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Ask HN: What are some thought-terminating clichés in the software industry?

16 pointsby 5y ago
34 comments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_cliché
5y agoHN ↗

"Software development has become too complex to do it without third-party frameworks."

5y agoHN ↗

I would say this does not have to be thought terminating.

5y agoHN ↗

It’s a trade-off. Whether or not you qualify what it depends on.

5y agoHN ↗

It is opensource so if you need a fix do it yourself.

5y agoHN ↗

"It is best practice." or "It is industry standard."

5y agoHN ↗

Think holistically or You are not seeing the bigger picture

5y agoHN ↗

I don't think this is thought-terminating; unlikely to be the end of a discussion.

5y agoHN ↗

In general I would agree. But I have seen this used by leaders, which tends to end the conversation because what they are actually saying is "I'm in charge and I know better than you". Your holistic view has to be the same as their holistic view or you're wrong.

5y agoHN ↗

These are more like lies developers tell themselves out loud, but I have heard them frequently enough they may as well be cliches:

* You can’t write JavaScript without jQuery (this one is dying).

* You can’t write JavaScript without a framework. Doing so will just create a new framework.

* You can’t write applications or get hired without writing classes/inheritance.

* Security certifications are worthless for security hiring.

* JavaScript is slow.

* The DOM is slow.

* Virtual DOM is a web standard, not some unnecessary thing created for the React framework.

* Accessing the DOM without querySelectors is like writing assembly.

* Complaining about querySelector speed is premature optimization.

* I don’t need to performance test because my application is fast.

* WASM will replace JavaScript... any minute now.

* WASM will gain full DOM access to the containing page.

5y agoHN ↗

I saved your comment into my library.

5y agoHN ↗

Because it's harder and older it's better.

5y agoHN ↗

FAANG does it that way so it's best practice.

FAANG built the framework/language so it's going to be the market standard.

5y agoHN ↗

I'm going to disagree on this one. To me, this is telling you to think about which tool would be best. That's doesn't terminate thought; it demands thought.

(Unless someone is really saying "use the right tool for the job, and for this job the right tool is always X". That I can see as terminating thought.)

5y agoHN ↗

I usually see it when people are comparing two tools and can't come to an agreement. In that context, I feel it ends up being tautological in a way that stops people from digging into the real differences that make something the right or wrong tool.

5y agoHN ↗

My objection to this phrase is that it is tautological. By definition, there's never a time when you should be using the wrong tool for the job!

It is good only if the phrase is followed by a discussion about why tool X is right for the job.

5y agoHN ↗

”Responding to change over following a plan”

5y agoHN ↗

“Everything old is new again”.

Not always inaccurate, but often used to overlook nuance.

5y agoHN ↗

Lets make a spike for this

I swear to god if I hear one more "agile" buzzword from some washed out PM who has no reason to be employed....

So glad I don't work in devops or SWE

5y agoHN ↗

- “We’re going to try it our way and if it doesn’t work, we can always go back and do it your way”

- “That’s how the user wants it”

- “That’s how the boss wants it”

- “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

- so called principles : KISS, DRY and so on

- “eval is evil”

- “early optimization is the root of all evil”

-

5y agoHN ↗

‘It’s too late to start over’

5y agoHN ↗

Not specific to programming, but I've seen the thought terminating cliche "mansplaining" used more and more in the industry to completely dismiss a man's point of view.

5y agoHN ↗

Oh, poor men explaining the obvious in loud authoritative voices, believing they’re experts on any topic after 5.3 seconds of consideration.

(I am a man)

5y agoHN ↗

It's increasingly used to dismiss a man's perspective, regardless of if they're right and regardless of their tone.

5y agoHN ↗

"Premature optimization is considered harmful", therefore, don't fix inefficient designs as long as they technically work.