I keep seeing this idea repeated, but I don't accept the dichotomy between those who care about 'crafting code' and those who care about 'building products' as though they are opposite points on a spectrum.
To me, the entire point of crafting good code is building a product with care in the detail. They're inseparable.
I don't think I've ever in my life met someone who cared a lot about code and technology who didn't also care immensely about detail, and design, and craft in what they were building. The two are different expressions of the same quality in a person, from what I've seen.
Millions of companies work out of spreadsheets, which is incredibly low quality and inefficient code by programming standards (not Excel, but the spreadsheet itself).
Would those companies be better off just using pen and paper? Because "craft code" programmers don't have time for this, and not all companies can pay for bespoke software. Well, maybe now they can, with AI "slop".
Likewise, should people who don't have the skills or means to cook delicious and nutritious meals just starve without food? Or is it okay that they eat something which isn't perfect?
With respect I'm not sure what you're saying follows as a challenge to what I've said. Perhaps because I didn't phrase clearly enough.
I don't think that. In fact I spent years at a company whose product let people build software backed by spreadsheets so I'm at least a little acquainted with that corner of the world :-)
The thing I'm saying is that among those who want to engage in building software via coding, I don't accept that caring about coding craft and caring about building great products that solve problems for people are opposing points on a spectrum.
If anything I'd argue the opposite, that these qualities are correlated. Again, speaking about people who are interested in building software with code.
I think the thing of building useful software with software (like spreadsheets / AI builders) while deliberately not wanting to engage with coding is a discussion apart from this. There's apparent overlap because it's true to say that those people are concerned with building useful things and not necessarily concerned with coding. But the fact they're not concerned with coding by definition puts them out the scope of the first conversation, it's just a different thing.
To me, the entire point of crafting good code is building a product with care in the detail. They're inseparable.
I don't think I've ever in my life met someone who cared a lot about code and technology who didn't also care immensely about detail, and design, and craft in what they were building. The two are different expressions of the same quality in a person, from what I've seen.