Google pre 2010 was perfectly functional. No realtime search suggestions, advanced search parameters that were actually working, possibility of doing an exact string search if needed.
The technology for indexing the web was mature enough by then, already then.
I agree that much of the downward spiral was caused by google itself, tho.
> - nobody reads intermediate commit messages one by one on a PR, period [...]
>
> - “every commit must compile” - again, unnecessary overzealousness. [...]
In my part of the world both of these are true, and proudly so. We keep catching a myriad of errors, big and small. The history is easy to read, and helps anyone catching up with how a certain project evolved.
I understand it might not be true for everyone, every team, in every line of business; but this sort of discipline pays off in quality oboth of the code _and_ the team members' abilities.
Alternative for those who run OpenWRT on their modem/router: you can opkg install adblock, and also get an easy web based administrator interface via LuCi.
The technology for indexing the web was mature enough by then, already then.
I agree that much of the downward spiral was caused by google itself, tho.