work with, and does not act on any feedback of any kind. No meaningful quality control or review processes, developers are not properly supervised and spend large amounts of time working on code that is thrown away. No meaningful planning or design was done for the product. No coordination between teams existed. Developers are regularly kept in the dark about important details, like what the product they were developing actually is and when deadlines are. Developers with very little experience (sometimes nearly straight out of school) and with no demonstrated leadership or technical ability are promoted to management / lead positions.

7
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