The Makefile Effect: Why We Copy-Paste Config Files
2025-01-11
This post explores the common "Makefile effect" in software engineering: engineers tend to copy-paste and tweak existing configuration files (like Makefiles, CI/CD configurations, etc.) instead of writing them from scratch. The author argues this isn't inherently bad, but suggests it indicates that tools might be overly complex, lacking good diagnostics and debugging support, making them inefficient and insecure to use. The post concludes with design recommendations to minimize this effect, improving development efficiency and security.
Development
tool design