Programmers in 2024 have no Deep Knowledge

Summary

In this video, Jonathan Blow critiques the current state of software engineering, arguing that many developers lack deep knowledge and instead focus on shallow, API-driven learning. He emphasizes the importance of understanding fundamentals like algorithms and data structures, and criticizes the trend of developers jumping into frameworks like React without mastering JavaScript basics. Blow also discusses the challenges of recognizing and creating good abstractions in software, and suggests that developers should strive for higher standards to improve the overall quality of software engineering.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Jonathan Blow critiques the lack of deep knowledge in software engineering, suggesting it's a widespread issue affecting not just games but the entire field.
• 🎓 Blow emphasizes the importance of understanding fundamental concepts like algorithms and data structures, which provide deep, applicable knowledge.
• 📚 He contrasts 'deep knowledge' with 'shallow knowledge,' like learning a specific JavaScript API, which is often based on arbitrary decisions rather than understanding the underlying mechanics.
• 🚀 Blow points out that many developers, especially in front-end with React, skip learning JavaScript fundamentals, which he views as a critical step.
• 🤔 He questions the rationale behind using frameworks like React without understanding concepts like the virtual DOM, which is key to their performance benefits.
• 📈 The speaker agrees with Blow's perspective, noting a trend where beginners jump into popular frameworks without grasping the basics, leading to a reliance on shallow knowledge.
• 🔄 The discussion touches on the evolution of the software industry, where the influx of new developers often leads to a focus on learning APIs for job prospects rather than deep, foundational skills.
• 🤷‍♂️ There's a critique of the current state of software engineering where 'respectable engineer' standards are unclear, unlike fields like civil engineering.
• 🛠 The speaker suggests that to improve the situation, developers should strive for high standards in their code, as the industry lacks a clear benchmark for quality.
• 🌐 Lastly, the speaker acknowledges the difficulty in effecting change in a vast industry with low barriers to entry and a prevalence of 'shallow' knowledge.

Q & A

What does Jonathan Blow criticize about current software engineering?

Jonathan Blow criticizes the lack of deep knowledge in software engineering, suggesting that many programmers have a shallow understanding of their work and focus too much on learning specific APIs without understanding the underlying principles.

Why does Jonathan Blow consider knowledge of algorithms and data structures as 'deep knowledge'?

He considers knowledge of algorithms and data structures as 'deep knowledge' because these topics are fundamental and applicable in many areas of computing, unlike specific API knowledge which is often shallow and limited to a particular interface.

What does the speaker imply about the learning process of front-end developers?

The speaker implies that many front-end developers skip learning JavaScript fundamentals and jump straight into learning frameworks like React, which can lead to a lack of understanding of the underlying technologies and concepts.

Why is it important for React developers to understand the Virtual DOM according to the speaker?

Understanding the Virtual DOM is important because it helps improve the performance of larger front-end applications by optimizing the way the DOM is manipulated and updated.

What is the speaker's view on the trend of using frameworks for small applications?

The speaker views the trend of using frameworks like React for small applications as unnecessary and suggests that developers should consider using vanilla JavaScript for simpler tasks to avoid overcomplicating their projects.

How does the speaker feel about the current requirement of open source contributions for job seekers?

The speaker expresses concern that beginners are being pushed to contribute to open source projects without having a solid foundation in coding, which can lead to poor quality contributions.

What is the speaker's opinion on the value of high-level knowledge versus deep understanding in software development?

While the speaker acknowledges that high-level knowledge can be useful for building applications, they emphasize the importance of deep understanding and fundamental knowledge for creating robust and maintainable code.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to the prevalence of shallow knowledge in software engineering?

The speaker suggests that developers should strive to create high-quality code and not settle for mediocrity, setting a high standard for themselves and others to follow.

Why does the speaker believe that AI might not solve the problem of shallow knowledge in software engineering?

The speaker believes AI might not solve the problem because AI-generated code, while functional, might be nonsensical and difficult for human developers to maintain or improve upon.

What is the speaker's perspective on the state of abstractions in software development?

The speaker's perspective is that while good abstractions exist, there are also many bad abstractions, which can lead to confusion and poor code quality, even in big tech companies.