Considering that my Bible for software design was written in 1975 and basically describes exactly what you're talking about in its introduction, I can't say it's actually ever been different.

I've been learning a lot from Softwar's view of software from it's grounded theory point of view. That all software is as concrete as spoken and written stories. Given that you can do anything on a computer without nature to restrict you, you'll only ever see software grow and grow until it's broken and defunct unless it's well maintained by a benevolent line of rulers. And even then, those lines always end.