No matter how good your documentation or comments are, that doesn't mean whoever is left holding the bag will understand it. Or at least not in the amount of time it would take to keep it from exploding

I understand the abstracted theory of how a nuclear power plant works (uranium heats water -> makes steam -> drives turbines etc) but if you sat me down at the control console and asked me to restart a reactor? Yeah I'd have no idea where to even begin. Even if I had a manual as thick as a fridge to (slowly) flick through

I have the impression that the comment you are replying to was sarcastic. Of course you're right that experience can't be replaced with documentation. The role of documentation IMHO is making it easier for people to gain experience by smoothing out the process -> it aids the process of gaining experience, does not replace it

I was a reactor operator. I can't do it now. It takes continuous use to maintain knowledge and skills that narrow.

Seriously ? How did you end up in that line of work?

HN has a tendancy to find something like "nominative determinism" - "comment determinism" where a comment about a job produces a (contradictory) reply from someone doing that job.

The person I know who is a reactor operator was really good at math, joined the Navy and got trained to operate a nuclear sub. Then in the private sector I am sure that skillset is somewhat rare, so it was easy to get a job there.

Can’t speak for them, but being poor, intelligent, and in need of steady income when you graduate High School is a very good way to end up in the Navy’s nuclear program.

Source: Was kicked out, poor, and intelligent. Ended up a submarine reactor operator.

AKA domain knowledge

Of course. The machines get it. And do exactly as commanded. ;)

They used to, now they mutter amongst themselves, casting occasional contemptuous glances at you and me.

Indeed, if a dumb computer can understand the code and execute it flawlessly then so can you! /s