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Best practices for remote software engineering

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Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#121

Post by TeeMassive »

titanomachy wrote: post #71
philangist wrote: post #2

I was just having a discussion about this with my manager during 1:1. I'm curious how any fellow devs with ADHD have managed the transition to remote work over the last year? I love the freedom and ability to focus that working from home provides, but I often find myself taking advantage of that freedom and focusing instead on podcasts or reddit for 3 days to avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests.

I stopped being able to get work done at all. It gradually tipped me into a low-self-esteem death spiral. I tried lots of different approaches to fix it: more accountability with my manager, new medication, more regular exercise, therapy, a bit of disability leave, even moved to a bigger apartment where I could have my own office. Nothing got me past the block. I quit my job, spent six weeks studying and interviewing…

I'm in the same boat right now. Since my company insists on using an "air-gapped" development network (it basically means no internet connection, but that didn't stop the Chinese from copying our code and designs but I digress) we have to go through two different VPNs, which means remote desktop lag. Usually I don't mind for a few days, but after more than one year I just can't stand it, especially when we're we're forced to used an early 2019 version of Visual Studio, so it's reallyyy slow. I just can't stand it anymore. Sometimes I'm allowed to come back at work and it's day and night in terms of productivity.

I'm getting contacted by headhunters left and right every months but I'm still reticent to leave because we're short on staff and the project I'm working on is really important for the company and I've was kinda hired to bring those things into reality as the other devs are mostly technical experts in their fields than actual developers and in addition the code is ugly.

So yeah. Sucks.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#122

Post by arvinsim »

TeeMassive wrote: post #121
titanomachy wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stopped being able to get work done at all. It gradually tipped me into a low-self-esteem death spiral. I tried lots of different approaches to fix it: more accountability with my manager, new medication, more regular exercise, therapy, a bit of disability leave, even moved to a bigger apartment where I could have my own office. Nothing got me past the block. I quit my job, spent six weeks studying and interviewing…

I'm in the same boat right now. Since my company insists on using an "air-gapped" development network (it basically means no internet connection, but that didn't stop the Chinese from copying our code and designs but I digress) we have to go through two different VPNs, which means remote desktop lag. Usually I don't mind for a few days, but after more than one year I just can't stand it, especially when we're we're f…

Company loyalty is an outdated concept. You are the CEO of yourself so that should be your first priority.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#124

Post by lostcolony »

TeeMassive wrote: post #121
titanomachy wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stopped being able to get work done at all. It gradually tipped me into a low-self-esteem death spiral. I tried lots of different approaches to fix it: more accountability with my manager, new medication, more regular exercise, therapy, a bit of disability leave, even moved to a bigger apartment where I could have my own office. Nothing got me past the block. I quit my job, spent six weeks studying and interviewing…

I'm in the same boat right now. Since my company insists on using an "air-gapped" development network (it basically means no internet connection, but that didn't stop the Chinese from copying our code and designs but I digress) we have to go through two different VPNs, which means remote desktop lag. Usually I don't mind for a few days, but after more than one year I just can't stand it, especially when we're we're f…

Get out.

All your reasons for staying have to do with the company; not you. Unless -you- want to see it to completion, that is not a good reason. You do not owe the company anything.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#125

Post by arvinsim »

thestephen wrote: post #60
philangist wrote: post #2

I was just having a discussion about this with my manager during 1:1. I'm curious how any fellow devs with ADHD have managed the transition to remote work over the last year? I love the freedom and ability to focus that working from home provides, but I often find myself taking advantage of that freedom and focusing instead on podcasts or reddit for 3 days to avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests.

ADHDer here. WFH was a nightmare the first six months, but the past few months have been working out great. My findings from this past year: * Finding the right medication, in the right dose. Biggest QoL improvement. YMMV * Whenever I get lost in the sauce and start spinning my wheels, I schedule a call with a colleague and ask them to help sort my priorities out. This also helps me with accountability, in a softer w…

I agree with the equipment. To the point that I just bought a great Dell Ultrasharp monitor to use instead of my company issued 1080p monitor at home.

Life is too short to spend on crappy screens.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#126

Post by u801e »

vladojsem wrote: post #47

I believe asynchronous communication is the key for remote work. It is super-hard to learn and requires a trust, however, I find it the most efficient style of work. Of course there will still be some regular meetings / synchronous communication, but more asynchronous you can do more focus time remains.

I've really had a difficult time trying to get other team members to rely on asynchronous coummunication as opposed to video chat. Frequently, there are issues with video chat where the video or audio freezes and what was said doesn't get transmitted. Then there are issues where people don't precisely remember what was said during the meeting and it having to be repeated in chat.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#128

Post by arvinsim »

mandeepj wrote: post #73
philangist wrote: post #2

I was just having a discussion about this with my manager during 1:1. I'm curious how any fellow devs with ADHD have managed the transition to remote work over the last year? I love the freedom and ability to focus that working from home provides, but I often find myself taking advantage of that freedom and focusing instead on podcasts or reddit for 3 days to avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests.

> avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests Why? Unit tests are our closest allies

Just because something is important doesn't mean it is enjoyable.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#129

Post by xenihn »

philangist wrote: post #2

I was just having a discussion about this with my manager during 1:1. I'm curious how any fellow devs with ADHD have managed the transition to remote work over the last year? I love the freedom and ability to focus that working from home provides, but I often find myself taking advantage of that freedom and focusing instead on podcasts or reddit for 3 days to avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests.

Adderall 5 times a week instead of 3.

Re: Best practices for remote software engineering

#130

Post by mch82 »

philangist wrote: post #2

I was just having a discussion about this with my manager during 1:1. I'm curious how any fellow devs with ADHD have managed the transition to remote work over the last year? I love the freedom and ability to focus that working from home provides, but I often find myself taking advantage of that freedom and focusing instead on podcasts or reddit for 3 days to avoid 3 hours of writing unit tests.

Have you experimented with remote pair programming as a way to encourage focus?
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