Two's Complement Not Invented, Hear?
Jan 17, 2023
Discover the quirky side of software development as Matt and Ben dive into their penchant for building custom solutions instead of leveraging open source options. They hilariously recount their own missteps in this creative quest. The conversation flows through the complexities of package management systems and the emotional investment in engineering decisions. Balancing the allure of innovation with practicality, they encourage a thoughtful approach to using existing tools while still embracing the joy of reinventing the wheel.
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Fig: A Homegrown Package Manager
- Matt and Ben discuss their past development of a package management system called Fig.
- Fig predated modern tools like Conan and Conda, addressing dependency management challenges.
Building vs. Using External Services
- Building solutions yourself offers control over testability and avoids external dependencies.
- This approach simplifies testing and allows for easier modification.
A Custom Database: A Learning Experience
- Ben recounts building a custom database after issues with MongoDB.
- He admits this was a mistake, advocating for trying other solutions first.