The author reflects on their grandpa, who grew up on a farm without electricity and had a deep appreciation for craft. The grandpa had a keen eye for detail and could fix things effortlessly. The author remembers how their grandpa could also recognize different types of trees. They later discovered that their grandpa had worked in a dangerous factory after returning from war and understood the importance of maintaining rhythm on the assembly line to prevent accidents. The author criticizes the idea that craft in software engineering should be exclusive to certain individuals and highlights the value of all labor and skills. They share a personal experience where they were excluded from a makerspace as a non-software engineer. The author emphasizes the importance of craft as communication, collaboration, and creation rather than as a way to judge and exclude others. They wish they could have discussed these ideas with their grandpa, who embraced the concept of bettering the world and treating everyone with dignity.
https://www.drcathicks.com/post/on-craft