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Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
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Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#2It's probably more like they hate some specific aspects of the technology realm.
One lasting aspect for example is that tech is constantly changing. From hardware designs to broader communications standards to security and new feature updates. And certainly not always enjoyably so.
For a lot of people this automatically makes tech more annoying. But in engineering there are camps that come out of stabilizer psychology. They prefer to design for a lasting platform, like a durable railroad bridge or a manufacturing process. But they might not even realize this about themselves.
So you can end up with software engineers who enjoy engineering but hate tech, without realizing why. I've met a few...
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#3Software engineers don't hate technology.
We hate software that doesn't even approximate the free/open software ideals that attracted us to the field in the first place.
I've collected some expressions of disappointment from others in the field.
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#4Why do you think software engineers hate technology?
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#5Software engineers don't hate technology. We hate software that doesn't even approximate the free/open software ideals that attracted us to the field in the first place. I've collected some expressions of disappointment from others in the field. http://bjornwestergard.com/notes/software-despair.gmi
This! I don't hate technology; in fact, I enjoy writing software, tinkering, building useful things that help people... what I hate is the corporate and profit-seeking structure built up around software development. My priorities are less defined by user need, and more defined by a group of people whose goals revolve around finding ways to squeeze money out of people. I do hate that.
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#61. We can see the corners that were cut and have either been forced to do the same or know how it could have been done better.
2. Having to use some piece of tech because of some external requirement. Especially when there's a preferred alternative.
3. Genuine desire to not use tech for something. If you spend all day working on and with tech, you don't really need a toaster telling you the weather in the morning.
In short, I find myself less hating technology directly, but the half assery that is a symptom of a lot of other things I hate.
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#71. We can see the corners that were cut and have either been forced to do the same or know how it could have been done better. 2. Having to use some piece of tech because of some external requirement. Especially when there's a preferred alternative. 3. Genuine desire to not use tech for something. If you spend all day working on and with tech, you don't really need a toaster telling you the weather in the morning. In…
4. Needing what is essentially the same tech multiple times to do the same thing.
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#8I avoid tech that I don't need. Internet phone, home automation, smart *, iPads (are they even a thing anymore?), Subscription services, games, digital entertainment, etc. For me, a number of reasons. Mostly, I just don't need any of that stuff. I want to be present in the world rather than be at the mercy of constant dopamine hit, shiny, need to be constantly using tech, whatever. Financially, I can't justify the ROI. Morally, ethically, socially and psychologically, I've"seen behind the curtain" of tech and thoroughly reject it. Perhaps my decades in software have just made me bitter and tired.
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#9It's Sofa King annoying! Especially other people's shiddy code!
Re: Ask HN: Why do software engineers hate technology?
#10Which technology?
Apple making sure you cannot swap the HD in your computer? Hate.
Facebook debilitating the encryption in WhatsApp? Hate.
Google ñ, erasing the distinction between ads and content? Hate.
Android being by default a distraction machine in service of ads? Hate.
Emacs being open and lisp configurable ? Love, love. Unix everything being a file? Love Smalltalk? Love Wikipedia? Love The open self-hosted web? Love times infinity.
So basically I hate technology that is no made in service of the better angels of our nature.