For example, in programming there is a wide-spread 1st order theory
that one shouldn't build one's own tools, languages, and especially
operating systems. This is true — an incredible amount of time and
energy has gone down these ratholes. On the 2nd hand, if you can build
your own tools, languages and operating systems, then you *absolutely
should* because the leverage that can be obtained (and often the time
not wasted in trying to fix other people's not quite right tools) can be
incredible.
And, how would one learn how to make their own tools, languages, and operating systems? You have to build them to learn how. So how does one build them without ever having built them?
