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It's strange how obsessed software engineers are about methods of working. At a surface level it's just: sit down and write the code. But actually there are tho
by jyriand 9y ago
It's strange how obsessed software engineers are about methods of working. At a surface level it's just: sit down and write the code. But actually there are thousands of programming languages you can choose from; there are build tools, code standards, testing(to TDD or not to TDD) and mental models you have to wrap your head around before you even can start to consider yourself a decent programmer. It's fascinating, but at the same time I wish it was all simpler. I wonder if there are other occupations in the world that are so much focused on tools, paradigms and methodology as software engineering(investing and trading come in mind. And it's interesting that these notes use so much investing and business lingo).
- nine_k 9y agoIf it was simpler, it wont command such wages, and would be automated out sooner. Humans' current advantage is the ability to tackle complexity and uncertainty.
- thundergolfer 9y agoI think the comment you're replying to is implicitly making the point that some of the complexity is manufactured and needless.
- davidjnelson 9y agoAnother way to look at it is automation will free people up to solve more important problems.
- nine_k 9y agoYes, those who'll happen to be capable of that by the time.
- narag 9y agoIt's strange how obsessed software engineers are about methods of working. So you are surprised that a bunch of people whose work is to create mental models and automate them are obsessed with creating mental models of their own work and automate it? It's fascinating, but at the same time I wish it was all simpler. Actually it is, IMHO. A lot of the parafernalia around the job is useless obsession indeed. We're just that way for good or bad.
- kridsdale 9y agoMany medical devices and advances in procedure are invented by doctors.
- bmh100 9y agoBusiness process improvement is similar.