Today’s article debunks the well-worn adage, “You can build it cheap, fast, and good – pick two,” by arguing that price in software development isn’t inherently tied to quality or speed. Instead, price is an independent measure of perceived value between buyers and sellers. The piece explains that overpaying, especially when based on reputation rather than proven results, often leads to poor outcomes, even at a high cost. In exploring both the price-quality and price-speed relationships, the author highlights that, while paying for external expertise—such as AWS for hosting, JetBrains for development tools, or Petabridge for training—can accelerate certain aspects of delivery, these solutions fall short when it comes to the custom, nuanced nature of building quality software. As one point succinctly puts it, “adding manpower to a late software project makes it later,” emphasizing that methodology, not just money or headcount, ultimately determines successful, high-speed software delivery.

Key Points:

• Price Independence: Price is determined by buyer and seller perceptions, not necessarily tied to the quality or speed of the final product.
• Quality Isn't Guaranteed by Cost: Expensive “senior” developers or paid services might not ensure high-quality outcomes; reputation often drives pricing rather than proven results.
• Organizational Fit Matters: Even talented developers can underperform if the organization isn’t structured to harness their abilities effectively.
• Measuring Software Quality: Quality encompasses bug-free, well-documented, performant software that meets user needs, yet quantifying these factors remains challenging.
• Exchanging Money for Speed: Paying for services like AWS, JetBrains products, AI tools like Cursor, and training from Petabridge can expedite certain processes, but they only address part of the overall challenge.
• Scaling Teams and Brooks’s Law: Simply hiring more people or the “right” people isn’t a cure-all due to communication overhead and domain training requirements.
• Methodology Over Money: Ultimately, successful software delivery is 80% about how you work (methodology) and only 20% about who’s doing it, underscoring that process improvements drive both speed and quality.

Stay tuned for more insights on optimizing software development methodologies in upcoming episodes!
Link to Article