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Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

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Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#311

Post by kirso »

matsemann wrote: post #80
robodale wrote: post #71

Walked away from 20 years of software development last year. I've been day and swing trading stocks for last 2 years. I'm now trading full time and doing great. I don't miss the daily stand-ups, scrum meetings, planning meetings, "quick chats", one-on-ones with management, weekly department meetings, monthly company meetings, and late night critical support calls one bit!

Sorry for the blunt question, but how does it feel to go from something where you make something valuable to ...that? (At least I feel what I do give me meaning)

Have been thinking a lot about this.

There are more ways to make an impact, such as earning a good salary and re-investing / donating to build trees, renewables or serve any of the UNDP goals that are helping society.

In fact that is probably more impactful that personally picking fruit in the garden.

I guess it just depends on the place itself not being generally net negative to society compared to the impact you can make with it.

Here is a good primer: https://80000hours.org/

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#312

Post by kirso »

pul wrote: post #7

Not sure if this is what you mean, but I 'switched' from an ML consultancy to entrepreneurship. I now build and market my own projects ([1], [2]) and try to gain enough ad revenue to replace my former salary. Started 1.5 months ago, and enjoying every minute of it! No longer occupying my mind with corporate power dynamics saves a lot of cognitive bandwidth, but to my surprise it has been replaced. I thought I'd feel…

Hey Ruurtjan! Funny just replied to you on Twitter yesterday :)

I think any switch actually counts irregardless.

I feel you on the uncertainty thing. Quite honestly don't think you ever can escape this feeling. What helps is sort of going backwards from your imagined lifestyle that you want to live and how much you need.

Generally there is always a conflict of how much $ can I earn on the job and maximise my retirement account vs risking it with potential autonomy factor but less or no $.

Think the best we can do is just try to accept that feeling and do the best to achieve the financial needs necessary to keep going.

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#313

Post by telcal »

dplgk wrote: post #109
robodale wrote: post #71

Walked away from 20 years of software development last year. I've been day and swing trading stocks for last 2 years. I'm now trading full time and doing great. I don't miss the daily stand-ups, scrum meetings, planning meetings, "quick chats", one-on-ones with management, weekly department meetings, monthly company meetings, and late night critical support calls one bit!

I've been exploring day trading recently and have not yet found the angle that works for me and also fits my lifestyle/budget. It's hard to find reliable sources of education on the topic because it seems like so many materials are teaching hindsight technical analysis that looks good on paper but is really just BS to sell a e-book or Discord subscription. I'm still exploring what time frames I want to trade and if I…

For about a year I've been watching a guy on Twitch (in the background while working my real job) who day trades everyday. I thought TA was BS but I was wrong. I've learned a ton from just watching/listening and after paper trading for 8 months I'm now comfortable using real money. You're right though almost everything out there is BS selling a book/newsletter/chat room. (Twitch streamer = StockJock)

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#314

Post by kirso »

c0nfused wrote: post #193

I spent my 20s doing programming started off doing web dev and support and ended up doing the consulting thing. Got involved in a few games and start ups along the way. Made some money, have a bunch of opinions about how not to do things, met interesting people,and generally thought I was in for the duration. I had kids, and my spouse flat out makes more money than me for fewer hours and better benefits. So, I am now…

Would you go back to web dev though? Say if money was no issue at all would you continue being full-time parent?

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#315

Post by telcal »

iamgopal wrote: post #175
robodale wrote: post #71

Walked away from 20 years of software development last year. I've been day and swing trading stocks for last 2 years. I'm now trading full time and doing great. I don't miss the daily stand-ups, scrum meetings, planning meetings, "quick chats", one-on-ones with management, weekly department meetings, monthly company meetings, and late night critical support calls one bit!

Day trading doesn’t work. What is your secret ? You can make millions selling your book.

I thought so too but it really can work if you have the right emotional mindset and stick to your game plan. There are streamers who do it live to prove it.

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#316

Post by kirso »

5arias wrote: post #20

Went from opera singer to developer to most recently CTO Solutions Architecture which is more change management and BD strategy than anything else. Enjoying it so far and it’s definitely blowing away my idea of a comfort zone. 37 now, will probably look to do another industry change again around 45-50. I could probably go into performing arts technology or something like woodworking or auto mechanic would be a lot of…

Love this! 34 now, I started as a renewable energy analyst, moved into tech sales, then product and currently just hacking for fun but not looking into transitioning into a full-time SE.

I truly believe we will have more than one career throughout our lifetime due to information availability and accelerated learning. Also for those of us who are privileged and have the time and opportunity, I believe when we achieve the basis mastery of the field, most of us just want to learn something new and do not want to go into PhD level depth.

My next forte is probably design!

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#317

Post by RickJWagner »

angrygoat wrote: post #113

I've been a full time dev since 2000 – 22 years. Right now I'm in training for ordained ministry in a Christian denomination. I came back into regular church worship a few years ago, and then started studying theology through my diocese and found I loved it. Now I'm close to completing a Masters of Divinity at university, and I'm in my third year of training at theological college. Software skills have been much more…

That's a great calling. I wish your ministry great success.

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#318

Post by RickJWagner »

robodale wrote: post #71

Walked away from 20 years of software development last year. I've been day and swing trading stocks for last 2 years. I'm now trading full time and doing great. I don't miss the daily stand-ups, scrum meetings, planning meetings, "quick chats", one-on-ones with management, weekly department meetings, monthly company meetings, and late night critical support calls one bit!

I wish you great luck, but please be cautious.

I'll never forget the great crash of 2000. Among the signs I should have seen-- I knew a guy from my bowling league who quit his job to day trade. I don't know what your qualifications are for this line of work, but this guy had no discernible skills. He was doing fine 'till the big crash, then he was wiped out.

Please be safe.

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#319

Post by kirso »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #63

I was a manager, for many years. I ran a development shop, but did not write paid code. I was good at it, but hated it. I wanted to code all the time. During that time, I wrote open-source stuff, on the side (unpaid). Since leaving that job, I am now writing code, more than ever, and still not getting paid. Not what you're looking for, I know, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Have you considered getting sponsors on Patreon or Github?

Re: Ask HN: Developers who switched careers, what are you doing now?

#320

Post by ta988 »

dahart wrote: post #199
11235813213455 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would help with climate change, but the biggest part is reducing our consumption in all senses. For example, my electricity bill is 10€/month, I have no fridge, use no heating, no hot water, so I'd totally be able to live with just a small solar panel, as I almost never use a device that requires a high power (I eat mostly raw fruits/vegs, more rarely eggs, fish or rice)

Why doesn’t using solar for heat & refrigeration do as much as foregoing heat & refrigeration? Isn’t the climate problem due to using non-renewables, and the emissions that come from physical construction, and not from energy use per se? What do you envision as realistic for society, and how could we actually get there? Is it realistic for families with children to go without heat or refrigeration? How about senior c…

When you see the amount of waste generated by hospitals, I would think twice before increasing the risk of food poisoning....
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