I don’t want to be a software developer anymore • Hacker News Board

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#161

Post by dkersten » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:14 PM UTC

tboyd47 wrote: post #80

retSava wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The author says she didn't bring it up since she was afraid it would negatively impact her career. While I can certainly understand this is a real fear that is grounded in reality, I also feel that she has a responsibility to lift the issue internally to get appropriate furniture, tools (eg ergonomic keyboard), and treatment.

You can only expect to be taken seriously for requests like that if you have been diagnosed with a medical condition. By then, you've already experienced significant pain, so the damage has been done. Ergonomics for developers is difficult. Damage sets in so slowly that you don't really notice it until it's too late.

By the time you've been diagnosed, its possibly already too late.

I bought a Kinesis Advantage2 (and foot pedal) earlier this year and after a few months of using it, I wish I'd got one years ago. I feel much less typing strain.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#162

Post by wsc981 » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:16 PM UTC

ablomen wrote: post #17

Coming from a country with cushy laws on the side of employees etc (the Netherlands), and as a male, I can say that I can really identify with the opening paragraphs of this piece. When I started as all round IT guy 10 years ago it felt like a dream, getting payed for doing what I was doing anyway. And the first 4 years of turning in to a web developer was fun and challenging. But after a while the shine wears off an…

My dream would be to have a house in a tropical country with a nice big garden and inside the house have a nice office. Inside the office I would work part-time for clients, part-time for myself (on games). Or perhaps only for myself, if my own projects would provide me enough income. Additionally, the garden would be used as a farm. I would divide my time between farming groceries and fruits and work on some apps or games. I would also like to have plenty of time to spend with my girlfriend and daughter. Do enjoyable things together often, because you never really know when you will die (or your significant other, or your children) - so you really have to try to make most of the little time you have in this life.

As a software developer it's probably easier to achieve your dreams in life compared to many other professions. When living in a country like The Netherlands you can get decent pay as a freelancer and safe money for future dreams.

I've already made the first step to achieve my ideal work/life balance. I am building a house in a tropical country right now. Currently the garden is small, but I am sure in the future I can buy some land from neighbours that will serve as a nice farm. Since the standards of life are lower in this tropical country (average income around 500 EUR / month), it means I can work less if I find a decent paying online job and hopefully can find better work/life balance, while still earning plenty of money for good hospital care (if needed) or pension.

Most people are not able to make these kinds of choices. Being a software developer is really a luxury. Because you _can_ really have more freedom if you choose to.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#163

Post by ModernMech » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:16 PM UTC

eru wrote: post #147

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This supposes you can afford to get a job elsewhere. Most people need a job now.

That's why you (a) interview in batches, and (b) even after you have taken a shitty job that you needed _now_ you keep interviewing. In the longer run: build up some emergency funds; and always keep interviewing as a low intensity background activity, so you have offers before you need them.

I've always felt that interviewing is a pretty high intensity activity. At least the ones I've been in, which are a parade 5-6 of interviewers asking you to do problems at a whiteboard in hour intervals. At the end of those days, I'm physically and mentally exhausted, and often hungry, as they tend to make me talk right through lunch. I really dread interviews like this.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#164

Post by Spark9001 » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:17 PM UTC

I too spent 10+ years as a professional software developer before I decided I just didn't want to do it any longer. I still love "hobby coding", as the author calls it, but production/professional software development is entirely different.

Luckily, I stumbled into a job in the "solutions" genre: i.e. solutions architect, solutions consultant, pre-sales engineer, technical account manager, etc. There are subtle differences between these jobs, but they all require a fairly high level of technical knowledge, but also require soft skills and business acumen. I found this was the sweet spot for me. I'm able to stay close to technology without the immense pressure of professional software development. Plus, I get to learn more about the big picture, business operations, my clients needs, grow my network, etc.

I still hobby code in the evenings, out of pure enjoyment, and the knowledge I gain helps me do my day job better. It's the perfect situation. If you're over professional software development, try a "solutions" gig.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#165

Post by BenchRouter » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:18 PM UTC

folknor wrote: post #16

I really struggle to find anything worth reacting to in this blog post. It sounds to me like the story of every individual worker in every economy. Most of what she says is entirely self-evident, except for the anecdotes about pay/equity, for which she presents zero evidence. Where is the substance? Why is this interesting? Every dad in the world knows that a hobby is different from work, and that turning your hobby…

> Most people have way more taxing jobs than IT. I've been in construction for 3 years, and that work is no joke.

