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Great comment. Made me reflect on the need for different kinds of software development - each relevant, but completely different in execution.

sologoub 8y ago
What really worries me is that most non-tech companies (and even some tech companies) don’t understand the difference and frequently allocate resources inversely - paying the equivalent of a Michelin chef to make subs and trying to get top dollar dinner cooked with teams barely skilled in the subject. The “cloud wage” story could be very compelling in such situations, but it will likely lead to a lot of issues with the more complex systems. Someone has to be the true “architect” and own the successful evolution of the software/business. Back in 2014, this article struck me as very insightful on the subject: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/07/business/gods-edging-out-robots-at-toyota-facility/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/07/business/gods-e... If you only have automation or low-end jobs, you are going to lose the ability to make transformative/revolutionary moves. You will still have the ability to refine existing processes, but there are definitely diminishing returns to consider. The other item that’s also glossed over is sheer productivity - when dealing with more complex issues, experienced developers are a lot more productive, so your $15/hr can easily turn into 10-20x more hours with the wrong experience choice, in the end costing you more. Hate to use a cliche, but “the right tool for the right job” applies to software too.
- geofft 8y ago
  And then they evaluate people on their Michelin-star-worthy work, which leads to the phenomenon of "promo-driven development" - people building new complex systems (that immediately turn into legacy code) because they don't get rewarded for doing something simple and maintainable. And then you need more Michelin-star-worthy chefs to keep things running because no sandwich artist will be able to figure it out.
- nunb 8y ago
  Interesting article. At least three super-cars, or rather, hyper-cars, are built by hand : McLaren, Koenigsegg and Pagani all use plenty of high tech but have workers who are lifers.
- dustingetz 8y ago
  Michelin chefs don't make subs for any price, let alone at commodity labor market price.
  - cdibona 8y ago
    José Andrés makes these amazing little sandwiches at Bazaar in Los Angeles. They're transcendent.
- bsder 8y ago
  > The other item that’s also glossed over is sheer productivity - when dealing with more complex issues, experienced developers are a lot more productive, so your $15/hr can easily turn into 10-20x more hours with the wrong experience choice, in the end costing you more. When you are the "consulting company", you don't care. You just get to bill more hours. If you are the client company, you don't care, either. Anyone with half a brain cell in this day and age knows that outsourcing software development is wholesale idiocy. So, if you're doing that, you are either 1) idiots or 2) outsourcing for political reasons or 3) both.
- gdy 8y ago
  Remote developers from 'shithole countries' get paid $15/hr because it's big money where they live, not because they are unqualified. Your options to compete with them are very limited.

sologoub 8y ago

What really worries me is that most non-tech companies (and even some tech companies) don’t understand the difference and frequently allocate resources inversely - paying the equivalent of a Michelin chef to make subs and trying to get top dollar dinner cooked with teams barely skilled in the subject. The “cloud wage” story could be very compelling in such situations, but it will likely lead to a lot of issues with the more complex systems. Someone has to be the true “architect” and own the successful evolution of the software/business. Back in 2014, this article struck me as very insightful on the subject: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/07/business/gods-edging-out-robots-at-toyota-facility/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/07/business/gods-e... If you only have automation or low-end jobs, you are going to lose the ability to make transformative/revolutionary moves. You will still have the ability to refine existing processes, but there are definitely diminishing returns to consider. The other item that’s also glossed over is sheer productivity - when dealing with more complex issues, experienced developers are a lot more productive, so your $15/hr can easily turn into 10-20x more hours with the wrong experience choice, in the end costing you more. Hate to use a cliche, but “the right tool for the right job” applies to software too.

geofft 8y ago
And then they evaluate people on their Michelin-star-worthy work, which leads to the phenomenon of "promo-driven development" - people building new complex systems (that immediately turn into legacy code) because they don't get rewarded for doing something simple and maintainable. And then you need more Michelin-star-worthy chefs to keep things running because no sandwich artist will be able to figure it out.
nunb 8y ago
Interesting article. At least three super-cars, or rather, hyper-cars, are built by hand : McLaren, Koenigsegg and Pagani all use plenty of high tech but have workers who are lifers.
dustingetz 8y ago
Michelin chefs don't make subs for any price, let alone at commodity labor market price.
- cdibona 8y ago
  José Andrés makes these amazing little sandwiches at Bazaar in Los Angeles. They're transcendent.
bsder 8y ago
> The other item that’s also glossed over is sheer productivity - when dealing with more complex issues, experienced developers are a lot more productive, so your $15/hr can easily turn into 10-20x more hours with the wrong experience choice, in the end costing you more. When you are the "consulting company", you don't care. You just get to bill more hours. If you are the client company, you don't care, either. Anyone with half a brain cell in this day and age knows that outsourcing software development is wholesale idiocy. So, if you're doing that, you are either 1) idiots or 2) outsourcing for political reasons or 3) both.
gdy 8y ago
Remote developers from 'shithole countries' get paid $15/hr because it's big money where they live, not because they are unqualified. Your options to compete with them are very limited.