One should give credit to Joel for correctly identifying the issue: great thinkers excel in abstract thought. Many of the comments here, however, seem to misunderstand his point about the propensity of creative minds to continue the refinement process and "not knowing when to stop". One (codeulike) apparently thinks simply being "bored" is what drives abstract thinkers. Let me assure you that is not the case, nor is it an inability to code. Many architecture astronauts started out as wiz coders.
Now let's review the gifts given by said astronauts - I'll limit to 2 examples but there are more:
- LISP is the mind product of a software astronaut.
- UNIX ("everything is a file") is the product of software space exploration.
My advice to serious young software engineers is to not accept mediocrity and imprecise thinking as acceptable standards for their chosen vocation. This cult of celebrating mediocrity in software design is a transient phase (20 years to date) and it is mostly a side effect of the introduction of facile soap boxes via the internet and blog sphere. When the dust settles, deep thinking and an ability to conceive powerful abstractions will yet again take center stage.
One should give credit to Joel for correctly identifying the issue: great thinkers excel in abstract thought. Many of the comments here, however, seem to misunderstand his point about the propensity of creative minds to continue the refinement process and "not knowing when to stop". One (codeulike) apparently thinks simply being "bored" is what drives abstract thinkers. Let me assure you that is not the case, nor is it an inability to code. Many architecture astronauts started out as wiz coders.
Now let's review the gifts given by said astronauts - I'll limit to 2 examples but there are more:
- LISP is the mind product of a software astronaut.
- UNIX ("everything is a file") is the product of software space exploration.
My advice to serious young software engineers is to not accept mediocrity and imprecise thinking as acceptable standards for their chosen vocation. This cult of celebrating mediocrity in software design is a transient phase (20 years to date) and it is mostly a side effect of the introduction of facile soap boxes via the internet and blog sphere. When the dust settles, deep thinking and an ability to conceive powerful abstractions will yet again take center stage.
Software, after all, is all about abstraction.