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Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

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Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#91

Post by dclusin »

dencodev wrote: post #90
ilyas121 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same, graduating in a year and interested in advice.

As a long time senior dev who's desperate to get out of development right now because I'm sick of it, my overwhelming advice is to be sure you're working at places where you can grow. I job hopped from one consultancy to another, getting great pay jumps each time but doing the same thing. And the places I've worked are small - there's literally no job opening to move into, or any way to make a new job. It's really ha…

I currently have a side project that's really challenging and broad in scope. It requires me to learn how to do things I've never done before (machine learning & computer vision). It's more involved than just following an l2tensorflow shitpost, as I'm going through the entire ML dev cycle w/ it. I'm also the one that gets to decide what programming aspects to work on and when to deliver them (since i'm the sole stakeholder). I think this helps me deal with the whims of my BigCo job, in the sense that when ever the requirements/tools get silly I can just take relief in my side project being intellectually stimulating.

Is it programming you've grown to dislike or your employer? Also I don't have kids so I realize that a side project as a prescription is most likely untenable for people with families.

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#92

Post by dave333 »

Solvent boredom beats insolvent doing what you love. Keep the day job and do what you love as a hobby. If you don't know what you love keep looking while still employed. I went from SW eng - > unemployed (dot com bust) -> self employed as web entrepreneur (https://samurai-sudoku.com 2005) -> UI lead (massive relief to be earning a wage again) -> flipping a house as a hobby (broke even but a ton of fun) -> retired (finally unable to keep up with new javascript frameworks every 18 months).

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#93

Post by dencodev »

H8crilA wrote: post #34
hellonoko wrote: post #20

1. As absolutely little as possible. 2. Got FU money and was able to do nothing.

How long have you been doing "nothing"? I tried it (sort of) for a year, and found it a little dull.

I spent a year doing nothing and it also drove me crazy, but I think a big component of that was knowing I needed to work againg eventually. If I had FU money I would probably find myself much less paralyzed and fine something I really enjoy doing.

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#94

Post by dencodev »

hellonoko wrote: post #67
H8crilA wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long have you been doing "nothing"? I tried it (sort of) for a year, and found it a little dull.

About 12 years I believe.

Do you not feel compelled to do something? There isn't any particular cause you want to work towards? Something political, community oriented, non-profit? I feel like there's so many causes I care about that I would love to organize if I had FU money.

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#95

Post by dencodev »

jhwhite wrote: post #48

1. I'm a Scrum Master. 2. I really wasn't great at it. I loved it, only did it professionally for 2 years, but did side projects for years before I took an official job. I wish I was good enough to be productive in a professional environment.

I'm an experience senior dev trying to transition to project management but it's difficult to find jobs right now that are entry level and software focused. Any suggestions? I feel like they just see my senior software engineering titles and think "no way this guy wants to be a PM for $60k a year"

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#96

Post by dencodev »

dclusin wrote: post #91
dencodev wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a long time senior dev who's desperate to get out of development right now because I'm sick of it, my overwhelming advice is to be sure you're working at places where you can grow. I job hopped from one consultancy to another, getting great pay jumps each time but doing the same thing. And the places I've worked are small - there's literally no job opening to move into, or any way to make a new job. It's really ha…

I currently have a side project that's really challenging and broad in scope. It requires me to learn how to do things I've never done before (machine learning & computer vision). It's more involved than just following an l2tensorflow shitpost, as I'm going through the entire ML dev cycle w/ it. I'm also the one that gets to decide what programming aspects to work on and when to deliver them (since i'm the sole stake…

I don't have kids and never will so that's not an issue.

That's a good question. I honestly don't know. I've also tried to recently learn some machine learning/AI stuff and the motivation is just completely gone. It's impossible for me to open my IDE and not dread it. I feel like I have a mental block for learning and I just give so few shits about anything software related right now I can't focus long enough to pick up anything new.

