Taking a position to do a big-bang rewrite of a large system. Project was shelved after 2 years. I should have taken Gall's law to heart.
A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked…A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system.
John Gall
Agreeing/attempting a big-bang rewrite was definitely a mistake. But things turned out alright in the end. After the project was shelved, I used what I learned to make system improvements. Then led a team to make new cloud products. And we're still working on the legacy system. Carving off pieces to modernize one-at-a-time.
Taking the position was also a mistake if I had known the whole picture. But there was a change in leadership. And that changed the whole working environment and available opportunities.
I'm a coder who has worn a lot of hats, from individual contributor to lead engineer to "CTO" (yes, in quotes, make of that what you will!). I've a lot to learn and hopefully some to share as well.
Taking a position to do a big-bang rewrite of a large system. Project was shelved after 2 years. I should have taken Gall's law to heart.
Agreeing/attempting a big-bang rewrite was definitely a mistake. But things turned out alright in the end. After the project was shelved, I used what I learned to make system improvements. Then led a team to make new cloud products. And we're still working on the legacy system. Carving off pieces to modernize one-at-a-time.
Taking the position was also a mistake if I had known the whole picture. But there was a change in leadership. And that changed the whole working environment and available opportunities.
So I guess you never know.
I had not heard of Gall's law, but it strikes me as very true. Thanks for that tidbit!
That's basically a rite of passage for a programmer. Everyone tastes it in their career at least once.