Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#1

Post by Throwawayuns » Thu, Jan 12, 2023, 9:38 PM UTC

I have undergraduate degree in cs and I have been working at the same company for 6 years since graduating. I always expected that eventually I will somehow become a good engineer. Instead I still struggle with simple stuff. I feel like I just don’t have the concentration, memory etc to become good at engineering.

Did anyone here struggle in a similar way? Were you able to overcome it?

Re: Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#2

Post by cratermoon » Thu, Jan 12, 2023, 9:43 PM UTC

Let's start at the very beginning: What, in your mind, does it mean to be a good engineer?

Re: Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#3

Post by bckr » Thu, Jan 12, 2023, 9:47 PM UTC

What evidence do you have that you are not a good engineer? Performance reviews or feedback from others? Etc?

Re: Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#4

Post by Throwawayuns » Thu, Jan 12, 2023, 11:21 PM UTC

bckr wrote: post #3

What evidence do you have that you are not a good engineer? Performance reviews or feedback from others? Etc?

Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it about myself. I feel like I have learned almost nothing over those 6 years and see other devs on my team growing quickly. I was mostly looking for stories on what stopped people from growing as engineers and how they over come it.

Re: Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#5

Post by perfecthjrjth » Thu, Jan 12, 2023, 11:23 PM UTC

If you are making $300K to $400K at least for four years, you are not a bad engineer.

Re: Ask HN: Did anyone here struggled with being a bad engineer?

#6

Post by bckr » Sat, Jan 14, 2023, 7:07 PM UTC

Throwawayuns wrote: post #4

bckr wrote: post #3

What evidence do you have that you are not a good engineer? Performance reviews or feedback from others? Etc?

Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it about myself. I feel like I have learned almost nothing over those 6 years and see other devs on my team growing quickly. I was mostly looking for stories on what stopped people from growing as engineers and how they over come it.

I almost didn't become a software engineer because I didn't believe in myself and take positive action every day.

I think these 2 changes will turn things around for you. They sound simple, but that is very deceptive. You can work the rest of your life on believing in yourself and taking positive action every day.

My email is available to you if you want to talk more.