The prevailing narrative suggests Microsoft stack developers often find themselves in less “sexy” enterprise environments, leading to concerns about an “internal tools career dead end.” However, a closer look reveals a more nuanced reality. A 25-year veteran with experience in both enterprise and “trendy” tech companies offers a counter-narrative: the so-called “sexy” tech world often harbors worse technologists.
This observation stems from a belief that over-financialization in the tech sector fuels the adoption of trendy but mediocre technologies. Companies with successful business models can afford to prioritize signaling over sound technological choices. The “let’s be practical” mentality often masks a lack of genuine need for robust technology.
Consequently, managing large teams in these environments doesn’t necessarily equate to strong leadership. The reliance on massive capital and developer hiring sprees to achieve rapid growth often overshadows the need for true technical expertise. This model challenges the notion of the “10x developer,” as it prioritizes scale over individual brilliance.
Since the late 90s, the dominant approach has been to simply “put it on the internet,” regardless of the underlying technology. This “webification” trend, while driving growth, demands minimal technical proficiency. It allows for the superficial application of buzzwords like “Big Data” and “ML” without requiring deep understanding. This begs the question: does focusing on internal tools truly lead to a career dead end, or does it offer a path to genuine technical mastery amidst the hype? Perhaps a career building essential, yet often overlooked, internal tools provides a more sustainable and fulfilling path for skilled developers.
