I can't say "dependencies" have ever been particularly high on my list of software gripes. At least not since package managers and repositories matured to the point (at least 5 years ago) where 99% of my dependency installation is either done automatically or is available to me mostly-automatically within a few keystrokes.
I extrapolated his statement to include things like software addons. Even an experienced web developer gets annoyed by searching, downloading, uploading, configuring permissions etc... It's very similar to what he's griping about.
Yes, mature apps like WordPress have a built in plugin installer, but have you ever worked with software like MediaWiki or osCommerce? Installing "extensions" or "contributions" (what we just call addons) can make you crazy. Open this file, find this code, replace it with this or past this after it, rinse and repeat dozens of times. uggh
I've been a commercial programmer for about 10 years now, and in that time I still don't think I've spent even a fraction of the time I've spent dealing with other, considerably more irritating issues in software. My dealings with MediaWiki and osCommerce (and what you seem to be describing) usually involve following half a page of instructions in the order they are written, without a lot of thought or effort being required.
But hey, I could be wrong. Perhaps there are people out there that really hate following step-by-step instructions.
"Perhaps there are people out there that really hate following step-by-step instructions."
Yep, they're called "users". They aren't programmers and don't want to be. They just want something to work. I'm surprised a programmer would rather waste time on trivial tasks than to just click a few buttons.
"And how many times do you do that in a lifetime?"
If you are someone who is trying to build a real website and trying different things, you do it a lot.
"...I still don't think I've spent even a fraction of the time I've spent dealing with other, considerably more irritating issues in software."
It really depends on exactly what you're doing, but since programming is your profession, of course you will deal with a lot of other issues. We're just trying to save people time and money.
I was just suggesting that "users", even those who aren't particularly technically-inclined, are more than capable of following step-by-step instructions, given that the only requirement is generally knowing how to get things onto a web server, how to copy-and-paste, and how to edit a file.
But I wish you the best of luck if your users are happy. Perhaps I'm just getting cynical :)
