On planned obsolescence

Fixing stuff is expensive. I'm working on a project that entails fixing some previous work without starting from scratch. It's a lot of work but not much is being done.

Here's a random thought: Expirable software 🤯. Something like single-use plastic, but it doesn't end up in a dolphin's throat. Single-use software...

We invest a lot to make stuff scalable and future-resistant, and then when it breaks, as it usually does, it costs 10x more to keep fixing it. Maybe planned obsolescence is a good idea here. Maybe not everything needs to last forever. Maybe some software might benefit from more frequent rebuilds.

if you're building ERPs for your favorite evil conglomerate, it makes sense to invest in making the same machine last longer ( mostly because nobody knows how it works). But for many applications, maybe a healthy dosage of duct tape is good. Makes you more eager to rebuild. I posit that there must be a size threshold below which all this future-proofing starts to be counter-productive.

I know it sounds stupid. But you know what else is stupid? 10 people spending 6 months fixing something that will take 3 people 3 months to just rebuild better. Those 3 people will take 2 months if they knew they can do it again next year. Talk about agility...

Even if things are built right, technology is so fast that by the time you finish building, there's a much better way to do it.

These kinds of ideas are why I'm no longer welcome in Germany, where software needs to last as long as bridges 🤣 🥊🥊

There's also an element of the ship of Theseus paradox at play here. Figure that one out yourself...

Think Ryanair planes.