Taste Is All That's Left (notashelf.dev)

Article summary

The article discusses how the ease of production and automation in software development have changed the way we approach creating things, making 'taste' a crucial factor in deciding what is worth making. The author argues that 'taste' is not just a matter of personal preference, but a skill developed through experience and failure. With the removal of friction in production, the author believes that 'taste' is now the only thing that is scarce and valuable. The article also touches on the idea that the market may not reward 'taste' and that it can be difficult to measure and quantify.

Main themes

• The role of taste in software development
• Automation and ease of production
• Value of human judgment
• Measurement of quality
• Impact of technology on creativity

What commenters say

• The use of LLMs in coding may lead to a homogenization of 'taste' and a lack of creativity in software development.
• The importance of 'taste' in software development is overstated, and other factors such as maintainability and simplicity are more important.
• The ease of production and automation have made 'taste' the only scarce and valuable resource in software development.
• The market may not reward 'taste' and 'judgment' in software development, making it difficult for developers to prioritize these qualities.
• The use of LLMs can actually enhance creativity in software development by allowing developers to focus on higher-level design decisions.
• The concept of 'taste' is subjective and cannot be reduced to rules or optimized for, making it difficult to quantify and measure.
• The devaluation of 'taste' and 'judgment' in software development may lead to a decline in overall quality and innovation.
• The importance of 'taste' and 'judgment' in software development is not new, and these qualities have always been essential for creating high-quality software.