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hathawshyesterday at 11:03 PM4 repliesview on HN

Isn't that interesting? The job of exploring a theory or model to such an extent that it can be expressed in computer code always seems to fall on the shoulders of a software developer. Other people can write specifications and requirements all day long, but until a software developer has tackled the problem, the theory probably hasn't been explored well enough yet to express clearly in computer code. It feels like software developers are scientists who study their customers' knowledge domains.


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Twisolyesterday at 11:16 PM

> It feels like software developers are scientists who study their customers' knowledge domains.

I agree so much with this. It's why I feel so stifled when an e.g. product manager tries to insulate and isolate me from the people who I'm trying to serve -- you (or a collective of yous) need to have access to both expertise in the domain you're serving, and expertise in the method of service, in order to develop an appropriate and satisfactory solution. Unnecessary games of telephone make it much harder for anyone to build an internal theory of the domain, which is absolutely essential for applying your engineering skills appropriately.

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BobbyTables2yesterday at 11:10 PM

Agree 100%.

Even the most verbose specifications too often have glaring ambiguities that are only found during implementation (or worse, interoperability testing!)

kstenerudtoday at 4:40 AM

In theory, it's the same as in practice.

In practice, it isn't.

tsunamifurytoday at 6:39 AM

Sorry this is just the interior trapped nonsense that engineers find themselves in. Please touch grass

Product designers have to intuit the entire world model of the customer. Product managers have to intuit the business model that bridges both. And on and on.

Why do engineers constantly have these laughably mind blowing moments where they think they are the center of the universe.

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