Breaking Changes: A Tooling Problem

The article by Richard Marmorstein discusses the challenges of managing breaking changes in library development, emphasizing the importance of libraries in programming. Marmorstein argues that while libraries are crucial for software development, the programming languages they are built on significantly influence their usability and evolution. He highlights the dual nature of programming languages: they enable the creation of expressive libraries but also impose constraints that can complicate library maintenance. As a library maintainer, Marmorstein faces the constant challenge of anticipating how changes might affect users, often leading to a reluctance to implement improvements due to the fear of breaking existing functionality. He introduces the concept of "user personas" to illustrate the diverse needs of library users, contrasting ideal users with those who exploit libraries in unintended ways. Marmorstein suggests that the industry needs better tooling to manage breaking changes, such as codemod-powered upgrades that could automate code modifications for users. He advocates for more granular definitions of breaking changes, allowing maintainers to specify the impact of changes more precisely. Overall, he calls for a shift in programming languages and tools to better support library maintainers and reduce the burden of breaking changes.

- Libraries are essential for software development, but their effectiveness is influenced by the programming languages they are built on.

- Library maintainers face significant challenges in managing breaking changes, often leading to a reluctance to implement improvements.

- The concept of "user personas" helps maintainers understand the diverse needs of library users.

- Improved tooling, such as codemod-powered upgrades, could help automate code modifications and reduce the impact of breaking changes.

- More granular definitions of breaking changes could allow maintainers to specify the impact of changes more accurately.