[rainforest]

I would offer a counterpoint: most software in existence was written by not-software-professionals in Excel (most likely poorly).

Within reason I think there is a rational basis for not having to involve software engineers for every project - especially if the SMEs with understanding of their requirements are the ones building it.

This will probably fall over in the same space as Excel spreadsheets do though, when the domain complexity outgrows it, way before anyone is able to recognise that.

[llamaLord]

Counter-counter point.

The only reason the world hasn't collapsed into a giant puddle of N-squared recursive CPU execution is because Excel's limitations place natural boundaries on the blast-radius of any single SME's poorly built software before they are forced to engage someone who has at least SOME idea WTF they're doing.

I say this as someone who is much closer to the SME end of the spectrum than the Software Engineering Professional end.

[falcor84]

There is no boundary on the blast-radius of poorly built websites, and somehow the Earth keeps spinning.