11mo ago

Why We Can't Have Nice Software

https://andrewkelley.me/post/why-we-cant-have-nice-software.html

From Andrew R. Kelley, he's the author of the Zig language

@programming

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Is the reason capitalism? I bet it's capitalism
Edit: it's capitalism
- You're cheating. The answer is always capitalism.
  
  Not always! Sometimes it's eg. cognitive biases
  
  Now now... Oftentimes it's Ronald Reagan as well....
  
  Shit, you're right. Good catch.
  Although, Reagan was, ultimately, a tool of Capitalism, so it still works.
- The only mention of capitalism in the article is specifically venture capitalism.
- Not sure it’s capitalism per se. Perhaps rampant waste. Criticism of capitalism could include monopoly formation; massive tech companies buy small ones (obtain more capital = more control over production = more profit).
  There’s despair over everyone, big & small, resolving the same recreated problems. Kelley doesn’t talk about breaking Microsoft up (i.e. redistributing their capital). He implies he’d be ok for Microsoft to maintain its market position if it just fixed some damn bugs.
- Hey, a lot of open source software is really warty too. But you could probably also blame that on capitalism if you tried hard enough :)
  
  Yeah, because being required to a) compete with "capitalist" software and corporations while b) having most developers working only in their free time besides a regular job forced on them by capitalism kind of means capitalism is kind of involved here.
  Don't act so smug, you're a hooker just like we all are. We just have the luxury to be somewhat higher class escorts and not crack removed. But we're getting fucked nonetheless.
  
  Nothing prevents Libre Software developers from making commercial products. They can sell their software just like everyone else.
  
  Software developers are so confusing. You have a physically easy job that pays well and makes people think you're smart. That's almost as good as it gets. "Capitalism" is shoveling investor money down your throats.
  Software developers didn't really exist in the USSR, but the computer scientists that did wanted to escape. Most software developers in the Third World now would love to get a huge First World salary. Recognize what you have.
  
  So, I'm supposed to be happy, that I'm only sucking the good Western dick?
  Seriously, take a step back and look at what you're saying. You're acknowledging that the system sucks, but because I happen to be among the slightly less fucked group, I'm supposed to be happy?
  I'm from East Germany, were the socialist party members here 40 years ago supposed to be happy, that they at least were not one of those in political prison? Were the half Jews 90 years ago supposed to be happy, that they are at least not put into camps (yet)?
  We live in a system that literally kills millions of people every year in the name of money and forces billions of people into misery. And I'm supposed to be happy that I can afford a vacuum robot without a second thought?
  
  "physically easy"
  Sure, because our necks, backs, and hips are all feeling so great all the time with these long hours at the desk.
  "pays well"
  Some tech jobs are connected with living in places with high living expenses, not to mention some tech jobs aren't at Big Tech firms so the pay is lower. Struggling with finances doesn't magically disappear because you're good at code.
  "people think you're smart"
  lolololol said every person ever who isn't white man passing or perhaps presenting as one of the "privileged" minority classes.
  Look, do I agree tech jobs on average are appealing compared to many other professions? Sure! But minimizing—verging on gaslighting—the very real harms people may suffer while working in tech is irresponsible. Our industry has a long way to go to provide real equality, equanimity, and stability.
  
  My friend, you need to get some exercise and some sleep. Those problems are all worse for most other jobs. That's what I'm comparing it to.
  If you've ever worked in a different industry you know that tech jobs are easier and pay better. That's just a fact.
  
  In other words "please dick me harder capitalism". Right...
  
  what was tetris
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computing_in_the_Soviet_Union
  also western sanctions
  
  … did we read the same blog post? Did it mention OSS once?
  
  No, it didn't. But open source software follows the same cycles sometimes. The Gnome 2->3 transition is a simple example -- they de-invented whole sections of the software to make a worse but newer dishwasher.
  
  Worse in your own personal opinion, not objectively
  
  As a UI developer I consider GNOME 4 to be one of the best desktop UIs. But some people prefer to live in the past and use 30 years old designs than try anything new, even if it might be better for them long term.

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