We are destroying software (antirez.com)

Article summary

The article argues that the software industry is destroying itself by prioritizing complexity, ignoring backward compatibility, and pushing for rewrites of working systems. It also criticizes the trend of jumping on new languages, frameworks, and libraries, and the devaluation of reinventing the wheel as a learning process. The author believes that this approach is leading to bloated, fragile, and poorly designed software. The article concludes that the joy of hacking is being lost in the process.

Main themes

• Software complexity
• Backward compatibility
• Innovation vs. reinvention
• Software engineering culture
• Technological progress

What commenters say

• The software industry's focus on complexity and new technologies is leading to a decline in software quality and maintainability.
• The emphasis on reinventing the wheel is necessary for learning and innovation, but can be taken too far and lead to unnecessary complexity.
• The push for rewrites of working systems and the adoption of new languages and frameworks can be driven by commercial interests rather than technical necessity.
• The industry's prioritization of short-term gains and rapid development is coming at the cost of long-term sustainability and maintainability.
• The notion that software development is a purely engineering discipline is misguided, as it also involves design, creativity, and taste.
• The trade-offs between complexity, innovation, and maintainability are nuanced and context-dependent, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
• The industry's obsession with new technologies and frameworks can lead to a lack of understanding of the underlying systems and principles.
• The joy of hacking and the sense of ownership and control that comes with building software are being lost in the modern software development landscape.