Shallow Understanding of Tech: Good Enough is Good Enough

2025-05-27

The author argues that a shallow understanding of the technologies engineers use is sufficient. Deep dives into database indexes, large language models, etc., enable better decision-making; for example, choosing appropriate models for JSON output and avoiding errors caused by limitations in smaller models. Instead of going deep in one area, the author advocates for broad knowledge across many areas to better adapt to new trends. Learning new technologies should focus on understanding fundamental principles and explaining them simply to others, while using LLMs for fact-checking to ensure accuracy.

Development