Modern developer experience has deep roots

In his exploration of software development economics, Steve Fenton highlights the evolution of developer productivity and its increasing value from the 1950s to the present. He discusses Herbert Benington's early recognition of the importance of developer productivity and contrasts it with today's context where developer costs vastly exceed those of computers, thus amplifying the economic importance of optimizing developer output. Fenton argues that organizations should focus on value rather than cost, as a value-centric approach can lead to significant returns. He emphasizes that providing developers with the proper tools and environment enhances productivity and value creation, drawing parallels with Joel Spolsky's successful implementation of developer-friendly practices. The text also discusses the relationship between Developer Experience (DevEx) and Platform Engineering, noting their shared goal of equipping developers to tackle complex problems efficiently. Fenton underscores that maximizing developer productivity involves creating a supportive environment that doesn't oversimplify challenges but rather empowers developers to solve them effectively, a philosophy that has been increasingly adopted in modern software engineering practices.