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>> Doctors, lawyers, contractors, plumbers, electricians, accountants, agents >Also, the level of complexity/difficulty that a dev might face (but usually does

>> Doctors, lawyers, contractors, plumbers, electricians, accountants, agents >Also, the level of complexity/difficulty that a dev might face (but usually doesn't) is higher than in of these professions. Fascinated to learn how you came to this conclusion.

mgkimsal 5y ago
Not OP but have worked in law offices before. Looking back, I seen to remember that our lawyers all had assistants who would do things for them. Research ABC, collate data, file paperwork, etc. Lower attorneys would have a shared assistant, higher ups had dedicated. I know many attorneys do all their own stuff as well, but having that set up seemed to let the people focus when they needed to, knowing other BS would be taken care of competently and on time. I see very few devs (like, none) who get that sort of support system. At best, arguably, a good PM might help, but they also bring a l other layer with often extra steps to desk with.
- fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
  A lawyer might argue that the greater support system you note is actually evidence-of, and a consequence-of the greater complexity of law relative to writing software.
  - mgkimsal 5y ago
    Possibly, but thinking some more, not all lawyers work in such a fashion. Internal corporate lawyers may not have as much support, as they're more of a cost center than the money maker. The lawyers at the firm I worked at all were billable a lot, and were profit centers.
    - fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
      Correct. So ultimately the conclusion to this thread that one might draw is that the professions vary in complexity and nuance, even within themselves, and that attempting to fashion a hierarchy among them with incomplete information (and a hint of arrogance from those who are so inclined) is more likely to establish a false paradigm than to produce anything reflecting the complexities of any of the professions. In short, I think we're arguing the same thing and I agree with us.
yobbo 5y ago
The easiest way to see this is; count the number of moving parts, and take into account the conditions required for success. Software is the most complex artefact humans produce.
- trowawee 5y ago
  ...do you seriously believe that software is more complex or has more moving parts than the human body?
  - yobbo 5y ago
    Human bodies are not engineered artefacts? And, medicine is based on "best effort".
- fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
  That’s funny. Uparrow.

mgkimsal 5y ago

Not OP but have worked in law offices before. Looking back, I seen to remember that our lawyers all had assistants who would do things for them. Research ABC, collate data, file paperwork, etc. Lower attorneys would have a shared assistant, higher ups had dedicated. I know many attorneys do all their own stuff as well, but having that set up seemed to let the people focus when they needed to, knowing other BS would be taken care of competently and on time. I see very few devs (like, none) who get that sort of support system. At best, arguably, a good PM might help, but they also bring a l other layer with often extra steps to desk with.

fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
A lawyer might argue that the greater support system you note is actually evidence-of, and a consequence-of the greater complexity of law relative to writing software.
- mgkimsal 5y ago
  Possibly, but thinking some more, not all lawyers work in such a fashion. Internal corporate lawyers may not have as much support, as they're more of a cost center than the money maker. The lawyers at the firm I worked at all were billable a lot, and were profit centers.
  - fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
    Correct. So ultimately the conclusion to this thread that one might draw is that the professions vary in complexity and nuance, even within themselves, and that attempting to fashion a hierarchy among them with incomplete information (and a hint of arrogance from those who are so inclined) is more likely to establish a false paradigm than to produce anything reflecting the complexities of any of the professions. In short, I think we're arguing the same thing and I agree with us.

yobbo 5y ago

The easiest way to see this is; count the number of moving parts, and take into account the conditions required for success. Software is the most complex artefact humans produce.

trowawee 5y ago
...do you seriously believe that software is more complex or has more moving parts than the human body?
- yobbo 5y ago
  Human bodies are not engineered artefacts? And, medicine is based on "best effort".
fleetwoodsnack 5y ago
That’s funny. Uparrow.