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I think this effect will be even greater this time (last time being higher-level “slow” languages like python and js), because AI will allow for a new wave of d

by wruza 2y ago

I think this effect will be even greater this time (last time being higher-level “slow” languages like python and js), because AI will allow for a new wave of developers who won’t care about the “right” code that much and will perceive it as a disposable resource rather than a form of art. This aligns well with many smaller businesses that are by nature temporary or very dynamic and have to actually fight with developers tendencies to create beautiful solutions after the ship has sailed.

paulryanrogers 2y ago
IME the software quality (including my own) is already on the edge of the unmaintainable slop threshold. I don't think it can slip much further without taking their hosts down too. Even Apple's software quality seems to be hit or miss lately.
- wruza 2y ago
  That's really okay for the most non-clueless-user facing software. Inhouse worked like that since forever. Half-assed, barely working out of happy path, dangerous if you tick that box, but doing its job anyway. There's still a large margin to drop from, to make software that isn't "boxed/saas" but tailored to very specific needs. Many devs may have felt that moment, when some personal tool or a script worked just fine, but any attempt to turn it into "an app for a user" resulted in a complexity mess. Maybe the answer is not better software, but less software and more code doing the job. I don't think it's a bad thing, if it will help real people rather than the usual bigcorp/unicorn critters.
gsf_emergency_2 2y ago
As it becomes easier and more profitable to accrue tech debt, more tech debt will be accrued.. See also: Jevon's paradox >[Tech companies], both historical and modern, typically expect that higher [revenues] will lower [tech debt], rather than expecting the Jevons paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox
afavour 2y ago
I feel like a lot of those problems are already addressed by no-code products. CRMs, project management tools, web site builders… those with relatively straightforward needs who aren’t that fussy about how it gets done are already served. I don’t doubt AI will help some people here but I’m not convinced it’ll be by an industry changing amount.
spamizbad 2y ago
It depends on the definition of “right” As software becomes more essential to a business its reliability becomes more important. If your customers can tolerate defects or downtime it’s a signal that: A) you’re not providing any real value B) You provide so much additional value compared to your competition you still come out ahead in the wash C) Your customers are hostages via vendor lock-in A and C are the most common cases of persistent bad software.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

by wruza 2y ago

paulryanrogers 2y ago

IME the software quality (including my own) is already on the edge of the unmaintainable slop threshold. I don't think it can slip much further without taking their hosts down too. Even Apple's software quality seems to be hit or miss lately.

wruza 2y ago
That's really okay for the most non-clueless-user facing software. Inhouse worked like that since forever. Half-assed, barely working out of happy path, dangerous if you tick that box, but doing its job anyway. There's still a large margin to drop from, to make software that isn't "boxed/saas" but tailored to very specific needs. Many devs may have felt that moment, when some personal tool or a script worked just fine, but any attempt to turn it into "an app for a user" resulted in a complexity mess. Maybe the answer is not better software, but less software and more code doing the job. I don't think it's a bad thing, if it will help real people rather than the usual bigcorp/unicorn critters.

gsf_emergency_2 2y ago

As it becomes easier and more profitable to accrue tech debt, more tech debt will be accrued.. See also: Jevon's paradox >[Tech companies], both historical and modern, typically expect that higher [revenues] will lower [tech debt], rather than expecting the Jevons paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

afavour 2y ago

I feel like a lot of those problems are already addressed by no-code products. CRMs, project management tools, web site builders… those with relatively straightforward needs who aren’t that fussy about how it gets done are already served. I don’t doubt AI will help some people here but I’m not convinced it’ll be by an industry changing amount.

spamizbad 2y ago

It depends on the definition of “right” As software becomes more essential to a business its reliability becomes more important. If your customers can tolerate defects or downtime it’s a signal that: A) you’re not providing any real value B) You provide so much additional value compared to your competition you still come out ahead in the wash C) Your customers are hostages via vendor lock-in A and C are the most common cases of persistent bad software.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]