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Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

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11–20 of 23 posts

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#11
> all I do is edit YAML files (I don't work in DevOps, it's not k8s) and write glue for code that I'm not allowed to write myself

What is this ecosystem where you can declaratively specify your program in YAML? And what are these magical dependencies that let you do this? Is it specific to an industry vertical? Could it be replicated for others?

If there is such a capability, I'd want to get in the business of making the tools rather than the apps.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#12
What you're describing is a lack of engineering in modern software. That's not inherently a bad thing. Arguably a good thing, because we have more problems solved enough to be boxed/canned. But I'm not satisfied with a lot of these boxes/cans, which is why I started rewriting my personal website using completely new techniques based entirely on generic engineering and problem-solving principles [https://novocantico.org/]. My day job is still gluing other software together, but at least I'm able to try to innovate something in my spare time, and open-source it.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#13
> When I've tried to talk to my manager, he's told me we have to think about how maintainable the project is.

Let me guess your packages aren’t up to date either and no one checks if they’re maintained?

Tell your manager when there are no challenges in the job the most skilled people will leave.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#14

> all I do is edit YAML files (I don't work in DevOps, it's not k8s) and write glue for code that I'm not allowed to write myself What is this ecosystem where you can declaratively specify your program in YAML? And what are these magical dependencies that let you do this? Is it specific to an industry vertical? Could it be replicated for others? If there is such a capability, I'd want to get in the business of making…

AWS Cloudformation templates with pre-defined lambdas for example.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#15

> all I do is edit YAML files (I don't work in DevOps, it's not k8s) and write glue for code that I'm not allowed to write myself What is this ecosystem where you can declaratively specify your program in YAML? And what are these magical dependencies that let you do this? Is it specific to an industry vertical? Could it be replicated for others? If there is such a capability, I'd want to get in the business of making…

That quote is taken out of context. I said:

> I've had entire weeks at work where all I do is edit YAML files

Editing config files isn't what I do every day, it's just an example of the consequence of using multiple massive frameworks combined with hundreds of libraries. So much work is done for you that at times you just need to configure everything.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#16
Here at croit.io our devs solve real problems and can not just glue together parts. Of course we do use a lot of them, but the major part is R&D. In fact, we have crazy hard topics to solve where most devs come to their limits. If you are looking for a interesting job and have the right skills, send us your CV.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#17
I feel like this but with cloud services (AWS, Azure) instead of Open Source. They have solved most problems, are cost efficient and easily get buy in from upper management. Developers jobs are then to write configuration and plug things together. Very boring stuff!

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#18
I've been programming a long time and I feel the opposite about modern software. Not having to implement your own batch queuing engine, or write your own map software, or struggle to implement the client side of some vendors API is wonderful.

I would say the combination of cloud services and open source means there is no better time to be a developer. You can get things done as a solo developer that would have been impossible 20 years ago: not having to fret over backups and OS versions because your cloud vendor does it in a serverless system is a massive time saver by itself.

If you're struggling to compete with open source packages when you write code, it's a good sign you are writing the wrong code.

It should be obvious though that the very best systems are always boring to work on. The vast majority of software does boring things (ETL or CRUD or security stuff) and there is no way to make it exciting. There is plenty of satisfaction in making it reliable though. Not everyone can work on the exciting stuff, not everyone is suited to working on the exciting stuff either.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#19

I feel like this but with cloud services (AWS, Azure) instead of Open Source. They have solved most problems, are cost efficient and easily get buy in from upper management. Developers jobs are then to write configuration and plug things together. Very boring stuff!

Good systems are boring, that's kind of the point. Trying to support some fragile web of home-built infrastructure might seem exciting but long-term it's just frustrating and a massive waste of time.

Re: Ask HN: Is open source ruining your job satisfaction too?

#20
post #14

> all I do is edit YAML files (I don't work in DevOps, it's not k8s) and write glue for code that I'm not allowed to write myself What is this ecosystem where you can declaratively specify your program in YAML? And what are these magical dependencies that let you do this? Is it specific to an industry vertical? Could it be replicated for others? If there is such a capability, I'd want to get in the business of making…

AWS Cloudformation templates with pre-defined lambdas for example.

I'd expect you'd be writing those in typescript on CDK, rather than YAML
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