Software is drowning the world

Overview
The post argues that every piece of software adds future maintenance obligations, leading to a hidden cost that slows organizations. It outlines common problem areas-security vulnerabilities, legal compliance, and third-party API changes-illustrating how these issues arise over time and why they matter for engineering leaders.

Key Takeaways

• Software never truly ends; each solution creates ongoing upkeep.
• Security, legislation, and third-party dependencies constantly evolve, demanding regular updates.
• Teams must account for maintenance costs when deciding to build custom solutions.
• Proactive tooling (e.g., automated dependency upgrades) can mitigate technical debt.
• Organizational structures may need dedicated roles for developer productivity and tool creation.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers overseeing large codebases.
• Technical leaders concerned with long-term sustainability.
• DevOps and platform engineers building automation tools.
• Product owners evaluating build-versus-buy decisions.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD)
• Automated dependency management (Renovate, Dependabot, Snyk)
• Technical debt tracking and prioritization
• Agile engineering practices focused on maintainability