That reinforces my point. This developer didn't add any functionality. Functionality implies value. It implies that the software is functional towards a business goal. So, in my view, this developer added a bunch of code without generating any new functionality, increasing your liabilities while leaving your assets the same.
And yes, I've seen this same behavior as well, at other large firms. The best way to get a promotion is often to launch something, so people launch, and don't worry about whether the thing they've launched adds any new functionality, or is yet another reimplementation of an existing framework that will make some junior developer miserable.
And yes, I've seen this same behavior as well, at other large firms. The best way to get a promotion is often to launch something, so people launch, and don't worry about whether the thing they've launched adds any new functionality, or is yet another reimplementation of an existing framework that will make some junior developer miserable.