Eli5: Why do companies like Snapchat, Uber, Google, etc. need thousands of engineers when they’re product is already made?

Question

I understand a good portion of them are there to work on new developments, but why does Snapchat need 5,000 software engineers for example? What do they do on a day-to-day basis? Why does Google need 27,000 software engineers when they’re website works fine as is and most of their products and apps have already been made?

In: 1

Answer 1

For the same reason you can’t just build a building and not do anything to take care of it.

The building is “already made” but you need to clean the windows, things break and you need to fix them, sometimes people spray graffiti on the walls, sometimes the government makes you add an elevator.