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Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

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Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#81
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? One thing I learned at Google is that even having Guido on staff can’t make Python work.

Elaborate, please?

Python just doesn’t scale. Th language isn’t typed enough to be safe in a large program. Eventually you will iterate over a string or access an attribute of None. And the runtime is too slow. SRE at Google years ago banned new projects in python because the incredible slowness of the tools was extending the time to repair outages.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#82
post #55

Other than having “Google” on my resume there is nothing special or applicable outside of Google. Most tools are internal, isolated and the choices are restrictive. Management is shitty - micro-management is in full bloom, display lack of management knowledge, skills and there’s plenty of abuse of power. They don’t show their appreciation to what we do. All developers are very competitive. My entire time of over a ye…

How can you have micro-management and isolation?

They ignore you for weeks, then complain about every line of code and solution you've produced and tell you how you should have done it. Repeat every month or two until crazy.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#83

Google showed me the fine engineering at large scale. And the key is the people as they are behind everything. That’s why I changed my view on who was the key person for google success. I used to believe Larry and Sergei, then urs, now I put on Laszlo Bock.

they are ok at it, far from great. netflix is a good example of engineering at scale.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#84

Other than having “Google” on my resume there is nothing special or applicable outside of Google. Most tools are internal, isolated and the choices are restrictive. Management is shitty - micro-management is in full bloom, display lack of management knowledge, skills and there’s plenty of abuse of power. They don’t show their appreciation to what we do. All developers are very competitive. My entire time of over a ye…

We’re you a TVC or a full time employee?

I'm still a TVC. This could be a separate discussion on the scope of how TVCs are treated and it could complement all the recent articles in the media, however, my main focus was on something common, such as tech stack, restrictions and constrictions that will impact you when you go out and work somewhere else.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally that sounds like barf ... politics, stress, insecurities, backstabbing, stress, burn out. I am much happier working in boring government where working hard for family and with mature/secure with themselves (older) adults is paramount & prevalent. Thankfully not an enticing environment for douchebags.

Doesn't government come with its own hurdles? I have friends who have to deal with securing grant money (it's own game of flexing how important your project is with decision makers).

From the developers standpoint its not something that matters until the 1 to 3 to many year contract expires. THen it times to find another govt. gig working with other nice/older/secure family focused peers.

For those under 40 everyone makes it harder on themselves then it ever needs to be. Not saying people over 40 aren't backstabbers, but its way less and going to work is more enjoyable then you worrying always about looking better then the next, you not believing in yourself and or dealing with those that fall under those categories and are a horror to work with and for.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#86
post #39

I've been at Google for almost 4 years, mostly working at startups before that. First and foremost, there's nothing special about Google (compared to any other tech company) and it's best not to evangelize any one company. Learning comes from experience, which means trying things (even if you end up making mistakes) and figuring out the shortcomings of a particular solution. I've seen a lot of bad (and a lot of good)…

Choosing the right language also helps reduce errors. There are languages with no nulls and no runtime errors.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#87

Other than having “Google” on my resume there is nothing special or applicable outside of Google. Most tools are internal, isolated and the choices are restrictive. Management is shitty - micro-management is in full bloom, display lack of management knowledge, skills and there’s plenty of abuse of power. They don’t show their appreciation to what we do. All developers are very competitive. My entire time of over a ye…

You can easily switch teams.

Being a TVC (contractor) this option is close to impossible, as I would need to go through a typical 5+ rounds of interview process - the same as for outsiders. This is a different discussion, however, and this process is completely broken, unfair, discouraging and illogical even for Google. My main point in answering the question was around restrictions to, mainly, house-brewed tech stack and overall attitude of other developers I had a chance to work with.

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#88
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who has worked at multiple companies, currently at Google, you don't tend to leave a company, you leave a manager. Managers are one of your primary interfaces to a company. If those managers are crap, you will have a bad experience.

It's bigger than that IMO. I can switch managers at a big company. But if the entire division is inept, it's time to jump companies because it's a tell that the culture is decaying. For me, the only reason I will never go back to GOOG is blind allocation. IMO that's a bug, not a feature.

What is blind allocation and why is it bad?

Re: Ask HN: What Have You Learned at Google as a Software Engineer?

#90
post #55

Other than having “Google” on my resume there is nothing special or applicable outside of Google. Most tools are internal, isolated and the choices are restrictive. Management is shitty - micro-management is in full bloom, display lack of management knowledge, skills and there’s plenty of abuse of power. They don’t show their appreciation to what we do. All developers are very competitive. My entire time of over a ye…

How can you have micro-management and isolation?

micro-management dictated by the company with their policies and promoting to management those who lack basic management skills. Isolation is based on the culture of competitiveness, self-centered goals, ignorance and, again, lack of necessary management skills in understanding by removing blockers, offering help... etc
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