Is Programming Skill Linear or Quadratic?

world.hey.com

1 pointsneilan12 comments

37signals posted a job ad for a high paying junior position. The job ad also says software engineering skill over time follows a trajectory. They assume that a junior who is high potential doesn't have a defined trajectory yet. Therefore they want to hire a junior with less experience but lots of potential so they can groom them.

My question: From the perspective that, however harsh, 37signals is correct, is the software engineering skill trajectory linear or quadratic?

> From the perspective that, however harsh, 37signals is correct, is the software engineering skill trajectory linear or quadratic?

Undefined. Engineering skill metrics are vibes. One person's 10x dev is another's 0.1x.

Even if you can make a meaningful metric, given how fast frameworks and libraries change, the trajectory will be discontinuous wherever some knowledge or skill becomes suddenly obsolete.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com