# The Human Element Behind Software Development Why product soul matters more than automated feature factories in modern software design. - **Source:** [Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-18 - **Topic:** [Product Management](https://brifing.si/c/product) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/8e5dd83d-92cb-4829-8342-a96b6bed6d9f ## Beyond the Factory Model The industry frequently treats software creation like a factory process, focusing on requirements and feature delivery. However, this mechanical approach ignores the human perspective that defines a product. Two teams using identical technology and customer data often produce vastly different results because their underlying understanding and design styles fundamentally diverge. ## Intuition as Expert Judgment At Linear, intuition is valued over rigid processes or raw data. This is not about arbitrary personal preference but rather judgment developed through deep experience, customer interaction, and learning from past mistakes. Intuition serves as a refined point of view, preventing teams from hiding behind faceless data during critical decision-making. ## The Soul of Software Products develop a distinct character through the specific choices makers prioritize and the features they choose to omit. This collective attention creates what can be described as the soul of a product. Users can intuitively feel when someone genuinely cares about how the entire experience comes together into a cohesive whole. ## The Danger of Additive Bloat Many modern products feel increasingly messy because development focuses on what technology can add rather than the form it should take. This additive mindset prioritizes new capabilities over rethinking existing ones. Consequently, products transform into collections of disjointed abilities rather than unified tools with a clear, singular point of view. ## Risks of Automated Independence Organizing work where individuals use agents to produce changes independently risks creating a Frankenstein’s monster. While each individual change might function correctly in isolation, the lack of a shared perspective causes the product to lose its character. The result is an average output that lacks the intentionality of a sculpture. ## Dilution of Product Identity As software development becomes easier, the unique choices that once gave a product its identity are being diluted daily. When the focus shifts entirely to output volume, it becomes harder for users to feel the presence of a creator. The product becomes a generic output rather than a carefully shaped solution. ## Refining the Core Problem A feature can function perfectly in isolation while still making the overall product worse. Recognizing this requires a firm belief in what the product should be. Someone must make the difficult call to prioritize the core problem, then stay close to customers to validate if that specific direction remains correct. ## Future of Software Craft As making software becomes simpler, creators should gain more room to develop and follow a distinct perspective. The goal is to understand problems deeply and keep shaping answers until all pieces belong together. The industry must move away from factory-like production to ensure a human creator remains behind the software. ## Sources covering this story - https://karrisaarinen.com/posts/someone-behind-the-software/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._