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Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

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Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#41

Post by Jemaclus »

Director of Engineering, 12 years professional experience.

Tech side: 10. I love programming, I love the language and framework we use, and I love having the ability to make the decisions we need to make without too much interference from above. I'm able to give back to the community in my spare time, which is great.

Product side: 6ish. The problem space isn't particularly fascinating, but some of the issues we run into I can get pretty fired up about. All in all, I'd rather work on my own projects than my company projects, but them's the breaks.

Office: 8. We're a 100% remote company. The flexibility is incredible and all my friends are jealous, but the main downside is that I've learned that I'm a fairly social creature, and I get really, really lonely working from home all the time. I got a new puppy a month ago, which seems to make things better. We'll see how it goes from here on out.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#42

Post by philippeback »

I like my job. Because I am my own boss. New tech is fine. Lots can be leveraged through APIs and one has to accept to let go of some control in order to get results that are up to the expectations of today bleeding edge solutions. I have seen quite a couple of hype cycles and one shouldn't jump on all bandwagons. But money falls on the parade so it is important to be able to join it in some way.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#43

Post by morgante »

grx wrote: post #39
morgante wrote: post #2

10 I'm the founder of my own startup. I love being able to work on interesting technical challenges while solving tangible problems for companies.

Are you the developer in the founder team or are you also filling the role for CEO and the like?

I'm the CEO. Everyone working on it is a developer.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#44

Post by pmoriarty »

grx wrote: post #34
PedroBatista wrote: post #20

5 Early 30s, spending days staring at computer screens is a nice way to waste your life, the whole RoR to Node.js to Go and React hype cycle made me realize I'm too old for this shit. Finding a job where I'm above of all that madness would be great but middle management is even worse and it's not in me. Maybe self-sufficiency farming would be a better route. Also, when you have a mostly physical demanding job, you ca…

> Maybe self-sufficiency farming would be a better route. Wow, are you me? When people ask me if I feel like programming is what I want to do the rest of my life I often reply with "No, I think one day I'll just drop it all and move on the country side". Nice to know I am not the only one :)

Maybe someone should start a commune for ex-software-engineers.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#45

Post by Isamu »

grx wrote: post #34
PedroBatista wrote: post #20

5 Early 30s, spending days staring at computer screens is a nice way to waste your life, the whole RoR to Node.js to Go and React hype cycle made me realize I'm too old for this shit. Finding a job where I'm above of all that madness would be great but middle management is even worse and it's not in me. Maybe self-sufficiency farming would be a better route. Also, when you have a mostly physical demanding job, you ca…

> Maybe self-sufficiency farming would be a better route. Wow, are you me? When people ask me if I feel like programming is what I want to do the rest of my life I often reply with "No, I think one day I'll just drop it all and move on the country side". Nice to know I am not the only one :)

I grew up on a farm, and that's why I'm a programmer! (I kid! Actually it was the summers working construction that drove me to programming.)

Farming is not such fun, but rural living is pretty cool.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#46

Post by mgmt_wannabe »

3.

I work mid-management part time, software part time (lead a team of ~5). The management part is awful, not managing my team but interfacing with other teams is unbearable. The egos of other managers are sickening.

Currently trying to figure out a way to give up the management part without being fired.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#47

Post by grx »

Jemaclus wrote: post #41

Director of Engineering, 12 years professional experience. Tech side: 10. I love programming, I love the language and framework we use, and I love having the ability to make the decisions we need to make without too much interference from above. I'm able to give back to the community in my spare time, which is great. Product side: 6ish. The problem space isn't particularly fascinating, but some of the issues we run i…

> I love the language and framework we use

And what's that if you don't mind me asking?

Also,

> and I get really, really lonely working from home all the time.

look up co-working spaces in your area! If you find a good one with private booths you might be able to stay productive but also have the benefit of having people to chat with if you want to. (and a good mix of startup people with seniors also does not hurt I guess..)

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#48

Post by xabotage »

5 I get the feeling that every job requires me to exaggerate how passionate I am about what I'm doing and how strongly I believe in the company's "mission" (I missed several job opportunities before I learned how this game is played). The truth is I would rather work to live than live to work, but I still want to learn and grow where I do work (i.e. work at an innovative company with smart people). Are these mutually exclusive?

My current company is good, but I have no idea what I'll do when I realize I can't pretend I like what I do anymore and quit or get fired.

Re: Ask HN: Software Developers – Do you like your job?

#49

Post by foobazzy »

6 While I respect the fact that the overall critical thinking bar is high, I absolutely hate the fact that most of us have a hobby/timepass activity that involves coding. I think we should work on hobbies that are less brainy and more physically challenging(I'm thinking general fitness here).
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