I think the rush to cynicism clouds the bigger vision.
Things are changing fast because the challenges we are trying to solve are getting more complex and the tools need to be used by a larger swath of people in more subtle contexts.
This idea of "back in my day we had real wrenches" is exactly what you fear it is. Sure, you could build a house the same way they did in 1850, with crosscut and rip saws that you had to stop and sharpen every day, and nails you forged yourself. But today we need to 3D print houses out of concrete because there aren't enough trees, because all the old growth tight grain fir was clearcut over the past few centuries and even green wood grown to full size in 5 years instead of 100 is too expensive.
But I think the vision is faulty to begin with. When I started using computers in the 1980's for work, there were multiple text editors, and they all behaived differently, and yes, would go under or get upgraded. I loved working with PFSWrite on the Apple //e, but that eventually went under and we moved to IBM PCjr's running WordPerfect. It was a pain in the ass, why did they have to change my favorite text editor?!?
The pendulum probably won't swing for another 5 decades, when things become more "stable".
Also, I'm pleased to see so many people who are my age (mid 50s), and also kinda bummed to see so many people who are like me replying. Either it is endemic to us, or only we care about it and the diversity of HN is off on other discussions leaving us to kvetch.
Things are changing fast because the challenges we are trying to solve are getting more complex
Are they, though?
The average SAAS today has nothing like the complexity of a major desktop application from 20 years ago, from a user's perspective. Most of them are glorified chat apps or CRUD front ends.
Compare that to something like the DTP software used to do complex magazine layouts, or the CAD software used to design ships or skyscrapers, or AAA games back when the AAA games actually invented new gameplay mechanics and unique presentation styles instead of mostly being this year's version of Franchise X built on engine Y.
If anything the trend is for most application software to become ever [simpler|more dumbed down]* over time. One of these days mobile apps will only accept input via Morse code, because Google will have declared that the new state-of-the-art UI shall be a single invisible button filling the entire screen.
Of course more simplicity in the presentation is probably a good thing for many types of software. We just shouldn't need the current house of cards to build it.
Things are changing fast because the challenges we are trying to solve are getting more complex and the tools need to be used by a larger swath of people in more subtle contexts.
This idea of "back in my day we had real wrenches" is exactly what you fear it is. Sure, you could build a house the same way they did in 1850, with crosscut and rip saws that you had to stop and sharpen every day, and nails you forged yourself. But today we need to 3D print houses out of concrete because there aren't enough trees, because all the old growth tight grain fir was clearcut over the past few centuries and even green wood grown to full size in 5 years instead of 100 is too expensive.
But I think the vision is faulty to begin with. When I started using computers in the 1980's for work, there were multiple text editors, and they all behaived differently, and yes, would go under or get upgraded. I loved working with PFSWrite on the Apple //e, but that eventually went under and we moved to IBM PCjr's running WordPerfect. It was a pain in the ass, why did they have to change my favorite text editor?!?
The pendulum probably won't swing for another 5 decades, when things become more "stable".
Also, I'm pleased to see so many people who are my age (mid 50s), and also kinda bummed to see so many people who are like me replying. Either it is endemic to us, or only we care about it and the diversity of HN is off on other discussions leaving us to kvetch.