Software Drives People Insane

Software development combines factors like speed, money, complexity, and unlimited flexibility to change direction, which can distort decision-making and drive people to unrealistic expectations. Unlike physical construction, where costs are visible and obvious, software changes hide their true expense in abstract systems and context-switching, making it easy to underestimate complexity and treat significant work as "free" modifications. This opacity—where some changes genuinely are quick while others cause system-wide failures—enables poor decision-making and creates cycles of misaligned priorities and endless meetings.