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by coding123 1081 days ago
this is also not a good analogy because building codes will often just require 20" O.C or 16" O.C studs and those are in the plans- drafted by a person that designed the home (self, architect, drafter). Reinforcements for shelves or cabinets are also part of the code for kitchen walls. Those are not to be expected in every location in the house.

The framers are locked into the house plans as far as stud distances and special framing members that are specified. County inspections will make sure that's all there.

House construction is far, far more standardized and strict that programmers coding crap code. It's not a good analogy.
4 comments
andrekandre 1080 days ago 

  > House construction is far, far more standardized and strict that programmers coding crap code. It's not a good analogy.
the way i took it was that in home construction what they describe is completely absurd and yet that is how most businesses do software, so the contrast there drove the point home (no pun intended)
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ranting-moth 1081 days ago
"programmers coding crap code" vs. builder building crap houses. Both exists and both are very real.

In many ways the builders are even worse because they can usually hide the faults with caulk and paint if you want. Problem becomes evident when things start to leak or rot. That can be later but been causing damage in the meantime.

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weswilson 1080 days ago
I'd say it's a pretty good analogy, the details aren't perfect, but it gets the point across.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfEX6GUxfZM

Here's an example of an arguably good builder who had one team install a in-wall tank toilet, then another team drills right through the tank causing a leak. The repair work essentially meant ripping out everything and doing it over, even though there should have been mitigations in place to prevent it and having the plans/documentation available to everyone.

While construction has more standardization, planning, and inspections, it still relies on implementation and is going to have failures.

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sli 1080 days ago
No analogy is good when you dissect it to pieces. Being perfect encapsulations of reality is not the point of analogy, they are simply there to increase understanding.
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