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Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

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Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#31

Post by Muted »

I experience the exact same thing. I get an idea for a side project, get really excited about it, think about all the great things it could do, work on it like crazy for a weekend, and then never touch it again. I got to a point where I got really frustrated with myself that I can't finish anything. So this past Saturday I picked a really small simple project I had and said to myself "No matter what, I'm doing a ShowHN before I go to bed." So (after some hesitation) I did [0]. It really helped knowing that the HN community doesn't tear down ideas or projects. And while this was not a big, badass, super cool project like some others, it does feel good to have finally put a project out there.

Based on this I would say, define a small simple project that you can finish before losing motivation or succumbing to fear of failure, and then just get it out there. You will receive valuable feedback and learn a lot. You have little to fear as the HN community seems to shine at not making you feel embarrassed about what you've made. At least this is the impression I got from watching previous ShowHNs.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11930331

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#32

Post by paines »

henryminden wrote: post #18

I'd argue what you are experiencing is not fear of failure but fear of success. Steven Pressfield wrote a fantastic book that addresses the problem you describe called "The War of Art". I highly recommend it to read, it will show you at least what you are feeling is very human and can be overcome.

Thank you !

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#33

Post by ChicagoDave »

There are a lot of factors in being a developer relating to stress, income, talent, vision, responsibility, maturity, and emotional intelligence.

I think most of us go through cycles of high productivity inter-mixed with moderate productivity, and some small moments of being useless. The best developers are the ones that seem to be slightly higher than moderately productive all the time. Those people are rare in my mind. Then there are a handful of rockstars that can code at a high level all the time. I've only met a couple people like that in 31 years.

As for crippling doubt, well, I think those are signals to listen to, but learn to review your ideas pragmatically. I'm on my second start-up and this second concept is no sure thing. I've had doubts many times, but I also see the merits in building it. So I persevere. It's not at all easy. You have to forget about the future and focus on the here and now. Focus on the things you _can_ do, not the things that you have no control over.

But yes, we all have unfinished projects that were stopped because of doubts.

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#34

Post by phugoid »

If you can push yourself hard enough to get the idea built, you will face another bout of crippling self-doubt when you decide whether to show it to anyone. And then a MUCH bigger wall of doubt when you begin to market the idea and realize that good ideas don't sell themselves.

My advice is to choose smaller projects, even if they're not as commercially promising, just to build up your strength and ability to finish the job.

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#35

Post by jasonkolb »

This isn't unique to you, or to developers. What you're describing is part of the human experience. There's even a name for it, "Dark night of the soul". Everyone experiences it, in every walk of life.

[1] https://www.eckharttolle.com/newsletter/october-2011

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#36

Post by scarecrowbob »

I feel like that often, both as a musician and as a programmer. I've got enough skills that it's not hard to get folks to want me on their teams (and they pay, too, which is nice).

The problem is that when I launch something wholly on my own I often back off.... there are usually good reasons:

it's not gonna be as profitable as I thought,

there are actually problems with my idea I couldn't have seen until I got into the project,

it's just not as good as the alternative of working on other folk's porjects.

My solution to this (because it happens maybe 4 times a year that I drop some project I was working on) is to identify some small goal, even if that goal is "learning how to install postfix" or "getting my banjo chops to the point where I can roll chords along to someone else's songs".

Even better is when these small goals are in themselves something I can return to later (like a save point in some dumb video game).

Like, I just made a marketing site to try and pick up some event music work. If I don't push on it hard and it doesn't generate a bunch of leads, then it can at least still just sit there and when I come back to it in a couple of months and try and make a push on the idea, then I already have that part of the marketing collateral done.

And, with this project, I've progressed in my skills at setting up the server and specifically configuring mail programs, I've learned a little bit about adwords and analytics, and I have something to show my musician buddies.

Projects don't have to be all or nothing-- if you can learn from them or jest get some small tangible thing out of them, that's okay and often quite valuable.

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#38

Post by iamben »

As many others have said here, I have this not just as a 'programmer', but as person - I think most people do. Sometimes it's crippling, sometimes not.

For the most part, you have to ask 'what am I worried about'? Usually it boils down to an issue with your own ego - the idea of failing or looking stupid, usually in front of your peers. If you can get over that, everything becomes a lot easier.

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#39

Post by travmatt »

informatimago wrote: post #4

One fundamental feature of programming (development, software engineering, whatever the name), is that you have to face the unknown. If you already knew what problems lie ahead and their solution, you would already have programmed it, and then what use would it be to rewrite the program? Just re-use the previously written code! So by definition, what you will develop, will be a program solving a problem with unknown…

In "Code Complete", the Steve McConnell describes that as the wicked problem of software development.

Re: Ask HN: As a programmer do you have ups and downs and periods of intense doubt?

#40

Post by andrewfromx »

You just need a team. Stop trying to do a SaaS app all by yourself. Work with at least 1 other person, even better with 2 other people. The team will keep the idea going if it's a good idea. By yourself, the odds are not in your favor.
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