[greentxt]

"the whole point of your job is automation?"

Automation is not the point of programming. Think hard about this. It's the most important point. Code/build/hack to create more work for people to do, not less. It's thanatos. People need to unlearn "programming==automation" before it's too late. Everything we do as programmers should be done with "create more work" as a mantra.

[cookie_monsta]

I see where you're going but for me "create more work" doesn't quite capture it. In my mind there's a pretty clear distinction between computer work and human work. Computers are good at fast, precise calculations and following complex procedures repetitively without variation. Humans are good at lateral thinking, constructing narrative and drawing non-obvious connections.

Coincidentally, humans are generally really bad at the things that computers are good at and vice versa.

I think our job is to build systems where the computers are doing the computer work, which frees up the humans' brains and time to do the human work.

So not creating more work per se, maybe creating the opportunity to do better work?

[greentxt]

Sure, increasing the quantity or quality of human output works. My point is that overfishing is a concept that might be applied to programming and other human endeavor if those doing the fishing could only think a bit more and coordinate, and leave a few fish in the sea for next year. We soon learn labor's lumpier than we prevuously thought.

[mazambazz]

I think everything could be summed up even better to just say that the goal should be to increase productivity.

[greentxt]

I think I prefer to focus on humans vs a productivity metric. Consider overfishing. Easy to imagine overfishing being driven by a desire to max short term productivity. One has to think beyond the bounds of quarterly or annual metrics, at that point it isn't clear what the abstract construct of productivity buys you. Slavery increases productivity. I don't want that. I want humans to have freedom and meaningful work and well functioning healthy societies. Are those things "productivity"?

[HenryBemis]

Automation is bad for you, but it's "good for business". The least they need you, the better it is.

I assume this is where 'automation' comes in, reduce dependence to the meatbags (us, humans)