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Comment by eulers_secret | Hacker News Reader

> …But sometimes you actually _do_ want to build that…

That’s not true for everyone. I’ve been a dev for 20 years and have never done any of those, and I have no desire to at all. That is ok! Programming isn’t some kind of progression to run from “n00b hello world” to “1337 compiler hax0r”, it’s a tool to solve problems with. Many of us will never have to solve these problems or have no interest in these problems.

So, if you’re like me, don’t worry because you’ve never made a brainfuck interpreter or a database engine. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad dev. You can have a successful career without building these! And if you need them some time, learn them at that time… you may not ever need to.

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I don't think the parent was suggesting that the individual developer has a personal desire to build a compiler for the fun of it.

It's much wiser and far easier (assuming your goal is to have a successful career and run a profitable business) if you Keep It Simple, Stupid! Building a compiler/database/CMS/ERP instead of using an off-the-shelf one is, for well-selected business problems, a bad decision, increasing complexity, adding risk, and allowing scope creep.

But sometimes, in spite of your efforts to adhere to the KISS principle, the real world is hairy and some complicated new problems need complicated innovative solutions, and instead of turning a crank to glue together some off-the-shelf libraries, you'll find yourself, in my particular example, way off in the deep end getting PCBs manufactured or, in the article, writing your own compiler. It's not bad, it just means you've got a niche problem to solve! Or that sales did a terrible job of understanding what they were offering, and something basically equivalent to the customer is just an off-the-shelf Wordpress plugin, but instead you're stuck writing a custom CMS.

For some (many?) problems, there is a point beyond which it is more difficult and painful not to build a compiler, interpreter, or other "I have no desire to" piece of software.

The trick is to recognize that point before you have a giant, unmanageable ball of ....

I think I might have used the expression "do want" to vaguely here. Same as you, I have very little desire to write any of those systems, and still try to avoid them as much as possible (as those endeavors usually require more time/energy, etc. and come with higher risks).

Maybe it's better put as "But sometimes all your product requirements strongly suggest that you have to build X and there isn't really a way to avoid it" (and what's available off-the-shelf doesn't fit)?

Thanks for the clarification (even for some rando on the internet), that makes a lot more sense... I think I'll implement a rule for myself where I won't comment on HN posts after first waking up anymore. Agreed that could totally happen!

'Put self into read only mode until after the first pint of coffee' is a policy that has significantly reduced the number of times I look back at a comment I've made somewhere and judge myself for its quality.

I mean, even fully caffeinated, I still manage to beclown myself on a semi-regular basis, but the 'semi' part is still a net win.

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