Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What's your working day like?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 443 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#211

Post by mikmeh »

wwwwwwwwww wrote: post #83

Profession: "Security" Engineer [08:00] Wake up [09:05] Arrive at work a little after 9 to fight the power [09:15] Coffee. The daily pilgrimage to the Mr. Coffee is the highlight of my day. [09:25] Go to meeting scheduled by demon. I don't need to be in the meeting and nod my head whenever they look at me. [10:05] Check email to find a customer figured out my email and started emailing me on how to figure out their w…

Not security either, did not realize how much I can relate to 10:45 and 13:00.

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#212

Post by monkmartinez »

behnamoh wrote: post #154
david-gpu wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most interesting. As a layperson I have trouble understanding what happens 17:00 to 06:00 the next day. What does it mean to "flag down" if you are still running 911 calls all night?

It's good to see people from other professions such as yours on HN. I often get the feeling that HN commentators are mostly senior software developers, but people like you kinda balance the atmosphere here.

Yeah, I do have two apps in the Play store and I love tinkering with Python... I have a dream that when I retire from the fire service, I will develop software for money or no money. It's a long shot... but I try to stay abreast.

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#213

Post by akavel »

dasmoth wrote: post #187
grogenaut wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have to personally write every single line of code or are you happy when the whole team builds the code?

Not the previous poster, but I'd argue that being able to point to something meaningful (doesn't have to be the whole system, but a coherent component) and say "I made that" brings satisfaction that's hard to beat. This seems tricky to reconcile with the "everything is done by a team" model that's currently in vogue.

Also: http://heeris.id.au/2013/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-interrupt-...

The above comic strip absolutely perfectly shows what's it about for me. Though I agree there is stuff better done with others (brainstorming, or discussing hard problems where you're stuck; also variants of rubber-duck debugging/designing; I'd say it boosts "breadth" and "lateral thinking"). But for many people there is most certainly also stuff better done alone ("depth" I suppose? often things like analysing interactions between subsystems; or building an algorithm; or reading docs or a paper; researching existing apps/solutions/libs in order to "spreadsheet" their pros & cons; also analysing/designing thread interactions; or debugging, building internal knowledge of a problem - which is also a required step before rubber-ducking, or generally discussing it, is even possible; also arguably maybe reviewing someone else's code).

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#214

Post by pinouchon »

grecy wrote: post #144

I am seeing a lot of depressing posts here (and mostly in humor, I think) Lots of talk about sleeping in, procrastinating, pretending to work, etc. etc. I used to be a Software Engineer and I can relate extremely well. Now I am attempting to be a travel writer and photographer, driving around Africa. I spring out of bed in the morning, and have some of the best days of my life, day after day. It's hard, but I love it…

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. - Mae West

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#215

Post by shakestheclown »

grecy wrote: post #194
callinyouin wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you comment on how easy it is to "go back"? I've always heard it's difficult to find employment as a developer once you have a gap in your resume.

I found it immensely easy. We developers are in short supply, so it's an employees market. Don't hide it on your resume, be proud of it "I learned Spanish, I learned self-reliance, I had this and that side project, etc. etc." I always say one of my greatest skills is my ability to self-educate (proven by learning Spanish, and now French) so you say to them "Sure, I'm a little rusty on x,y,z. Less than 2 weeks I guara…

How did you start the process of switching and becoming a travel writer? The idea of such a big leap seems impossible to me.

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#216

Post by rukittenme »

Profession: Remote Software Engineer (REST APIs).

[06:00] Start work.

[07:00] Actually start work.

- Sporadic work, youtube, walks, and, today, HN.

[13:00] Daily Stand up.

[14:00] Doubtful I work past this point.

I don't have to maintain hours. I just happen to wake up at 6 so I might as well work then.

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#218

Post by bulletwolf »

Unemployed post-exit startup founder

-[4:30] Guess I'm awake now.

-[4:45] Hungry. Eat.

-[5:00] Read another article about automation and the collapse of the middle class on HN. Wait for the sun to come up.

-[6:00] Two-hour walk. Receive endorphin-fueled inspiration. Forget everything the moment I re-enter the house.

-[8:00] Watch Magic the Gathering streams. It's a nice game.

-[10:00] Hungry. Eat.

-[11:00] Read another global warming article on HN. Contemplate the future.

-[12:00] Watch an endless stream of whatever the YouTube algorithm feeds me. Kids these days are so talented.

-[18:00] Hungry. Walk to store. Eat.

-[19:00] Friend calls. Flip coin. Tails. Don't pick up.

-[20:30] Feeling sleepy. Floss and go to bed.

Re: Ask HN: What's your working day like?

#220

Post by pinouchon »

gshakir wrote: post #94
rufugee wrote: post #86

Profession: CIO - Full time at company of roughly 3400 employees - [6:45 AM] - Wake up, take out dog - [7:45 AM] - Place kids in the car, off to car pool - [8:25 AM] - Arrive at work - [8:30 - 9:30 AM] - Catch up on email and news - [9:30 - 11:45 AM] - Work on whatever - [11:45 - 12:45 PM] - Head to gym and get workout in - [12:45 PM - 5:45 PM] - Work on whatever - [5:45 PM - 7:45 PM] - Head home, spend time with fam…

Wow, less than 6 hours of sleep. Is that sustainable?

It depends on your genome
Post reply on HN