As someone who spends time programming, I of course find myself in conversations with people who aren’t as familiar with it. It doesn’t happen all the time, but these discussions can lead to people coming up with some pretty wild misconceptions about what programming is and what programmers do.

  • I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences. So, I thought it would be interesting to ask.
  • Fudoshin ️🏳️‍🌈@feddit.uk
    87·
    9 months ago

    “Just”

    That one word has done a fuck ton of lifting over my career.

    “Can’t you just make it do this”

    I can’t “just” do anything you fuck head! It takes time and lots of effort!

      • Ogeon@programming.dev
        10·
        9 months ago

        Simple features are often complex to make, and complex features are often way too simple to make.

        • Skvlp@lemm.ee
          7·
          9 months ago

          I believe that it’s not for nothing that simplicity is considered more sophisticated. Many, many cycles of refinement.

    • spartanatreyu@programming.dev
      8·
      9 months ago

      I like to say:

      We have a half finished skyscraper, and you’re asking me to Just add a new basement between the second and third floor. Do you see how that might be difficult? If we want to do it, we have to tear down the entire building floor by floor, then build up again from the second floor. Are you prepared to spend the money and push back the release date for that new feature?

    • CaptDust@sh.itjust.works
      7·
      9 months ago

      “Just” is a keyword that I’m going to triple my estimates. “Just” signifies the product owner has no idea what they are requesting, and it always becomes a dance of explaining why they are wrong.

    • pinchcramp@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      6·
      9 months ago

      I would have written that comment if you hadn’t already done it.

      I don’t know exactly why people think that we can “just” do whatever they ask for.

      Maybe it has something to do with how invisible software is to the tech-illiterate person but I’m not convinced. I’m sure there are other professions that get similar treatment.

      • CaptDust@sh.itjust.works
        6·
        9 months ago

        I know you built the bridge to support 40 ton vehicles, but I think if we just add a beam across the middle here, we should be able to get 200 tons across this no problem? Seems simple, please have it done by Monday!

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      I get that from our product owners a lot, and I usually say “yes!”, followed by an explanation of how much time it will take and why it’s not the path we want to take. People respond well to you agreeing with them, and then explaining why it’s probably not the best approach.