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So, about the 10x programmer myth, productivity etc... Steve mentions that it took about 3 weeks with 3 programmers to build this app. The tools & technologies

So, about the 10x programmer myth, productivity etc... Steve mentions that it took about 3 weeks with 3 programmers to build this app. The tools & technologies have evolved and today we can build this kind of thing with a tiny fraction of this effort... To me that's the kind of thing that really matters after all: evolving technology & tools, not the "10x programmer myth", or those "how to be more productive" tutorials. The tech evolution has a much bigger impact on productivity than those individual productivity recipees.

ovi256 12y ago
Those programmers were arguably 10x or 100x programmers, not run-of-the-mill. They made a choice to work on new technology, solving a hard problem. And then put in the effort, probably with little handholding, and managing the uncertainty. These are traits not found in the average or even median programmer.
collyw 12y ago
I can see close to 10x productivity gains depending on my work environment. If I have three meetings spaced throughout the day, a ton of quick interruptions, and I am trying to learn something new, forget it. If I get to focus on that one thing, then I can be pretty productive. I also think that the 10x thing is more to do over the longer term (rather than "look at what I bashed out in 2 hours"). I probably don't code as quickly as I used to, but I am a lot more thorough, and having made plenty of crappy mistakes designing my code in the past, I am in a far better position to know what will make my code robust, and maintainable time a month or two down the line.
crazychrome 12y ago
And, 100x cheaper, if taking consideration of free cloud offerings. These profound factors keep me working everyday, although I haven't made my millions yet. There was an article about Nokia or Ericsson around early 2000, saying that people tend to overestimate the impact of technology in short term but underestimate in long run. It's the case.

ovi256 12y ago

Those programmers were arguably 10x or 100x programmers, not run-of-the-mill. They made a choice to work on new technology, solving a hard problem. And then put in the effort, probably with little handholding, and managing the uncertainty. These are traits not found in the average or even median programmer.

collyw 12y ago

I can see close to 10x productivity gains depending on my work environment. If I have three meetings spaced throughout the day, a ton of quick interruptions, and I am trying to learn something new, forget it. If I get to focus on that one thing, then I can be pretty productive. I also think that the 10x thing is more to do over the longer term (rather than "look at what I bashed out in 2 hours"). I probably don't code as quickly as I used to, but I am a lot more thorough, and having made plenty of crappy mistakes designing my code in the past, I am in a far better position to know what will make my code robust, and maintainable time a month or two down the line.

crazychrome 12y ago

And, 100x cheaper, if taking consideration of free cloud offerings. These profound factors keep me working everyday, although I haven't made my millions yet. There was an article about Nokia or Ericsson around early 2000, saying that people tend to overestimate the impact of technology in short term but underestimate in long run. It's the case.