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Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

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Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#71

Post by patio11 »

vonmoltke wrote: post #67
patio11 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a variety of folks there, and their experiences range from "cog in machine" to "really couldn't imagine working anywhere else", and there are a lot of machines you can be cogs in that don't pay $300k (ask the former Japanese salaryman). The main reason I mention it is so that everyone knows to aim for a package (compensation, skills growth, interestingness of work, life happiness, whatever) which compares to a…

> which compares to a clearly achievable outcome which tens of thousands of people of similar skill levels get offered every year Are you asserting that those five turn over a majority of their mid-career engineers annually? That's the only way I see the tens of thousands number being accurate. As for "mere mortals", I think most of us realize these companies hire them. Hell, I've been interviewing for my company a l…

That's the only way I see the tens of thousands number being accurate.

What's your over/under for how many engineers AppAmaGooBookSoft will hire this year? Mine is 50k. I did a back of the envelope calculation for this last year but can't find it.

90% retention rates imply a 5 year survivorship of ~60%; feel free to take any of several thousand HNers out to coffee if you want to confirm what competent, worksmanlike execution means your 6th year pay package looks like.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#72

Post by noway421 »

bitL wrote: post #56

There is no future in software development as a job. Move to a management position quickly, network, make friends with decision makers, don't spend too much time on crafting your skills, your reward for perfection will be more insane work and crazy interviews where one part not 100% done kicks you out. Work on your appearance, kiss up, lift, dress properly, use anti-aging cosmetics, make cool looking hairstyle, wear…

I really hope this has some elements of satire in it.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#74

Post by DanielShir »

Been doing software for 20 years now, and I think the best advice would be to keep things simple.

Keep your software design simple, your code simple, your tools simple. Sure, it's nice to use new and shiny tech for your side projects, but real software should be done simply and efficiently.

Simple trumps everything else, but it takes a real master to know how to pull it off. Especially in the context of complicated software requirements.

During my career I've met very few programmers who are capable of doing this well. It's the true art of the profession IMO.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#76

Post by angelbob »

scarface74 wrote: post #68

I have been developing professionally for 20 years and I'm in my early 40s. What I've learned: * Salary compression is real: most companies are not going to keep giving you raises to match what the market would give you for your skills. They would rather you leave and take all of the institutional knowledge with you than pay you the amount you could get elsewhere. Even if that means hiring someone else at market valu…

Where are you at geographically? I've never had good luck with the local recruiters in Silicon Valley, but maybe they're better in places with less info about market rates?

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#77

Post by scarface74 »

angelbob wrote: post #76
scarface74 wrote: post #68

I have been developing professionally for 20 years and I'm in my early 40s. What I've learned: * Salary compression is real: most companies are not going to keep giving you raises to match what the market would give you for your skills. They would rather you leave and take all of the institutional knowledge with you than pay you the amount you could get elsewhere. Even if that means hiring someone else at market valu…

Where are you at geographically? I've never had good luck with the local recruiters in Silicon Valley, but maybe they're better in places with less info about market rates?

Atlanta

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#78

Post by angelbob »

dingo_bat wrote: post #45
ZoFreX wrote: post #36

If I could go back in time and give myself advice it would be: 0) Nothing is too hard to do, no matter how much those doing it might seem like towering titans many levels above you, or how out of your reach it may seem. Nothing is too hard, there are only things that take time, and things that take more time. If you put in the work, those titans will be your peers before you realise it. Of course, you can't do everyt…

Regarding 2, how do you suggest I avoid "spinning my wheels and learning nothing"? Over the last 6 months I've becoming increasingly aware of this problem with me, but I don't know how to fix it.

Consider just-you personal retrospectives. Do them at the end of sprints or projects, and consider a weekly one. I do this both professionally and for personal stuff.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#79

Post by bitL »

noway421 wrote: post #72
bitL wrote: post #56

There is no future in software development as a job. Move to a management position quickly, network, make friends with decision makers, don't spend too much time on crafting your skills, your reward for perfection will be more insane work and crazy interviews where one part not 100% done kicks you out. Work on your appearance, kiss up, lift, dress properly, use anti-aging cosmetics, make cool looking hairstyle, wear…

I really hope this has some elements of satire in it.

I wish... I worked for many companies everyone wanted to get in, and am still approached by big 4 ones G/FB/AP/AM (no MS as I rejected their offer already). What I observed is that consistently the ones that move to the top are the ones that master the practice of appearance, backstabbing, instigating fear of "missing the train" in superiors, throwing peers under the bus when fitting, betraying trust, sensing and adapting to prevailing winds, and most importantly making their superiors feel happy (I even experienced how a female colleague arranged a large deal with another company by having an affair with their VP, then got rewarded by becoming a head of a new office - I quit in disgust). It's Roman empire game all over again, software is no longer nerd/geek game (only if you wish to become a slave to psychos). If you still want to experience BS-free environment, move to bleeding edge AI/ML/robotics instead, that might have some 15 years future before it becomes another nightmare and all failed manager-types from other fields move in.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#80

Post by angelbob »

bitL wrote: post #56

There is no future in software development as a job. Move to a management position quickly, network, make friends with decision makers, don't spend too much time on crafting your skills, your reward for perfection will be more insane work and crazy interviews where one part not 100% done kicks you out. Work on your appearance, kiss up, lift, dress properly, use anti-aging cosmetics, make cool looking hairstyle, wear…

This is very cynical, but not basically wrong.
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