3 ms·

Nonsense. One can build a mulit-user database system in a few days. That would have taken months just 20 years ago.

• derefr 16y ago
  That's not because programming has gotten fundamentally easier, though, but rather because the tolerances have been widened by the progress of the underlying technology, removing some of the constraints. It's like saying tightrope-walking is easier now that all the ropes are a foot off the ground and falling off, touching the ground, and getting back on--that is, screwing up--is now a regular part of the show (like consuming 800MB of memory is now a regular part of peoples' applications.)
  • wlievens 16y ago
    I think the argument can be made that the invention of the £Tightrope Support Scaffolding (whatever) made Learning How To Walk A Tightrope significantly easier. Programmer in, Application out. But you are right of course about the downside of this evolution, which is wasteful use of resources. If oil would suddenly become 10x cheaper, it would make it easier to drive long distances but would also lead to waste of fuel.
• pvg 16y ago
  20 years ago? Really? Months? In 1990? Not that this has anything to do with 'ease of programming'.
  • gaius 16y ago
    Actually, probably, yeah. Say you want a database application for 20 concurrent users. In the early 90s that was client-server, thick client on the desktop (installed how? even the tools for remote deployment sucked back then), a "big iron" database server, proprietary languages on both ends, networking with IPX or Token Ring or something, etc etc. Nowadays you can take for granted everyone has TCP/IP and a web browser and you can knock up a RoR app in a day...