Linda closed SQL Developer 19.2.1, backed up the .zip to an external drive labeled “DO NOT LOSE,” and leaned back in her chair.

At 3:52 PM, the download stalled at 23%. The office Wi-Fi, which ran on goodwill and old CAT5 cables, had surrendered.

It was 3:47 PM on a Tuesday when Linda’s laptop screen flickered. Not the dramatic blue screen of death—just a quiet, sad little flicker. Then, the Oracle SQL Developer icon turned into a generic white rectangle.