It is an amazing time for programmers

When I started working in software I took a job in a city different than mine, so I had to go there to live alone, and the job was by myself in a room with no windows. Most lonely 2 years of my life.

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#5

Post by chrishill89 » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:06 AM UTC

I wrote an essay and sent it to Chomsky once. He wrote back that he probably won't have time to read it.

Some years ago I realized that I can just start sending emails to an OSS mailing list. Without introduction just starting to post as if I belonged there. I had already made some grammar fixes more than five years before that but I started to comment and critique submissions. And submitting my own patches. Now checking the mailing list is daily habit. Unfortunately I didn't have time to post the second version of a submission on the bus today (another documentation fix).

People, and especially in my culture, are very good at staying out of places where they do not belong through self-policing alone. Unfortunately to the point where at least I do get stuck in narrow patterns and never even consider certain opportunities.

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#6

Post by Dotcomico » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:25 AM UTC

[flagged]

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#7

Post by jdw64 » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:26 AM UTC

I also want to communicate with someone and have programming conversations. There's no one around me to talk about programming with. I'm the only programmer around. Aside from AI and books, I sometimes want to talk with a real person.

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#8

Post by abc123abc123 » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:27 AM UTC

jlundberg wrote: post #3

I wrote an email to Mike Pall once and got a very refreshing reply. Daniel Stenberg is not on the list but he is also a very active programmer on social media like LinkedIn that you can interact with.

This is the way! Email is great. I've written to many famous people, and from time to time, gotten replies. I've sold SaaS and consultants for 100s of k of USD, all through emails. It's an elegant weapon, for a more civilized age.

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#9

Post by nkjoep » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:29 AM UTC

Amazing how these people are even reachable via phone, their numbers are pretty easy to find.

Re: It is an amazing time for programmers

#10

Post by 8-prime » Wed, Jun 03, 2026, 9:29 AM UTC

jdw64 wrote: post #7

I also want to communicate with someone and have programming conversations. There's no one around me to talk about programming with. I'm the only programmer around. Aside from AI and books, I sometimes want to talk with a real person.

I found great enjoyment from https://late.sh/. I'm not as active as I would like to be but the small community is still active enought that there is basically always someone around to chat with.