I think Jeff's post lacks humility and perspective. Generally you try not to name laws after yourself, but let's say it was some sort of humour.
I truly think he should put web programming aside for a while, and realize someone has got to write the operating systems, web servers, middle wares, compilers, tools that make everything possible.
If things are simple it's because other people solved the hard problems for him, and sorry, but it's more challenging and requires some "traits" not found in every engineer.
Of course writing a complex, working and reliable web application is far from trivial, but please, realize that the world is rich and vast and there is always a bigger mountain out there.
"I truly think he should put web programming aside for a while, and realize someone has got to write the operating systems, web servers, middle wares, compilers, tools that make everything possible."
Sometimes on the StackOverflow podcast Joel refers to this whole area of programming as "systems programming," which I think is the correct term. Basically, it is building the things that other programmers use to build applications that normal people use. So, programming where the end user of your work is another programmer.
It would be nice if Joel reminds him of this whole area of programming again in the next podcast. It's clear in their podcasts that Joel has been around the block a few more times, and sometimes needs to fill in the larger perspective that Jeff lacks.
It's clear in their podcasts that Joel has been around the block a few more times, and sometimes needs to fill in the larger perspective that Jeff lacks.
I truly think he should put web programming aside for a while, and realize someone has got to write the operating systems, web servers, middle wares, compilers, tools that make everything possible.
If things are simple it's because other people solved the hard problems for him, and sorry, but it's more challenging and requires some "traits" not found in every engineer.
Of course writing a complex, working and reliable web application is far from trivial, but please, realize that the world is rich and vast and there is always a bigger mountain out there.