"I think both the duct tape engineer and his opposite are both extremes to be avoided most of the time." Very true! Everything in moderation. My first job in s

"I think both the duct tape engineer and his opposite are both extremes to be avoided most of the time." Very true! Everything in moderation. My first job in software development was addng features or fixing bugs in Drupal sites built by people who had left the company. These were fantastic engineers, but I pulled my hair out every day and fantasized about unit tests, documentation, or even a clue about what was going to happen next. Even with unit tests today, I still make mistakes -- sometimes big ones. But I also recognize that for software edifices to survive, you have leave a solid foundation for others (or your future self) to build on. Too much engineering and there's company left to employ you. Too little and the product might ship but it doesn't work.