I'm very much an amateur, and unless I have a project, I don't really code. My projects are generally configuring various WMs or Emacs, or weird stuff, like Gemini browsers, an abortive clicker game, et al.
Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
91–100 of 316 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#92I'm most comfortable coding in a unix environment, but I built/bought a windows computer to play video games on, and I'm too lazy to either install a linux distro on here, or setup a dev environment using WSL, etc. Also, I don't really have any projects in mind that are grabbing my fancy.
Same, except I have to use Windows without an Admin account at work .. tho you'd be surprised what I can get done in that box!
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#93I’m gathering requirements. Since all my projects are badly under (or over) specified.
So, a lot of my time is spent making sure I give my team something they can work with.
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Another one is that our dev environment is broken. Our developers have a bad habit of deploying their local branches without integrating the latest version of master. And suddenly the UI devs are twiddling their thumbs because someone has to run a 20+m deployment to get it back up to date.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#94Going for a walk. Many problems solve themselves during a walk. M
Also sleep for me. So many times I've woken up in the morning with an obvious solution to something that had stumped me the previous day.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#95I'm not coding because there are more important things to be done. For example: - I have to groom tasks and interfaces across team boundaries. - I have to review others code. - I have to help someone with their problem so they can proceed and deliver. - I have to onboard. - I have to make sure processes are working well. - I have to make sure the team works well. - and so on and on... Some programmers are much more v…
so, does doing these make you a good manager? interesting.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#96Because Coding is not Working. Coding is not Planning. Coding is not Being Efficient. Coding is not Accomplishing Goals. Coding is not Saving Money. Coding is not Gaining Customers.
I am getting paid to get things done in a good manner. If I wanted to have a house built for me, I would not expect to pay somebody and immediately have them start laying bricks without them looking at the land, taking soil samples, sketching up drafts of what the house should look like within the constraints available, and then plan the foundation of which to start building.
If they came and immediately just started laying bricks, I'd know I have a really shitty house builder.
I mean no offense by this, but "why aren't you X" is a bit naïve and comes off as lacking a good amount of experience in that field. There are many reasons why not doing X is right, including social/mental recovery and prevention of burnout.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#97Accidentally became a manager.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#98I'm most comfortable coding in a unix environment, but I built/bought a windows computer to play video games on, and I'm too lazy to either install a linux distro on here, or setup a dev environment using WSL, etc. Also, I don't really have any projects in mind that are grabbing my fancy.
What about using vmware workstation to run a Linux VM? i find it useful to keep dev stuff separate and have a disposable OS when i install too much junk.
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#99Because Coding is not Working. Coding is not Planning. Coding is not Being Efficient. Coding is not Accomplishing Goals. Coding is not Saving Money. Coding is not Gaining Customers. I am getting paid to get things done in a good manner. If I wanted to have a house built for me, I would not expect to pay somebody and immediately have them start laying bricks without them looking at the land, taking soil samples, sketc…
Yep, the answer to this question for me is pretty much always "because I'm communicating", followed closely by "because I'm reading". Coordination and research are a bigger and more important part of my job than coding (which is also important).
Re: Ask HN: Why aren't you coding?
#100I’m on parental leave