Software Disenchantment (2018) (tonsky.me)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's frustration with the state of software development, citing issues with efficiency, simplicity, and excellence. The author argues that modern software often prioritizes quick development and ease of use over performance and reliability, leading to bloated and slow applications. This trend is attributed to the lack of care for efficiency and the prioritization of programmer time over computer time. The article also touches on the problem of software rot, where applications become increasingly slow and unreliable over time.

Main themes

• software bloat
• inefficiency
• prioritization of programmer time
• software rot
• economic and social factors
• technical limitations
• code quality
• reliability and performance

What commenters say

• The current state of software development is unacceptable and prioritize short-term gains over long-term quality.
• The problem of software bloat and inefficiency is largely a result of economic and social factors, rather than technical limitations.
• Developers should focus on writing efficient and reliable code, rather than relying on quick fixes and workarounds.
• The use of bloated frameworks and libraries is a major contributor to the problem of software bloat.
• Some argue that the pursuit of efficiency and simplicity is not always the most important goal, and that other factors such as ease of development and time-to-market should be prioritized.
• Others believe that the problem of software bloat is a result of a lack of understanding of computer science fundamentals and poor programming practices.
• There is a need for a shift in the way software is developed, with a focus on quality, reliability, and performance, rather than just getting something to work quickly.
• The issue of software bloat and inefficiency is not limited to commercial software, but also affects open-source and internal software development.