The SAT, like general intelligence, is half hard work and half inherited ability, from what I've read. Characteristics that you have no control over, like height, intelligence, race, or sex, should not determine your wealth. It should really be about hard work and character; that's fair. At least in the U.S., there are too many industries like law, venture capital, or VC-invested startup founders, where the pedigree of your school is what matters to your success.
Neither statement is true, unfortunately. The reports that you read in the media don't reflect the state of the world. In the US, most plumbers and SWE make between 100-200K. The way to wealth is to start one's own business. Hence, hard work and character.
The dude has obviously never met a multimillionaire owner of an auto body shop, a house demolition business, or a plumber. Did they do well in high school calc class? No. Are they richer than the author? Yes
Blowing up the cognitive hierarchy is a gift that AI gives us. Let's move into an age where hard work and character matter more than your SAT score at 17.
Many data teams often find themselves as 'tool jockeys' instead of becoming true engineers. They primarily learn some company data, and then rely on drag-and-drop or YML configuration functionality within the constraints of the tool's environment.
Their organization often insists they must use standard tools, and their idea of a good job is that the task works fine within their personal version. No automatic testing, no automated deployment, no version control, and handcrafted environments. And then they get yelled at when things break and yelled at for taking too long. And most DEs want to quit the field after a few years.
The real question is not that DE and software engineering are converging. It's why most DEs don't have the self-respect and confidence to engineer systems so that their lives don't suck.
Unlike many companies in the software industry, we have grown profitably for nine years without the need for any funding. Our success has been fueled by our ability to invest profits into our business, allowing us to improve our software and expand our operations continuously.
However, the 2022 Section 174 R&D tax credit changes have had an impact. This recent change affects many small, independent technology companies, including my company. We have been busy building products, making our customers successful, and making payroll. We are happy to pay our fair share of taxes on our profits. However, investing in software development is the engine that allows us to grow our company and hire more employees. Our tax laws must continue to reflect this reality.