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Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

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Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#51

Post by _alternator_ »

I’ve made some interesting things in the past few years, in particular singing Tesla coils and digitally-controlled plasma tube lights. Was thinking about making bespoke musical instruments based on some of these learnings.

Of particular interest was some interesting types of feedback that came from the Tesla coils. Basically we modulated the frequency we drove the coils to produce sound, but the coils would interfere with one another because that’s how electromagnetism works. We had to tune them to different resonant frequencies to play sound. But the interference itself could sound unique and eerie, sometimes like an old-timey radio. It’s similar in principle to a theremin but a very different sound.

Or I could just get a soul sucking job and do this in early retirement. Shrug.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#54

Post by freedomben »

If money was no issue, I'd go into carpentry. I find building things out of wood to be immensely satisfying. Everything from the smell of the wood, the differences by wood type, the naturally beautiful look it has, and the usability/UX of the final product tickle me in ways that I haven't experienced before. I've gotten very close with personal software projects, but the physicality of the wood is something software has never been able to replicate.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#55

Post by organsnyder »

freedomben wrote: post #54

If money was no issue, I'd go into carpentry. I find building things out of wood to be immensely satisfying. Everything from the smell of the wood, the differences by wood type, the naturally beautiful look it has, and the usability/UX of the final product tickle me in ways that I haven't experienced before. I've gotten very close with personal software projects, but the physicality of the wood is something software…

I've now reframed a garage, built a woodshed, and built a utility shed. I'm planning to build a cabin in the next couple of years. Working with something physically tangible is immensely rewarding.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#56

Post by lbrito »

Really different questions with different answers.

If it were just for my own care-free leisure and benefit, I would probably go to school again and try some other academic path in math, physics or history. Or rekindle my CS study and do a phd - so many different interesting topics.

In the real world, as a parent with a huge mortgage? Pretty much anything. Janitorial work, insurance agent, landscaping, whatever.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#57

Post by bpt3 »

disantlor wrote: post #10
bpt3 wrote: post #5

Some form of building things in the physical world rather than the digital; probably working in construction since I already do it on the side.

im with you, im completely over digital at this point

I'm not at all, but if I had to leave it behind I'd just keep building offline exclusively instead of doing both.

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#58

Post by piva00 »

freedomben wrote: post #54

If money was no issue, I'd go into carpentry. I find building things out of wood to be immensely satisfying. Everything from the smell of the wood, the differences by wood type, the naturally beautiful look it has, and the usability/UX of the final product tickle me in ways that I haven't experienced before. I've gotten very close with personal software projects, but the physicality of the wood is something software…

I was about to answer the same, I'd go to carpentry. I love being in the workshop, I love the pieces I made, I wish I had more time to properly finish some of them with all the details I had envisioned.

I've considered it a lot when I went through a big burnout, perhaps I should've just thrown away the 20+ years of career in tech at that moment to start as a journeyman since now it just became much harder to let go off the comforts this career brings me...

Re: Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

#59

Post by an0malous »

mmh0000 wrote: post #39
GenerWork wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting, why do you regret it?

I assume: Why programmers like cooking: You peel the carrot, you chop the carrot, you put the carrot in the stew. You don’t suddenly find out that your peeler is several versions behind and they dropped support for carrots in 4.3 https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/agv5ol/why...

and the CEO is now mandating everyone use Slam Chops and is expecting food to take half as long to make thanks to their ingenious idea
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