Ask HN: When did computers stop being fun?

Of course I don't mean they stopped being fun for everyone. My impression is that they've been on one side "corporatized", and on the other became a vehicle for mindless entertainment.

I don't care for coding new stuff. Everything I may need either already exists or is too complex to do on my own (and no, I won't vibe-code it, what's the fun in that?)

I don't even code for work anymore since I moved to a project/service management role.

Basically, the spark I felt some 25 years ago seems to be completely gone.

Any suggestion on getting it back?

Raspberry Pi + Home Assistant is really fun, especially if you try to create your own self-hosted voice assistant and connected speaker system

When you got old :)

I know what you mean, I think that happened when Corporations took over the internet.

Plus, when Smart Phones came out, most were locked down. If they were not locked down I think it would have been lots of fun for the young hacking them. Now, almost all devices are in the process of following the Cell Phone Trend.

But some fun can be had with the *BSDs and some Linux Distros, hopefully that can continue in spite of these new Age Verification Laws.

Seems the young of today cannot hack, break, fix computers now, they seem to be on a Assembly Line to Corporate boredom.

Help the younger generations find the same fun you did. That's where satisfaction is often found as we age.

They’re still fun, but you have to be really good at understanding what your idea of fun is, listening to that voice, and not falling prey to what other people/companies with an agenda are trying to push on you as fun (when it’s just crap designed to fill their pockets).

99% of everything is crap, but if you want to find that 1% that makes you so happy you found it, you have to deal with trudging through that 99%.

Also it helps to try and socialize with people who have similar values and notions of fun as you so they can point you to the things they find fun. You won’t agree a lot of the time, but it’s still interesting directions to have on your radar.