528: My Favorite Slap in the Face

Quality Debate

The debate over software quality reveals contrasting views on whether software is improving or deteriorating. John Siracusa argues that software is getting better due to advancements in technology that allow for more functionality with the same number of bugs per line of code 1. He highlights that while users may not notice these improvements, the complexity and capabilities of modern software far surpass those of earlier times. Casey Liss shares frustrations with Apple's software, noting that issues reported years ago are sometimes only addressed much later, which can feel like a slap in the face 2.

My favorite slap in the face is, oh, here's something you reported years ago, and we think we fixed it. Hey, you want to do me a solid and go check?

--- Casey Liss

Marco Arment adds that the increasing demands on software contribute to the perception of declining quality, as users expect more complex functionalities than ever before 1.

   

Development Changes

The evolution of software development is marked by significant changes in both technology and user expectations. Marco Arment reflects on the early days of iPhone development, where apps were simpler and expectations were lower 3. Today, developers face the challenge of meeting high expectations for features like cloud sync, multi-device compatibility, and complex user interfaces 4.

The expectations of what people want you to do are so high that the software necessarily has to be more complicated just to fit what people expect all apps to do these days.

--- Marco Arment

John Siracusa notes that while the number of bugs per line of code remains constant, the complexity of modern software increases the absolute number of bugs, making quality assurance more challenging 5.