Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#1

Post by throwaway2951 » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:03 PM UTC

I remember in my teens I used to love programming. After 20 years of a career, I don't enjoy it anymore.

Have you rediscovered the joy of programming? Any advice?

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#2

Post by elviejo » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:39 PM UTC

Programming is 1,000 room hotel of which we live in only one.

I recommend you study different programming paradigms because in them we can find really interesting approaches to solve problems.

For me those have been:

- functional programming (with Haskell) - logic programming (prolog) - Constraint Programming with the excellent Coursera class on minizinc.

Those paradigms made programming fun again for me.

PS: I also stay away from JavaScript... When I was working with JS.. I was seriously considering leaving programming... Thankfully I changed jobs and I haven't had to touch it anymore.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#3

Post by lonelappde » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:57 PM UTC

How about discovering the joy of the wide world outside programming? Why lock yourself in the same box you've been in for 20+ years?

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#4

Post by currymj » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:00 PM UTC

there are a number of video games by ZachTronics in which you program in assembly language for fictional computer architectures in a sci-fi settings. “Shenzhen I/O” and “Exapunks” are both fun.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#5

Post by dkulchenko » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:09 PM UTC

For me, I took 2 years off of programming entirely and did something completely unrelated (started a monthly subscription box, so mostly marketing/sales/procurement).

I was completely burned out and couldn't stand to code even side projects when I started the hiatus. When I was ready and got back into it again, the passion was 100% back. Still going strong 3 years since.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#6

Post by sys_64738 » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:10 PM UTC

Take a 6 months break and don't use a computer during that time. Then see how you feel.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#7

Post by tfleming » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:11 PM UTC

elviejo wrote: post #2

Programming is 1,000 room hotel of which we live in only one. I recommend you study different programming paradigms because in them we can find really interesting approaches to solve problems. For me those have been: - functional programming (with Haskell) - logic programming (prolog) - Constraint Programming with the excellent Coursera class on minizinc. Those paradigms made programming fun again for me . PS: I also…

What was it about JavaScript that wanted you to leave programming? I'm just curious.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#8

Post by mrfusion » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:11 PM UTC

elviejo wrote: post #2

Programming is 1,000 room hotel of which we live in only one. I recommend you study different programming paradigms because in them we can find really interesting approaches to solve problems. For me those have been: - functional programming (with Haskell) - logic programming (prolog) - Constraint Programming with the excellent Coursera class on minizinc. Those paradigms made programming fun again for me . PS: I also…

What’s wrong with js?

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#9

Post by kylestewart » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:12 PM UTC

elviejo wrote: post #2

Programming is 1,000 room hotel of which we live in only one. I recommend you study different programming paradigms because in them we can find really interesting approaches to solve problems. For me those have been: - functional programming (with Haskell) - logic programming (prolog) - Constraint Programming with the excellent Coursera class on minizinc. Those paradigms made programming fun again for me . PS: I also…

Jumping in this post to recommend the exact same idea. Learn a new language outside the type of language you're used to using. I've been using my extra time indoors to learn Clojure and Forth. The things I'm learning are already changing the way I write Swift. I'm also excited about making things on microcontrollers again because Forth gives me a way to escape the horrible tooling forced on us by the chip manufacturers.

Re: Ask HN: How to rediscover the joy of programming?

#10

Post by sigwinch28 » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:12 PM UTC

dkulchenko wrote: post #5

For me, I took 2 years off of programming entirely and did something completely unrelated (started a monthly subscription box, so mostly marketing/sales/procurement). I was completely burned out and couldn't stand to code even side projects when I started the hiatus. When I was ready and got back into it again, the passion was 100% back. Still going strong 3 years since.

How did you start a monthly subscription box without programming? outsourcing? hiring?