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Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

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Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#1

Post by baccheion »

Why?

1. What's the culture like these days?

2. How does it differ from what's publicized?

3. Are they stagnating (or becoming slow-moving) internally?

4. Is it still possible to have a meaningful impact (contribute in a relevant way to a major project)?

5. In what ways would working at a startup be "better?"

6. Does it feel like a large bloated company, or still like a startup?

7. How much politics is now present internally?

8. What are examples of places that have a better culture, freedom, ability to make an impact, etc?

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#3

Post by doktrin »

I don't see how this question can be meaningfully answered as it's currently phrased. One person's "good place" is another's hellhole. Culture matters, and plenty of top tier companies and institutions have mutually incompatible cultures. Likewise, "startups" are not some homogeneous group. There can be an absolute mind boggling amount of variance between them.

To me, a much more addressable question would be something like "what is FB's culture like?" or "how much freedom do engineers get to pursue their interests?". Be specific, or expect shitty responses.

As of right now this question is sitting at 40 upvotes and literally not a single germane answer. There's clearly some interest here, but someone should clarify exactly what it is they want to know.

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#4

Post by ilostmykeys »

Everyone already works for Facebook. Every status update, every photo/video you upload, every like and every comment, you are working for Facebook.

So how does that feel? Does it feel good? If it does, you will probably enjoy working there, but "probably" is the keyword.

For me personally, i often find that the code and UX a company produces tells a great deal about their mindset and what type of culture they belong too.

But that's just me. I do judge a book by its cover. I have aesthetic standards :)

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#5

Post by w1ntermute »

I can't say anything about Facebook in particular, but why would a startup necessarily be better than a big company in terms of politics? Startups can be intensely political, particularly if there's drama between the founders or between the founders and the investors. In practice, what matters infinitely more than the size of the company is what your direct manager and the people on your team are like.

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#6

Post by codeonfire »

As an engineer you need to stay where there is green. Big companies like facebook don't need you. They are the big oak trees and you're a little green leaf trying to sustain all that mass of branches and trunk beneath you desperate to soak up whatever energy you photosynthesize. Facebook may want you for lots of wrong reasons, but they don't need you. You want to work somewhere where you are absolutely necessary for the business. I'm not saying facebook is bad, but there are tons of up and coming companies where things are very green and they still need engineers. What are the downsides to working at a big company? You're going to get burned at some point because you're not really necessary and the value that some manager gets by burning you is greater than that of keeping you.

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#7

Post by damon_c »

I agree with all the other answers here but I did think of oone thing does set Facebook apart from other large organizations and maybe makes it more "dev friendly".

Facebook (as far as I know from that movie) was founded, its code was originally originally written by, and it continues to be majority controlled and owned by (at least at some point in time) an actual programmer. That is something that is not really the case at many double digit $billion corporations and may give Facebook a marginal benefit as a "good place for Software Engineers" as long as those conditions remain in place.

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#8

Post by baccheion »

doktrin wrote: post #3

I don't see how this question can be meaningfully answered as it's currently phrased. One person's "good place" is another's hellhole. Culture matters, and plenty of top tier companies and institutions have mutually incompatible cultures. Likewise, "startups" are not some homogeneous group. There can be an absolute mind boggling amount of variance between them. To me, a much more addressable question would be somethi…

I've added questions to the description. Do they address the issues you have? Feedback is always welcome.

Re: Ask HN: Is Facebook still a good place for Software Engineers?

#9

Post by doktrin »

baccheion wrote: post #8
doktrin wrote: post #3

I don't see how this question can be meaningfully answered as it's currently phrased. One person's "good place" is another's hellhole. Culture matters, and plenty of top tier companies and institutions have mutually incompatible cultures. Likewise, "startups" are not some homogeneous group. There can be an absolute mind boggling amount of variance between them. To me, a much more addressable question would be somethi…

I've added questions to the description. Do they address the issues you have? Feedback is always welcome.

It helps, but I honestly still think the use of terms like "better" and "too large" are inherently vague.

Maybe it would be helpful to provide a contrast. Are you trying to pick between FB and Google? FB and Palantir? FB and a research lab? FB and Uber? FB and [insert startup here]?

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