How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#101

Post by prmph » Thu, May 04, 2017, 6:58 PM UTC

hartator wrote: post #3

> Sit down and do some fucking work. Don’t go for a coffee, that’s not work and you know that’s not work, no you’re not ‘working from the cafe’ stop lying to yourself. Get up, get on and do some fucking work. I can relate so much to the coffee trap. Just went back from grabbing coffe. Just another to delay working.

I have to strongly disagree with this. Right now I simply can't work in ANY other environment: home office, company office, library, etc. Not that I have not tried.

Co-working spaces are the closest second choice, but I suspect they need to become more like subscription-based cafes before they can work for me.

I think there is research showing that there are a confluence of factors that make working out of a café so productive for many.

It seems some have not actually tried it or are simply not wired to like it. To each their own.

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#102

Post by wiz21c » Thu, May 04, 2017, 7:00 PM UTC

zzzcpan wrote: post #53

erikb wrote: post #41

Now that I've experienced the start-up world twice I have to say: What's the big deal about working full time in big corp? Not all of them have cubicles and ask their devs to wear suits. T-Shirt, free coffee, huge desk, free hardware, other smart people who are just like me, reliable income, some level of attractiveness to the other gender due to stable life. Honestly I don't know why I didn't do that from the start…

I don't think it's possible to work as a software engineer full time and have enough mental energy to do meaningful work on your own projects in your spare time.

I switched 4/5th schedule. Less money, more spare time. But you're right. Actual regular work can be exhausting (I'm project manager and, that eats energy)

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#103

Post by ethbro » Thu, May 04, 2017, 7:20 PM UTC

cortesoft wrote: post #76

mstade wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kill two birds with one stone: my apartment is actually two in disguise. I have two front doors, one leading to a third of the apartment (it's a rather large 4-bed) which is quite literally closed off from the rest by simply locking the internal door that connects the two. It may sound silly to have to literally exit the apartment to enter the office when it's literally next door, but it does have some value. Also…

This isn't really different than renting an office, just that your office is REALLY close to your apartment.

Also, really close to the fridge. Which helps on budget as well.

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#104

Post by makapuf » Thu, May 04, 2017, 7:23 PM UTC

Arizhel wrote: post #95

ryandrake wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember when I was looking to move houses a while back and we saw one WAY out in the boonies that was otherwise unremarkable but had a small, but physically separate "in-law house" in the back, that had a bedroom, a tiny kitchen (enough room for a fridge and microwave) and a tiny bathroom. We didn't move there but I couldn't stop thinking about how well something like that would fit as a work-from-home office. Cur…

>Currently, with a wife, a kid, and all her kid-friends, carrying on loudly and ransacking the house at all hours, I couldn't imagine making a "bedroom converted to office" work for actual productive remote work. I can't imagine making a setup like this work for even maintaining basic sanity. Every time I read a post like this, I realize I did the right thing by not having kids. I'm constantly stressed out as it is b…

Your body will trick your mind to love your children. It happens often after the fact - I know it did. Humanity wouldn't survive if not. And I now find hard not to go ransacking the house with them ;)

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#105

Post by pilsetnieks » Thu, May 04, 2017, 7:42 PM UTC

Arizhel wrote: post #95

ryandrake wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember when I was looking to move houses a while back and we saw one WAY out in the boonies that was otherwise unremarkable but had a small, but physically separate "in-law house" in the back, that had a bedroom, a tiny kitchen (enough room for a fridge and microwave) and a tiny bathroom. We didn't move there but I couldn't stop thinking about how well something like that would fit as a work-from-home office. Cur…

>Currently, with a wife, a kid, and all her kid-friends, carrying on loudly and ransacking the house at all hours, I couldn't imagine making a "bedroom converted to office" work for actual productive remote work. I can't imagine making a setup like this work for even maintaining basic sanity. Every time I read a post like this, I realize I did the right thing by not having kids. I'm constantly stressed out as it is b…

That's a reason to have a separate office, not a reason to not have kids (if you'd otherwise want to have them.)

