Mixing Software with Business

I saw this happening, when I worked in Silicon Valley, in the Nineties. And it was not a pretty sight.

Usually Developers identified with Business, and turned out terrible software. They were not told "Turn out terrible software!" But they did anyway, and were rewarded for it.

There were Developers, and Companies who produced Software Development tools (such as those produced by Rational Software) who tried to buck this trend - but they were unsuccessful, and went out of business. Or, in my case - left the country instead.

Gradually, very gradually - Developers began to see their work as different from Business. And became more interested in helping it - than in helping their company. Heavens to Betsy, what was going on?

And - miracle of miracles! - companies who allowed their developers to develop better software, on their own - became hugely successful. Amazon, Google, and Apple were born.