Car built with scooter tires... Scooter built with car tires...
Just not seeing it.
When Java was first becoming popular, I recall emphasizing how important it was to use the standard, well-documented, well-tested java.lang.String, rather than a custom String class as had been done in C++. Application domain experts started asking about strings that didn't fit in RAM (documents).
A great, tested component in one domain may require a significant redesign in a domain with other requirements.
Analogy wears thing because a tyre is a standard off the shelf thing. In software everything that is interesting (and requires employees) is custom to some degree. So it is like a tyre for a rover on the moon.
However no need to get that to also work for a scooter on pluto! Unless the sales guy has already promised it!
Coding is a conceptual art-form, it's not about building a car with scooter tires, it's about upgrading vehicles to get the end result in a workable fashion. Try using spark plugs and pistons to get somewhere!
Just not seeing it.
When Java was first becoming popular, I recall emphasizing how important it was to use the standard, well-documented, well-tested java.lang.String, rather than a custom String class as had been done in C++. Application domain experts started asking about strings that didn't fit in RAM (documents).
A great, tested component in one domain may require a significant redesign in a domain with other requirements.