Responding to Sandi Metz on Duplication

In response to Sandi Metz's article on the costs of abstraction versus duplication, Adam McKenzie emphasizes the importance of recognizing the hidden costs of a "simplicity first" mindset, which often overlooks the learning opportunities that come from engaging with complex abstractions. McKenzie argues that good developers should focus on continually honing their skills, identifying valuable abstractions, and learning from past decisions, as this process is crucial for long-term growth and understanding of a codebase. He highlights the opportunity costs associated with technical debt, noting that while taking shortcuts may seem efficient, it sacrifices potential insights and the development of conceptual tools. McKenzie also describes a practice his team follows, called "Tech Talks," which encourages developers to share their learning experiences weekly, fostering a growth mindset and helping them identify which abstractions are beneficial. Through this approach, developers can better understand and evaluate the abstractions that will provide lasting value, rather than merely focusing on immediate code output.