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The original was posted on /r/talesfromtechsupport by /u/SA_Swiss on 2025-01-21 13:01:52+00:00.

Many years ago I worked as a Project Manager for a company that built our own software as an extension of existing software.

Within this role I had to deal with the developers - sharing the client vision as well as deal with the client - showing their vision in demonstrations.

For this story it is important to note that the naming convention for our servers were based on their primary location; NE - Newcastle, PO - Portsmouth, RD - Richmond and so on

Late on a Thursday evening I asked a developer to release the latest version of our software to a test server. The server was called NE TEST. The conversation went like this;

Me: Yes, please release the software on the NE TEST server ready for validation tomorrow morning with the client.

Developer: NE TEST?

Me: Yes, NE TEST.

Developer: ok

The following morning I wanted to demo the software, I log onto the NE TEST server only to find that the latest version of the software is not there. I reach out to the developer and I ask him where the release is that we discussed the previous evening.

Developer: It is on PO TEST

Me: but I asked for it to be on NE TEST

Developer: yes, any test, so I chose PO

Only then did the penny drop for me. NE TEST / any test.

Not so much a tech support story, but a cautionary tale.