There's some discussion of this above, but I think it's interesting that the alternative to software development is seemingly always construction, or delivering food, or being a waiter.

Wouldn't the more apt comparison be something like law? Or medicine?

Or has software development truly reached blue-collar status and we're essentially plumbers/electricians?

I'm not accusing you of anything specifically, just using your comment to ponder.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#166

Post by Boothroid » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:18 PM UTC

jameskegel wrote: post #11

I read the article; I'm not sure this is so much a criticism of the industry as it is an examination of this developer's personal anecdotal experience. As developers, we lead a very charmed life that others sometimes aren't even born with the chance to intellectually compete for; the author neglects to address how lucky we are to be able to do this at all, let alone to then find employment in it. If it's not an indus…

Dentistry is far from easy on the body and mind - high suicide rates, high toll on the body. Many if not most older dentists have some kind of physical ailment related to their job.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#167

Post by dictum » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:22 PM UTC

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #151

aphextron wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This one hits hard. As a front end developer, when people ask what I do, I say "I make buttons". Red buttons, blue buttons, big buttons, small buttons. Any kind of button you can imagine. I spend my life making buttons light up on a colorful screen. And then people click on those buttons and I get paid an obscene amount of money for it. I'm not sure if this is how people are supposed to live. It's driving me mad. But…

"I spend my life making buttons light up on a colorful screen." Anything can be cynically reduced to some absurd description. You do your (very sensible) argument a disservice by doing that.

"Stamping out widgets" is the classic industrial equivalent, and the idea certainly dates back to the first craftspeople.

For instance, when their whole work is considered, nurses are essential, but their work can be similarly reduced to shuffling things around.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#168

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:22 PM UTC

jib wrote: post #130

kazinator wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how the 2c saving per chip, multiplied by any reasonable number of chips a person can swap in and out could pay for the work (in the so-called developed world, at that)? There are other good reasons to be doing that, like nearly instant turnaround time if a change in the firmware occurs in early production runs.

Yeah there was a sizing thing to it too. It was for a specific build of headsets that didnt go out in huge numbers each batch, so buying in bulk was risky and the lead time from Taiwan was significant. You can do a lot of chips in a day though, I did around 10k per day if I remember right, so there was still some profit.

[deleted]

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#169

Post by the4dpatrick » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:22 PM UTC

derwiki wrote: post #63

ironjunkie wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It took me a while to understand this also especially in the US where everyone complain all the time they work 80 hours a week, especially in tech. In my experience, only a very small fraction of those claiming to do >45hours a week are actually working that much. I think for a lot it provides them a subconscious feeling of importance, and/or an excuse for failed goals in their personal life.

I think some 45+ hr/wk employees really don’t know what else to do with their time, and working longer hours is the “easy” way out.

I can personally speak to this because during the times I was working long hours, I was avoiding some other aspects of a personal life and was using programming/work as an escape. This paints some of my perspective on seeing coworkers who are working these types of hours. I am unsure whether they are passionate or are avoiding other things.

Re: I don’t want to be a software developer anymore

#170

Post by expertentipp » Thu, Nov 23, 2017, 5:28 PM UTC

iamleppert wrote: post #78

I too am planning my departure from the tech industry. I've been at several major startups in the bay area and I've worked for large tech companies. I'm one of those people who are completely self-taught and passionate about technology, and I'm good at what I do. For me its a creative outlet. However, the dark side to this is that I'm frequently taken advantage of. And like the author in the article, I often work alo…

> Working in big tech (and some startups) were the worst [..] a manager who treats you like a basic I/O device for shits and giggles.

The entire paragraph - had this exact experience in a low cost center of an American IT company in post-Communist EU country. Are these companies created out of a template? Are these managers and code-monkeys cloned in a factory and trained in the same place? If by a catastrophic decision I end up in such a place, how do I defend myself?