[swalling]

I deeply crave the ability to create finished software like the author talks about, but he skips over a major cause of never-ending updates: business model.

The web and mobile both enable a cycle of extreme optimization where ad-based or subscription-based models are continually squeezed for every last dollar of possible value. This is why if you’ve worked at a tech company that is thriving, a ton of your work just goes poof over time.

The best modern pieces of finished software I use are either free, donation-based, or a one-time paid price. My favorite modern app like this is a little utility called Simple Pacer, which solves distance, pace, or time calculations for runners. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simple-pacer/id1273474255 It’s perfect and the version history on iOS is sparse. I’d bet it makes only a little money though.