I think you're being charitable enough to read this universe's methods into that one, which aren't compatible (and this incompatibility provides the contrast).
For example:
I still feel like this way of thinking can work only up to a certain point. Don't you need to get to a more precise problem definition at a lower, more technical level?
Not really, no. When you're solving a problem, even as you get to a more technical level, you always keep in mind why you are solving it. I noticed that software engineers in your universe often ignore this. You fixate on some technical solution and then completely forget what is the context in which you're building it.
As you can see, this isn't the sort of mentality that gets you a general purpose tool. You might get JPEG, but you won't get ZIP.
For example:
I still feel like this way of thinking can work only up to a certain point. Don't you need to get to a more precise problem definition at a lower, more technical level?
Not really, no. When you're solving a problem, even as you get to a more technical level, you always keep in mind why you are solving it. I noticed that software engineers in your universe often ignore this. You fixate on some technical solution and then completely forget what is the context in which you're building it.
As you can see, this isn't the sort of mentality that gets you a general purpose tool. You might get JPEG, but you won't get ZIP.