> One problem in these discussions is the curve of value delivered by an individual developer in a particular situation is short-and-wide
I kind of disagree with this, although I don't think it's age that separates developers. But developers who can work independently are a lot more valuable than those that require close supervision, and those developers are considerably more value than those who are actively destroying value.
Yes, when you look at those differences any performance drop due to age is going to look tiny in comparison.
What I have found though is a lack of willingness to put up with bullshit. Stuff I accepted as normal in my twenties I'd just walk away from now. This is probably good for the employer but maybe not for your immediate manager.
“ But developers who can work independently are a lot more valuable than those that require close supervision, and those developers are considerably more value than those who are actively destroying value.”
True. But most people reach that point after a few years or never.
If I understand your comment correctly, I think we're agreeing (that there is a wide range [high variance] of value delivered across the population: think of a bell curve that's "smooshed" down to be short and wide).
I kind of disagree with this, although I don't think it's age that separates developers. But developers who can work independently are a lot more valuable than those that require close supervision, and those developers are considerably more value than those who are actively destroying value.