Navigating the Necessity of "Imperfect" Software Development
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Imperfections of Software
Creating software is a journey that begins with trial and error.
This piece isn't meant to justify reckless coding practices, such as creating a massive function in Python just to meet a deadline. Nor is it an endorsement of neglecting best practices to expedite the process. Instead, this is directed at newcomers or those venturing into unfamiliar territories. It's essential to accept that, as you progress, you may look back on your earlier work and question your decisions.
What’s the core message here? There’s only so much knowledge you can acquire about various software components within a limited timeframe. Tasks like implementation, automation, coding, and deployment are intricate, and it's unrealistic to expect perfection on the first attempt. While these tools are designed to simplify tasks, it's up to you to determine if that holds true.
In unfamiliar areas, you're likely to make suboptimal choices. The real failure lies in not learning from the challenges you encounter.
No matter how much you rely on resources like Stack Overflow, ChatGPT, or niche forums, there will always be gaps in your knowledge. While you'll find answers to your queries, they may not always be accurate. For instance, launching an API service on an AWS EC2 instance seems straightforward—just open some ports, set up a load balancer, and route traffic.
Yet, have you thought about utilizing Docker for a clustered service? Or, dare I mention the often-discussed Kubernetes?
Some may argue that the simplicity of SSH on-premises was preferable.
Ultimately, no software is inherently "bad." Improvements can always be made, but how can anyone predict what they haven't yet explored or understood?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Section 1.1: The Learning Curve in Software Development
Software development is a continuous learning process.
As you embark on this journey, you will encounter numerous obstacles, but each one offers a valuable lesson.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Importance of Growth
Section 1.2: Embracing Mistakes
Making mistakes is part of the learning process in coding.
Chapter 2: Acknowledging the Reality of Software Creation
In "Why You Should Write Bad Code," the host explores the importance of embracing imperfect code as a stepping stone in the development process. It's a reminder that every developer faces hurdles, and learning from them is crucial for growth.
Similarly, in "Bad Code Is Good," the discussion revolves around the notion that even poorly written code can serve educational purposes and lead to better practices in the future.