[74ls00]

I’m sorry but this comment just highlights how mind bogglingly bad we in tech are at documentation and knowledge transfer. The very idea that a single project can only survive as long as the same individuals are working on it is insane. For hundreds of years architectural projects have outlasted the original architect. Or just look at civil engineering: transportation networks, utility infrastructure, etc. The idea that every project must bring on a high schooler to maximise the longevity of a project before we have to start over is ludicrous. Our tech stack needs to prioritise stability, we need to learn how to document from our friends in other disciplines, our funding models need to expect smaller returns over much longer timescales, and we need a culture of celebrating those who do the tireless job of maintenance.

[hvs]

NASA, probably more than any private organization has reams of documentation. Every bolt is documented. Maybe, just maybe, electronic systems are more complicated than bridges and buildings that literally just sit there.

I do agree that we need to do a better job of celebrating the people that do maintenance which is what the vast majority of our field is based on.