GoKawiilOpinion piece argues software's flexibility breeds workplace irrationality
An essayist contends that software projects, despite being fundamentally simple systems of forms, databases and workflows, tend to make otherwise rational people behave erratically. The piece attributes this to the unique combination of speed, cost, complexity and near-limitless ability to change direction that software allows, unlike physical construction where changes have visible, immediate costs.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The observation resonates with anyone who has worked in tech, where constant pivots and scope changes are normalized precisely because code is easy to alter compared to physical materials. This lack of friction can mask the real cost of indecision, leading to burnout, missed deadlines and dysfunctional team dynamics that are harder to diagnose than in other industries.
- Software's abstraction and low cost of change reduce natural friction between ideas and implementation.
- Most software is fundamentally simple, but the process around building it often becomes chaotic.
- Unlike physical construction, software's flexibility can obscure the true cost of constant changes.
Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams (book) — DeMarco and Lister's classic argues exactly what this article does: the hard part of software isn't the code, it's the people and the conditions around them. It's a short, blunt read that helps explain why sane adults lose their sense of proportion on projects, and what managers can actually do about it.
See Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams (book) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: graybeard.ing, 2026-09-10
Published there as: “Software Drives People Insane”
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