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Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

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Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#11

Post by pw0ncakes »

I think developers are motivated by money, but here's the difference: If a developer finds out that the incompetent sitting across from him is making $10k more per year, because of being hired at the right time, he's not likely to care all that much, as long as he's happy with what he makes. It's not taken as a affront, the way it would be among traditional business people. Status in software is measured by access to interesting work and opportunities, not compensation.

We start caring at the 20-50% level, but not about minor differences. Even then, it's not always worth it to get bothered by it. It's mildly irksome to see utter douchebags, at the same age and with not 1/10 my level of talent, making $500k in private equity for literally no good reason, but I can't do anything about it and it doesn't directly affect me (except via New York's absurd rents, but that has more to do with government mismanagement of the property market) so I don't really care enough to think about it that much.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#13

Post by hipsterelitist »

As a developer, I hate being involved in sweeping generalizations about developers.

I'd honestly, like those that I work with to understand and recognize me as an individual with tastes and needs that may or may not be like any other member in any other role in a project.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#14

Post by anonjon »

These aren't really motivators. They're more like necessary requirements for a developer to do good work. I am motivated by doing good work, and by being well compensated for the good work that I do. The better I am, the more I should be compensated.

Autonomy is required for any type of creative work. It isn't about my favorite T-shirt, operating system, language and chair. It is about having someone peering over my shoulder pestering me for results without giving me adequate time to process the problem. If someone lets me use all of my favorite stuff, there is a good chance I will have some autonomy, but there is no guarantee. I'd argue that good software is often creative.

Mastery is a personality trait. I don't see what this has to do with the workplace. I could see challenges as important, as challenges allow you to become better. So maybe 'challenging work'.

Purpose kind of ties into challenging work and autonomy. I think I agree with it. If you have autonomy, you have the ability to tell your boss 'hey, this is a really bad idea and probably won't make us any money or be useful' or 'hey, i have a prototype for a great project'. If the work is challenging, that's another source of purpose.

But I think that these are necessary but not sufficient conditions. Those three things are important if you want to get the most out of your devs, sure.

But if all of your devs are masterful self-starters, who take personal interest in their work, you sure as hell better be paying them well.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#15

Post by SlowOnTheUptake »

hipsterelitist wrote: post #13

As a developer, I hate being involved in sweeping generalizations about developers. I'd honestly, like those that I work with to understand and recognize me as an individual with tastes and needs that may or may not be like any other member in any other role in a project.

I think you speak for all of us.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#16

Post by roel_v »

Tichy wrote: post #7

I might receive an offer for a reasonably interesting job soon, and have been wondering how to justify going "employed". So far my impression is that the bitterest pill for me to swallow would be having no chances. If I come up with a great idea, I won't benefit. I assume here that the usual corporate "bonuses" are not even worth talking about. Salary raises tend to be Therefore I wonder if employees are even the bes…

I don't know what area you're from, but calling (supposedly yearly) salary raises of (just) under 10% to 'hardly make up for inflation' seems like, to put it mildly, a stretch.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#17

Post by cageface »

I was actually trained in chemistry but I left the field and got into software development for two reasons:

1. By and large, it's a meritocracy. Your degree matters a lot less than the quality of your code.

2. Two people in a garage can still make an impact. Most other technical fields require large teams and big budgets to explore.

A single good developer can make a huge impact and seeing my work make a big difference in the everyday lives of other people is my primary reward. Nothing is more demotivating than being mired in an awkward bureaucracy that resists any change or improvement.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#18

Post by rapind »

enjo wrote: post #6
forinti wrote: post #2

Maybe it is money, except that developers want to earn it their way and be recognized for it.

I have a family to support, and as I pass 30 years old..trust me.. money motivates me.

I think the money motivator is important, but as presented in the TED vid, it can definitely narrow your focus. I.e. pay me enough and let me spend some of my time on interesting work and you'll benefit more than pay me alot and micro manage me.

Re: Top Motivators For Developers (Hint: not money)

#20

Post by warfangle »

pw0ncakes wrote: post #11

I think developers are motivated by money, but here's the difference: If a developer finds out that the incompetent sitting across from him is making $10k more per year, because of being hired at the right time, he's not likely to care all that much, as long as he's happy with what he makes. It's not taken as a affront, the way it would be among traditional business people. Status in software is measured by access to…

Can you expound upon why government mismanagement of the property market has caused NYC's absurd median rent? Or, at the very least, point me towards an interesting/insightful article on the subject?

Thanks!

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