Maybe I'm burnt out. Maybe if I take some time off then try to approach something new I will find some sort of joy in it. I think I am definitely struggling because I've done what I do (full stack web dev) for SO LONG. I've been making websites since I was 10 and I'm in my thirties now.

My employer is kind but boring. I don't have a personal relationship with anyone there and have been 100% remote from the start for my past couple jobs, which doesn't lend itself well to building relationships (for me, anyway).

I would love to transition to doing something more team oriented, more social, doing something cool with cool people. I'm in Seattle and have applied to a couple Bungie jobs, and I would absolutely love the chance to just help build some video games as a project manager, even if I was getting paid a third of what I am now.

Unfortunately the job market is horrendous, cool jobs are hyper competitive, and trying to transition to something new while also changing employers is super hard. It's all working against me.

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#97

Post by throwaway234101 »

ciclista wrote: post #64
cosmodisk wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is correct. Eventually people can be very nice, once you get to know them, but you either have to be a certain type or simply have guts to tell people to sod off, as then they would start showing respect:) I think this is very similar to construction and some other related industries.

Both actually. Employers are stingy with PPE and you're constantly surrounded by dust, fumes and potentially harmful chemicals. Keep in mind this wasn't some tiny shop that made fences, I was working on military prototypes and aerospace projects. I switch to the industry during the Obama administration, but after 2016 people were feeling a little too comfortable with their misogeny and racism. To final straw was my d…

> I was working on military prototypes and aerospace projects.

How does one get into that? And is the money better or worse than software? I've been looking at switching to welding and machining for a while now, but the pay in my area isn't great.

The rest doesn't bother me. I even hear my local pastor is a racist now[0]!

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zkL91LzCMc

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#99

Post by throwaway234101 »

juniper_strong wrote: post #61
H8crilA wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long have you been doing "nothing"? I tried it (sort of) for a year, and found it a little dull.

That's where I'm at. Well not "FU" money, maybe "I would prefer not to" money, job off-shored so I did nothing for a while. I had this big list of all the things I wanted to do when I stopped working, and in six months, I didn't even start doing one of them. My girlfriend said, "You're still on the computer all day, you might as well get paid for it". I hate it when my girlfriend is right.

> "You're still on the computer all day, you might as well get paid for it".

I took a year off a while back and pretty much did the same thing. If I ever take that much time off again, I'm going to go someplace that has no internet.

Re: Ask HN: Former software engineers, what are you doing now?

#100

Post by dclusin »

dencodev wrote: post #96
dclusin wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I currently have a side project that's really challenging and broad in scope. It requires me to learn how to do things I've never done before (machine learning & computer vision). It's more involved than just following an l2tensorflow shitpost, as I'm going through the entire ML dev cycle w/ it. I'm also the one that gets to decide what programming aspects to work on and when to deliver them (since i'm the sole stake…

I don't have kids and never will so that's not an issue. That's a good question. I honestly don't know. I've also tried to recently learn some machine learning/AI stuff and the motivation is just completely gone. It's impossible for me to open my IDE and not dread it. I feel like I have a mental block for learning and I just give so few shits about anything software related right now I can't focus long enough to pick…

Sounds like burnout to me.

When I got my current job I was throwing things at the wall trying to find something that could pass as a business. Ultimately I found what I'm working on but ran out of money and it wouldn't generate very much or anytime soon.

I got incredibly fortunate and found a job at a big company right before COVID. When I started working I was pretty burnt out myself and found it hard to code on either the side project or the work projects. But I was broke and in debt so I had to keep going. The drive came back to do better at work and on the side project.

Sounds like recharging might be in order for you. Idk what your financial situation is but as a dev taking a year off hopefully shouldn't be too much of a burden. It was for me and I lived off CC's. I still recommend it, especially if you're burnt out and considering leaving tech.

Maybe once the world reopens take a year off. Don't open your laptop lid for 6 months and pursue other passions and then reevaluate.

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