Choosing the Right Tools:
Avoiding the Noise in Software Development
When technology gets too loud, I turn away.
It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about programming languages, frameworks, methodologies or process models. Whatever you personally prefer, there will be supporters as well as opponents.
When you choose programming languages etc. for a job, companies dictate what to use. Take a look at job advertisements to see what is being used where. Check LinkedIn profiles of employees at such companies to see what they do.
Of course, there are also jobs where you can determine all the technologies and methodologies used. But this is rarely the case, at least in established companies.
You have complete freedom of choice in your own projects. The ones you do because you enjoy it. And you definitely shouldn’t let anyone talk you into what you should use. And certainly not how you have to work.
There are some topics in software development that don’t make sense to me. One of them is the absolute urge to spread one’s “faith”. And from that point on I completely lose interest in topics. Even if it makes perfect sense at first glance.
This starts with choosing the “right” operating system. I like Windows! And I have enough experience with both Linux and MacOS (on the desktop) that I absolutely prefer Windows. On the other hand, there is nothing other than Linux on my servers.
I love simple and straightforward programming languages. These currently particularly include Go and Zig. But I also pick up on “hypes” in order to be able to evaluate them for myself. So I worked extensively with Rust until the middle of last year. The result: I was thrilled. But then I noticed that those around me were a little too convinced of the language. I experienced the same thing with web frameworks.
Methodologies in software development? Absolutely important. Ideally adapted to its environment. But TDD in particular also has the potential to present itself as the sole miracle weapon. I saw something similar with DDD or Scrum. To name just a few.
As soon as I realize that such a topic is only intended to be used out of pure “conviction”, I’m out. In the end, everything mentioned makes sense. And also everything not mentioned. In the right environment.
So the only real solution for me is: make the effort and choose the right tools for the right tasks.
And none of these topics will make you a 10x developer. Or get you a new job in a blink of an eye. So don’t be confused and go your own way.
Oh, I only mention that I think C is brilliant for the sake of completeness. One of those languages that shouldn’t even exist anymore. 😉