OpenGL is a neat example because it's an abstracted physical interface, and the physical interface isn't drastically changing. It's like being the world's best

OpenGL is a neat example because it's an abstracted physical interface, and the physical interface isn't drastically changing. It's like being the world's best assembly programmer — you're always going to be the best because the platform isn't going through 50 generations of evolution underneath you ever 3 years. Carmack is a great example of experience+useful. So is notch. But, they are both very tied to hardware, algorithms, and physical implementations of things so they have stationary expert-level targets.