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#106

Post by erikb » Thu, May 04, 2017, 7:59 PM UTC

zzzcpan wrote: post #53

erikb wrote: post #41

Now that I've experienced the start-up world twice I have to say: What's the big deal about working full time in big corp? Not all of them have cubicles and ask their devs to wear suits. T-Shirt, free coffee, huge desk, free hardware, other smart people who are just like me, reliable income, some level of attractiveness to the other gender due to stable life. Honestly I don't know why I didn't do that from the start…

I don't think it's possible to work as a software engineer full time and have enough mental energy to do meaningful work on your own projects in your spare time.

I also thought so. But I have yet to experience one start-up project that doesn't demand so much of your time that you worry you won't get to take the 10 minute walk to the super market today. If you can do that, you can easily with the same amount of energy work a side project.

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#107

Post by ChemicalWarfare » Thu, May 04, 2017, 8:00 PM UTC

karmajunkie wrote: post #91

This would be more accurately titled, "I survived 10 years as a solo developer and here are the choices I made". Here's my version: 1) Craftsmen pay good money for their tools. Invest in your office space, whether its a dedicated space in your home or a coworking membership. But be honest about what tools you need. You probably don't need a $1000 aeron chair. But you do need one that's comfortable. You probably don't…

>> You probably don't need a $1000 aeron chair...

my most productive setup is a self-made workshop desk and a $40 craftsman workshop stool :)

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#108

Post by erikb » Thu, May 04, 2017, 8:03 PM UTC

artifaxx wrote: post #66

erikb wrote: post #41

Now that I've experienced the start-up world twice I have to say: What's the big deal about working full time in big corp? Not all of them have cubicles and ask their devs to wear suits. T-Shirt, free coffee, huge desk, free hardware, other smart people who are just like me, reliable income, some level of attractiveness to the other gender due to stable life. Honestly I don't know why I didn't do that from the start…

It really depends on the person, thats great you recognize that you do well in the corporate world. Unfortunately in many places the company would own your spare projects due to the intellectual property assignment rules in their employment contracts. Beyond that some of us strongly dislike conformity and being a replaceable cog in the corporate machine. Connecting with one's customers and seeing directly how what yo…

I feel much less replaceable, since I have rights. You can say "nope" to your boss. You can't do that to your customer if he's the only one paying your rent this month. And the smaller you are the more others will push you around, not because they are mean but because they don't have to think about you, and just like you they are tired and barely get done more than 80% of what they want to do. And in some cases people are really parasites and will suck dry everything that's too weak to fight back.

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#109

Post by slaunchwise » Thu, May 04, 2017, 8:05 PM UTC

I was a solo for 10+ years. I rented an office when my kids were too little to simultaneously grasp the ideas that 1) I liked them and wanted them near me and 2) I could not actually have them near me right now. When they were old enough to understand I moved back home. It didn't make much of a difference in terms of productivity for me.

One thing that did help was a sense that my workspace was both mine and a place for work. I needed to know that and no one had the right to interrupt or try and shoo me away. Public spaces never worked for me because other people had a right to them, too, and they could bring their kids or ask me questions about the nearest chair or whatever. I could concentrate better knowing that was true. It was worth money to me.

Re: How to Survive as a Solo Dev for Like a Decade or So

#110

Post by slaunchwise » Thu, May 04, 2017, 8:05 PM UTC

I was a solo for 10+ years. I rented an office when my kids were too little to simultaneously grasp the ideas that 1) I liked them and wanted them near me and 2) I could not actually have them near me right now. When they were old enough to understand I moved back home. It didn't make much of a difference in terms of productivity for me.

One thing that did help was a sense that my workspace was both mine and a place for work. I needed to know that and no one had the right to interrupt or try and shoo me away. Public spaces never worked for me because other people had a right to them, too, and they could bring their kids or ask me questions about the nearest chair or whatever. I could concentrate better knowing that was true. It was worth money to me.