Specifications Are the New API Between Product and Engineering Posted by nslog on Tuesday February 24, 2026 @02:53PM from the blog.davidlapsley.io dept. https://blog.davidlapsley.io/engineering/ai-assisted%20development/product%20management/2026/02/24/specifications-are-the-new-api.html ( 3 comments | on HN )
Yes, that's called "programming", as Dijkstra explained https://www.cs.utexas.edu/~EWD/transcriptions/EWD06xx/EWD667...
Tom Smykowski: Yes, yes that's right.
Bob Porter: Well then I just have to ask why can't the customers take them directly to the software people?
Smykowski: Well, I'll tell you why, because, engineers are not good at dealing with customers.
Slydell: So you physically take the specs from the customer?
Smykowski: Well... No. My secretary does that, or they're faxed.
Porter: So then you must physically bring them to the software people?
Smykowski: Well. No-- Ah sometimes!
Slydell: What would you say you do here...?
Smykowski: (shouting) Engineers are not good with people! I'm a people person!