Code is run more than read

A mental model for software development priorities, extending the classic 'code is read more than written' maxim. The author proposes a hierarchy: business > user > ops > dev, where each layer represents a broader perspective than the one below. Common dysfunctions are mapped to inversions of this hierarchy — over-engineered code, software that never reaches production, products without users, or businesses that exploit users. The piece concludes with an ethical argument that while business realities can't be ignored, they shouldn't unconditionally override user interests.