The programming talent myth

It takes longer to write simple code than complex code. I think most "Rockstar 10X" programmers are actually just cranking out shoddy prototypes shoe horned into production while capturing all the glory for being the "first to market". Meanwhile, the rest of us are left cleaning up the mess in order to make the software manageable and understandable. We're labeled mediocre because we're actually concerned about producing software that won't require half a dozen refactor sessions in order to transform the software into simple.

The talent gap exists because quality software takes more time to develop. Programmers get rewarded and praised for accomplishments that are visible to outsiders. Time to completion is what's immediately visible, not quality. Quality only becomes apparent down the road after the praise has become a memory and the bonuses are long spent. The praise always goes to the programmer who finished first, not the one who finished well.