No Silver Bullet

In 1986, Fred Brooks wrote a paper about software engineering entitled “No Silver Bullet”. I won’t bore you with the gory details, but the summary is that there are complexities and difficulties in software engineering that always exist no matter what system is being created and no matter what the requirements of the software are. There are certain complexities and difficulties that are unavoidable.

This analogy for me has always resonated not just in software but in life. There is no genie of the lamp, white knight or any other easy way out or way to success. There is only one formula that has been proven time and again for success throughout human history. Hard work and adaptation. Having spent over 2000 hours already in the past 2 years on my own personal software (while also holding a day job and having a family!) and knowing that I haven’t even scratched the surface of where I want to be is sobering. I’ve got a long way to go.

It’s amazing in life when you try and take an easier road or do something easy for potentially a lot of gain (lottery ticket?) that life quickly reminds you how things are supposed to work. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Reference: No Silver Bullet