I think that 10x gain can be split into several multipliers like environment, tools and experience. http://page.mi.fu-berlin.de/prechelt/Biblio/jccpprtTR.pdf h

I think that 10x gain can be split into several multipliers like environment, tools and experience. http://page.mi.fu-berlin.de/prechelt/Biblio/jccpprtTR.pdf http://page.mi.fu-berlin.de/prechelt/Biblio/jccpprtTR.pdf There is already a disparity between tools (see link above, figures 15 and 16), about 3 times in programming speed. Multiply it by 2-2,5 times from environment and you already get disparity about 6-8 times. If you add experience or talent as a 1,5 multiplier, you will arrive to disparity of 9-12 times between best and average.