The part where you actually sit down and type in code isn't the part that is fun for me anyway. I like solving problems and the problem needs to be solved before you know what code to write, so the fun part is over before I even open an editor. Maybe he likes programming but just doesn't like typing code.
If he seems happy and is paying enough attention to it to do well in class then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
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Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#32College is the best time in his life to socialize and build relationships that last a lifetime. Let him do his thing. If his grades are fine why are you worried? For a fresh out of college grad new hire/interview they're going to care much more about grades and school prestige than hobbies or side projects. At least for the major FAANG companies. Something like "deans list BS computer science from Berkeley" or "maste…
Not true. Most FAANGs don't care about grades or even your major. All that matters is the interview which you can get via referrals. The interview is all leetcode for interns and new grads. I have interviewed at FAANGS and work at one.
Everything changed last year, those companies are in layoffs and have greatly tightened hiring practices. HR is much more strictly filtering and dialing back where they recruit.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#33The day-to-day life of a SWE is like Dilbert the comic strip. You don't need to be a child prodigy for it.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#34I would be more interested to know how he is performing in his classes. If he is doing fine, then there really isn't an issue. There are plenty of devs out there who don't spend their free time writing code and your son can easily be one of them.
Is he generally pretty active about driving decisions in his life or does he just roll with things in a passive manner?
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#35> I am not a developer or cs engineer
So you're saying you're less qualified than your son when it comes to determining whether someone might do well in CS?
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#36Many of my peers do not code in their free time and have done very well in their internships and now in their full-time jobs.
I have periods of my life where I don't code at all in my free time but I still really enjoyed studying CS.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#37Sounds like he's a normal college student who's doing well in class.
Most professional programmers would rather spend time on hobbies than working, too.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#38College is the best time in his life to socialize and build relationships that last a lifetime. Let him do his thing. If his grades are fine why are you worried? For a fresh out of college grad new hire/interview they're going to care much more about grades and school prestige than hobbies or side projects. At least for the major FAANG companies. Something like "deans list BS computer science from Berkeley" or "maste…
Not true. Most FAANGs don't care about grades or even your major. All that matters is the interview which you can get via referrals. The interview is all leetcode for interns and new grads. I have interviewed at FAANGS and work at one.
Speaking from very recent experience, referrals are by no means enough to get an interview. I found they helped but I think school name (if you go to a top 5 or so) + quality of projects/past experience are also very important.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#39Having the drive to tinker can have an advantage.
And treating it as just a means to an end is not problem at all, one can become a Product Manager or anything other than a programmer in the tech industry and that's usually a better occupation than being a monkey for big Corps.
Monkey in big Corp here.
Re: Ask HN: Son is major in CS, but doesn't code. Red flag?
#40Eh.
Not everyone has personally-inspiring projects/problems in the back of their head.
Is it that beneficial to screw around with not-very-useful toy project where - because you aren't invested - you aren't going to be doing the hard work of figuring out if you're doing it the best way anyway?