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I’ve started to understand that some people really want software dev to be mostly about following established processes. Hence intense arguments over frameworks

I’ve started to understand that some people really want software dev to be mostly about following established processes. Hence intense arguments over frameworks, deifying thought leaders, clamoring for more things to standardize the process of dev, which can be highly chaotic. IMO, this mindset is intellectually stunting, but I think people see it as bestowing certainty.

jdougan 3y ago
Good judgement is an uncommon, uncomfortable and expensive thing. The individuals who follow the usual dev process suspects don't want to deal with that so they buy into the snake oil. Every so often it becomes obvious the current snake oil prescriptions aren't working, so the dev process industry pivots to a new approach, usually by taking something that does work (if you have good judgement) and bastardizing it.
add-sub-mul-div 3y ago
I agree, something that's never made sense to me is the fixation on best practices as static rather than situational. I've worked with so many smart people who refuse to entertain any analysis or options in a given situation that don't fall along the lines of what's in fashion in the given era. Despite their situation varying wildly from the conditions under which certain ideas or practices originated. Despite their situation presenting a certain dimension that begs for the solution to be chosen around it. The field has an obsession with knowledge and an underappreciation of wisdom, judgment, and experience. The fact that "senior" titles are given so freely 2-5 years into the career is a sign that knowledge, which can be crammed and accelerated unlike wisdom, is overvalued as a component of "experience".
- jdougan 3y ago
  Part of this is the obvious desire to use technology that is "resumé compliant" to make getting the next job easier. The other part is that "wisdom, judgment, and experience" is difficult to scale and often uncomfortable for management. Many/Most want software projects to run like their (imagined, fictional) vision of a civil engineering project or an assembly line where people are perfectly fungible. They don't want some engineer with 30 years of hard experience telling them that the project they promised for 6 months is going to take at least a year, no matter how many devs are hired.
deleted 3y ago
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jdougan 3y ago

Good judgement is an uncommon, uncomfortable and expensive thing. The individuals who follow the usual dev process suspects don't want to deal with that so they buy into the snake oil. Every so often it becomes obvious the current snake oil prescriptions aren't working, so the dev process industry pivots to a new approach, usually by taking something that does work (if you have good judgement) and bastardizing it.

add-sub-mul-div 3y ago

I agree, something that's never made sense to me is the fixation on best practices as static rather than situational. I've worked with so many smart people who refuse to entertain any analysis or options in a given situation that don't fall along the lines of what's in fashion in the given era. Despite their situation varying wildly from the conditions under which certain ideas or practices originated. Despite their situation presenting a certain dimension that begs for the solution to be chosen around it. The field has an obsession with knowledge and an underappreciation of wisdom, judgment, and experience. The fact that "senior" titles are given so freely 2-5 years into the career is a sign that knowledge, which can be crammed and accelerated unlike wisdom, is overvalued as a component of "experience".

jdougan 3y ago
Part of this is the obvious desire to use technology that is "resumé compliant" to make getting the next job easier. The other part is that "wisdom, judgment, and experience" is difficult to scale and often uncomfortable for management. Many/Most want software projects to run like their (imagined, fictional) vision of a civil engineering project or an assembly line where people are perfectly fungible. They don't want some engineer with 30 years of hard experience telling them that the project they promised for 6 months is going to take at least a year, no matter how many devs are hired.

deleted 3y ago

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