Pure vs. Impure Engineering: Why Solo Devs Clash with Big Tech

This article explores the difference between 'pure' and 'impure' software engineering. Pure engineering focuses on technical perfection, akin to art or research, while impure engineering prioritizes efficiency and real-world problem-solving. Big tech needs both, but the current market favors impure engineering, leading to clashes between pure and impure engineers. AI-assisted development benefits impure engineering more, as it helps tackle less novel, time-constrained problems, while pure engineering relies more on individual expertise. The author argues both types demand high skills, just with different focuses.