Ask HN: quitting programming?

I graduated from university about a year ago, MSc. in CS. I think I don't like programming anymore. For the last couple of years, I've done some freelancing on the side, and since I gruadated I did full-time freelancing. I landed some decent jobs but they're not a lot of fun. In the last two months I had plenty of time to work on my own projects, but it's not a lot of fun. I used to be very enthusiastic, I've been programming since I was about 12 years old, and always loved it. I had a hunger to learn more and more. I'm a good programmer: I know a lot more than most of my peers, invested a lot of time and have always been praised by bosses / clients. I don't really feel a challenged anymore: once I think of a problem I know the solution. Of course, it's never quite as simple as that, but I still don't really feel challenged.

At this point, programming just isn't fun anymore. I see two possible solutions. The first is to go work at a company, maybe having peers and interesting problems can make programming fun. However, I'm not really looking forward to giving up my freedom (I travel a lot). Also, I really want to start a startup, and taking a job feels like failing.

The second solution would be to switch to a completely different job. However, I have no idea where to start. I'm good at organizing events, people and am quite social. This is the option that I'm currently leaning towards.

On one hand I think I should listen to my heart, on the other I think I should just shut up, use my talent, go to work and try to be successful. What do you guys think?

BTW: There's another relevant Ask HN topic, if you're interested: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1521190

I've always thought it's a fools errand to try and go against what you feel. If you "go to work and _try_ to be successful" you'll end up burning out.

My advice would be to find problems that you can't instantly think of the solution to. Whether that be a startup or whatever, you need more challenge.

It was just a lot of fun. I couldn't help myself. I started my first year of college doing something related to CS, but after I started taking some CS courses I switched almost immediately. My MSc. was even more fun, I really liked the problems. However, I didn't want to go to grad school, I just don't see myself working on one specific problem for 4 years or more.

I guess I'm burnt out indeed. A while ago, I asked my doctor about this, but she said that I should just make a list of things I like to do, and not worry too much: it's natural at my age (the infamous quarter-life crisis).

Been there, decided to join a student exchange program for half a year without touching a computer. I still have my doubts, but I also know that I want to create with my own team, not for somebody else.

Think about teaching, perhaps. Certainly for me, if I know something well enough to teach it, I've gotten bored with what I can do with it. However, if I actually then _teach_ someone, there's a constant barrage of questions, from a completely new perspective. Plus, there's always the feel-good initiative, and the money in teaching or grinds isn't bad either. Just my €0.02. :)