by JohnFen on 4/16/2025, 1:45:12 PM
I think the focus on shipping fast has been one of the worse trends our industry has followed. It's one of the reasons why modern software has the flaws that it does.
by AnimalMuppet on 4/16/2025, 2:13:20 PM
Shipping fast is the correct strategy if:
1. It's a winner-take-all (or at least take-most) market.
2. Your "shipped fast" solution contains enough value to start to take the market.
3. Your "shipped fast" solution is not so buggy that it turns people off on you for an extended period.
If those three things are true, then shipping fast can be the right answer. You still have to be careful not to ruin it on points 2 and 3, though, which sets an upper limit on how fast you can go.
by RGamma on 4/16/2025, 1:08:04 PM
It's a mad world. Just build the tower, but take care to not get crushed when it topples.
As a career-switcher, I always considered programming an activity that lies somewhere between craft and mathematics. However, it feels like we lean towards math Olympiad standards when it comes to recognizing and rewarding one's expertise in the industry.
May I ask: Am I disillusioned, out of touch, or am I right? And why is that? I'm not talking just about startups on seed stage because it's really obvious to me how these are companies that have to hit the market ASAP somehow. But I noticed that trend even in corporate environments (at least in Greece), where the fast shipper gets praised and rewarded, and those who take an extra time to handle complexity introduced are not only frowned upon but they're also perceived as negative assets.