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Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

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Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#431

Post by pc86 »

clentaminator wrote: post #256

I think about leaving programming every day. I love programming, but I'm not sure I enjoy software development as a career. I enjoy coding and understanding how computer systems work, but I don't care for the constant changes in tools and techniques in certain domains of development. I'd rather practise with and improve my existing knowledge of a subject, instead of constantly playing catch-up with someone else's too…

The money is hard to pass up, regardless of area.

As I've mentioned before I own a gym business (multiple locations) with my wife and some other business partners. Part of the purchase process was financial disclosures of everyone so we all know what each other makes on paper, what we actually take home, household wealth and assets, etc.

I'm 30, younger than my business partners by multiple decades, and am the only one not in a strictly management position. Two of the partners are PEs and I make more than anyone else.

I say this not to brag but only to point out that it takes a lot to leave programming simply because the money isn't there is a lot of other professions. I almost went into civil engineering and I'm glad I didn't, because apparently I would've had to bust my ass to make it into management only to be 20 years older and making less money to boot.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#432

Post by driverdan »

SyneRyder wrote: post #68

I'm mostly happy with programming, but I often think I'd like to try working in a coffee shop, especially a Starbucks. I spend so much time in cafes as a customer, and I really appreciate the difference that a barista's smile or greeting can make to my day. I'm curious to experience that from the other side for a while. I also read books about retail businesses & brands & Starbucks & customer experience for enjoyment…

Why Starbucks? It's the McDonald's of coffee. Pick a local cafe you like and see if they'll hire you part time for weekend shifts. A place that takes pride in their work.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#433

Post by driverdan »

fastcars wrote: post #377

I hate programming as a job. Spending all day sitting at a computer with little human interaction outside of the person next to me and having to concentrate for hours on hard problems is really bad for my mental health. Most programmers seem to either burn out, or spend their day trying to avoid programming by going to meetings and so on. There is also an extreme amount of micromanagement at my current job. I just ge…

Sounds like a bad workplace. You should try finding a place that fits the type of programming work you'd enjoy.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#435

Post by yoyobird »

I think automation will replace the need for SEs. Sites like weebly, jeenka, snapmobl eliminate the need for a programmer if you want to build your own website. If I were a programmer, I would start thinking about exit paths within the next 10 years

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#436

Post by digler999 »

terminalcommand wrote: post #383
amelius wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But at least those jobs don't have the stigma of being (in the words above) Asperger professions. This makes it difficult to share your problems with other people, and of course, also because people in general would, I suppose, find the problems that musicians or theatre writers have more interesting, and more approachable than the problems of a software developer. Also, this makes that a musician can be a "musician"…

As a law student, I experience this a lot. Computers and programming were/are my only passion and obsession. My life is dedicated to computers, but professionally I have to be a lawyer. I just had an interview at an IT Law Firm, and made a fool of myself. That's why I completely agree that, we as "people who are good at computers" need to keep seperate identities. Because if you go full Aspergers, you make yourself v…

> and made a fool of myself.

Good. you got out there and made mistakes. Now you can learn from them and you wont ever be that bad henceforth, hereunto. I made a total ass out of my self the first few programming interviews I went to. First one, recruiter called me (woke me up at ~10am) and I thought I'd show "initiative", I said "sure Ill be there in 2 hours". Went totally unprepared, didn't even bring a copy of my resume. They even lectured me about improving my interview skills.

Second one, I made the mistake of asking my potential coworker "what college he went to", thinking anyone in an engineering profession went to college. The manager interjected that he was 'self taught', this wasn't a total faux-pas on my part, but it created an awkward moment where I didnt really know what to say. I further erased any possibility of getting the job by getting too relaxed/comfortable and blurted out that I'm really groggy in the morning (cringe). I learned quickly, eventually got good at interviews, and ultimately got a job at bloomberg, which is fairly difficult to get past their interiew process.

So dont take it out on your neck, pick yourself back up and make a list of things you can take away from your experience. you have no other direction to go than up.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#437

Post by galfarragem »

Enjoying doing something as an hobby is completely different than enjoying it as a career.

What people like is the 'creative part' associated with a skill. When you do something as a career, most of your time will be used dealing with the 'boring part'.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#438

Post by geoelectric »

sprocket wrote: post #406

I graduated with a degree in CPSC in the early 2000's and worked in the field for about 10 years before my wife and I moved to a more rural locale, bought a small herd of dairy goats, and started making cheese. It's a very different and difficult life, but on the whole is very rewarding. The money will never be the same as working in tech, and you'll almost certainly have to scale back your lifestyle expectations. I…

My wife and I often joke that my exit plan is to become a goat farmer. I'm not sure she realizes I'm at least half-serious.

Good to hear that someone successfully did that!

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#439

Post by drzaiusapelord »

terminalcommand wrote: post #383
amelius wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But at least those jobs don't have the stigma of being (in the words above) Asperger professions. This makes it difficult to share your problems with other people, and of course, also because people in general would, I suppose, find the problems that musicians or theatre writers have more interesting, and more approachable than the problems of a software developer. Also, this makes that a musician can be a "musician"…

As a law student, I experience this a lot. Computers and programming were/are my only passion and obsession. My life is dedicated to computers, but professionally I have to be a lawyer. I just had an interview at an IT Law Firm, and made a fool of myself. That's why I completely agree that, we as "people who are good at computers" need to keep seperate identities. Because if you go full Aspergers, you make yourself v…

>Once people realize you're "different", you get the "poor boy treatment" and that hurts.

Or worse, once you're pegged as a hopeless geek then people tend to walk all over you and you're not seen as the kind of person who advances, becomes management, etc. You're a freakshow human resource to perform labor that, unfortunately needs to be done, until everything can be a one-click cloud solution.

I make a very special effort to hide whatever geeky qualities I have. I think ultimately a lot of geek culture is manboy-ish and the kinds of people who let all of that loose at work are seen as childish or immature, right or wrong. Sadly, those of us into things like hard sci-fi or DIY maker stuff get lumped in with the guy who still buys Superman comics at age 40 or thinks over-sexualized fan-service anime is humanity's highest artistic calling.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#440

Post by amerkhalid »

I love programming especially solving difficult problems. But sometimes I fanatize about being a professional photographer or a writer. These 2 professions seem perfect to me. Perhaps because they provide freedom to work from anywhere, and be creative. When I was pursing these professions semi-seriously, almost everything around me was an inspiration or a creative idea; movies, driving, conversations, food, advertisements, etc.

About a year ago, I started portrait photography semi-profesisonally. I really enjoy photography but didn't enjoy the business aspect of it. And it was hard to coordinate with clients when you have a fulltime job.

A few years ago, I got serious about fiction writing, wrote a lot but could not write anything that I felt was good enough for anyone to see.

Now I am just focused on programming and enjoy photogrpahy when I have free time.

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