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A comment on Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing. Parent comment

Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by ajkjk on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @02:57PM (#46049974)
My hunch is that software engineers are averse to unions because they correctly perceive that unions are a wide angle away from the type of professional organization that would be most beneficial to them. The industry is sufficiently different that the normal union model is just not very good and has a 'square leg round hole' feeling.

For instance by and large the role of organizing to not to get more money but rather to reduce indignities... Wasted work, lack of forethought, bad management, arbitrary layoffs, etc. So it is much more about governing management with good practices than about keeping wages up; at least for now wages are generally high anyway.

there are also reasons to dedend jobs/wages in the face of e.g. outsourcing... But it's almost like a separate problem. Maybe there needs to be both a union and a uncoupled professional standard or something?

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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by johnnyanmac on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @03:10PM (#46050147)
what type of professional organization is most beneficial? Standards are already out there, but they need a union or government regulation to be enforced. Devs who want real change need to pick their medicine, or continue to let the industry stagnate.

>the role of organizing to not to get more money but rather to reduce indignities

agreed. And I think that's why it's going to really start taking hold as we enter year 4 of mass layoffs in the US (because outsourcing). Alongside overwork from the "survivors" and abusive PIPs to keep people on edge.

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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by nradov on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @03:54PM (#46050656)
It's wild to claim that the industry is stagnating. By any objective measure the industry is larger, more influential, and more innovative than ever before. Perhaps the problems that people are complaining about here just don't matter very much?
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by franktankbank on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @04:08PM (#46050796)
> By any objective measure the industry is larger, more influential, and more innovative than ever before

What objective measures would you use?

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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by nradov on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @10:40AM (#46058481)
Pick any measure you like: total employment, revenue, patents, new venture formation, products shipped, etc. There are fluctuations from year to year due to the business cycle but overall the trend is up.
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by venturecruelty on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @09:38PM (#46053611)
More innovative? Is that why none of my stuff works anymore and is crammed full of crapware I don't want that spies on me?

Oh, you meant innovative for the shareholders. Got it.

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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by nradov on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @10:41AM (#46058496)
I don't know, maybe you're buying junk? I don't have that problem.
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by pdimitar on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @05:47AM (#46056120)
When was the last time you had to look for a job?
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by nradov on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @10:36AM (#46058414)
2024
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by pdimitar on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @11:23AM (#46059061)
I take it you have a good reputation and a network then. It is getting increasingly difficult to get hired lately, even as a senior. At least in the EU.
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by nradov on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @12:35PM (#46060072)
It's a shame how the EU has sabotaged their own software industry through a mix of excessive regulation, misguided labor protections, and failure to develop broad capital markets. It's like they're collectively choosing to be poor and backward. I can't understand it.
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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by pdimitar on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @12:49PM (#46060259)
I can't understand it either. To me it seems people are excessively risk-averse. I can understand that but I don't understand the leadership not trying to stimulate a little bit of risk and growth there. It's getting to absurd levels at places.

But regardless. Not like USA companies are open to EU citizens currently. Whether it's politics, compliance / legal, or tax-related, it does not matter much. Most US job ads I've seen lately are making it super clear that they want only US citizens.

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Re:Trillions Spent and Big Software Projects Are Still Failing by fugalfervor on Tuesday November 25, 2025 @03:39PM (#46050488)
> year 4 of mass layoffs in the US (because outsourcing)

A lot of the layoffs appear to be about conserving cash for investment in AI. In many cases the jobs that are cut are not backfilled by workers in the US or abroad.

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