The programming assembly-line

"...How many times can you build a cookie-cutter CRUD app with a web frontend that fetches and displays data from a SQL backend before you feel like all you are doing is cranking a lever?...

...Think of those who have implemented language compilers and runtimes, database engines, search engines, operating system kernels and the like. Unfortunately, such projects come along rarely, and the bar for contribution is extremely high..."

That in a nutshell expresses the dilemma of most software developers.