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The personal evolution is very interesting: from complexity zealots to simplicity zealots. I suggest this has to do with the fact that at very local scale, com

The personal evolution is very interesting: from complexity zealots to simplicity zealots. I suggest this has to do with the fact that at very local scale, complexity is not a problem, and individuals are therefore concerned with more of an intellectually elegant solution, irrespective of complexity. In addition, a complicated but elegant solution speaks to our intellectual passions. Finally, I think that we compete on those terms far more than we like to admit. Everyone wants to be the 'genius' that others envy, with all the followers, the insightful blogs etc., at least on some level. As we grow, mature and perspectives and horizons broaden, have little to prove to others, the novelty of a solution may take second set to 'getting it done' and this is when we start to develop a real instinct for the cost of code and complexity. Then we realize that most of our abstractions are leaky, that tons of code is unnecessary and make work, the 'horror' of complexity starts to come into clarity ... and we kind of turn into zealots. I'm in the simplicity zealot phase and I wonder what's next. I suggest it's probably just the 'Sausage Phase' wherein we accept what's there, and accept the limitations of individuals and operating environments. I wonder how we can teach new devs to move through these phases quickly.

runawaybottle 5y ago
I'm in the simplicity zealot phase and I wonder what's next. I can kind of sense what the next phase is. I don’t know if it will be the case for sure, but being in this frustrated phase inevitably leads to a quietness inside. When you start out the quietness is not there, so you are always in this anxious state implementing everything under the sun. But now in the aftermath of all the internal directionless energy, the somberness makes me want to make solutions. Build that simpler framework, write that simpler language, make that simple tool/product. Not because you feel the pressure, but because you are finally quiet inside to think peacefully. It’s odd, we always complain about meetings being a distraction, yet, it’s the endless pursuit to live up to the ideal of ‘being a great developer that’s worth the money’ that has always been the most noise. The turmoil manifests in complicated codebases. My armchair psychology for today.
- vagrantJin 5y ago
  > , yet, it’s the endless pursuit to live up to the ideal of ‘being a great developer that’s worth the money’ that has always been the most noise. The turmoil manifests in complicated codebases. I'm going to print this. My preachings as a 28 year old have gone and fallen on deaf ears. But I will preach it till I drop dead - Complexity results from people justifying their paychecks. No more. No less.
- jollybean 5y ago
  That's really smart, but I think the 'directionless energy' is phase 1 i.e. not aware of complexity. Phase 2, 'anti complexity' is more one of frustration, trying to stop arbitrary things. I wonder if the 'quiet' is just rising above the noise and accepting it is what is is, and accepting some devs will build to much like Wild Stallions but that they are useful for some things obviously.

runawaybottle 5y ago

I'm in the simplicity zealot phase and I wonder what's next. I can kind of sense what the next phase is. I don’t know if it will be the case for sure, but being in this frustrated phase inevitably leads to a quietness inside. When you start out the quietness is not there, so you are always in this anxious state implementing everything under the sun. But now in the aftermath of all the internal directionless energy, the somberness makes me want to make solutions. Build that simpler framework, write that simpler language, make that simple tool/product. Not because you feel the pressure, but because you are finally quiet inside to think peacefully. It’s odd, we always complain about meetings being a distraction, yet, it’s the endless pursuit to live up to the ideal of ‘being a great developer that’s worth the money’ that has always been the most noise. The turmoil manifests in complicated codebases. My armchair psychology for today.

vagrantJin 5y ago
> , yet, it’s the endless pursuit to live up to the ideal of ‘being a great developer that’s worth the money’ that has always been the most noise. The turmoil manifests in complicated codebases. I'm going to print this. My preachings as a 28 year old have gone and fallen on deaf ears. But I will preach it till I drop dead - Complexity results from people justifying their paychecks. No more. No less.
jollybean 5y ago
That's really smart, but I think the 'directionless energy' is phase 1 i.e. not aware of complexity. Phase 2, 'anti complexity' is more one of frustration, trying to stop arbitrary things. I wonder if the 'quiet' is just rising above the noise and accepting it is what is is, and accepting some devs will build to much like Wild Stallions but that they are useful for some things obviously.