[pbiggar]

"Move fast and break things" is about moving fast, and only mentions "break things" to indicate that its OK to break things. I agree that what the code does is orthogonal.

I would carve out space shuttles, etc, as different, but they already are carved out: they use special subsets of C with no memory allocation, run extensive static analysis and proof software, because those things literally cannot go wrong.

Anything that doesn't use that sort of thing has already committed to the idea that it won't be foolproof. If you code in a scripting language, you are already writing software which you implicitly acknowledge can go wrong. Software has bugs!

[amirmc]

I guess my issue is specifically with 'break things' as it overgeneralises the idea of experimentation (which is something I do agree with). The impression that 'move fast, break things' leaves me with is that it's ok to break anything and that it's also (implicitly) not a big deal if they stay broken or somehow hurt a user (e.g by exposing, even temporarily, what was once private).

Even though it's a wonderfully pithy 4 words, people can interpret them in many different ways, most of which I'd argue are not good for the end-user.

"... you are already writing software which you implicitly acknowledge can go wrong. Software has bugs!"

Agreed, but shouldn't the intent be to create things in a way that tries to reduce the likelihood of damage while still allowing plenty of room for experimentation? i.e take some care that what you're about to do/push isn't going to do harm? If I follow the 'break things' mantra, I don't need to care. That's what bothers me. It's so easy to hide behind when something goes wrong.

[pbiggar]

From what I've learnt of Facebook's attitude, it's more that you won't be fired if you take the site down (at least, the first time). I don't believe that they don't care when you break things, and that wasn't what I was advocating.