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Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

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Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#111

Post by taway_1212 »

bitL wrote: post #56

There is no future in software development as a job. Move to a management position quickly, network, make friends with decision makers, don't spend too much time on crafting your skills, your reward for perfection will be more insane work and crazy interviews where one part not 100% done kicks you out. Work on your appearance, kiss up, lift, dress properly, use anti-aging cosmetics, make cool looking hairstyle, wear…

> wear objects of power (like rings)

The "one ring to rule them all" approach...

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#113

Post by kzisme »

maxxxxx wrote: post #102

Work somewhere where software is the main product and not just a cost center. You can learn a lot quickly if you do cutting edge things with people who care about technology and not just cost. Solve real world​ problems. Doing elegant things is very difficult because the real world is much more convoluted than theory. Do a few things in depth. Don't jump at the latest thing every few months.

> Work somewhere where software is the main product

So a software company as opposed to working in an IT department - programming and solving problems that really _aren't_ interesting?

That's one of the main things I crave these days (and I think it would make a big day-to-day difference) is to work at a software company as opposed to a company who leverages software.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#114

Post by Zelphyr »

How much you can learn, and how fast you can learn when debugging. Now, whenever I start with a new company, I make it known during the interview process that I expect to spend at least the first 2-3 weeks (preferably more) doing nothing but fixing bugs. That's the best way I've found to get a solid understanding of the codebase.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#115

Post by maxxxxx »

kzisme wrote: post #113
maxxxxx wrote: post #102

Work somewhere where software is the main product and not just a cost center. You can learn a lot quickly if you do cutting edge things with people who care about technology and not just cost. Solve real world​ problems. Doing elegant things is very difficult because the real world is much more convoluted than theory. Do a few things in depth. Don't jump at the latest thing every few months.

> Work somewhere where software is the main product So a software company as opposed to working in an IT department - programming and solving problems that really _aren't_ interesting? That's one of the main things I crave these days (and I think it would make a big day-to-day difference) is to work at a software company as opposed to a company who leverages software.

It's even a money/salary issue. There is a huge difference between the CEO seeing you as someone who makes money for the company as opposed to just being an expense.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#116

Post by kzisme »

e12e wrote: post #107
falcolas wrote: post #83

You're going to read your code 100x more than you're going to write it. Optimize the code you write for reading. Your code will be in production either much longer or much shorter than you think it will. The 5 lines of code you spend three days perfecting will be replaced in a week, and that one-line 3am hack will be out there for ten years. A good walk around the block will help you solve a problem faster than stari…

> Find someone smarter than you and learn from them. The corollary is if you're the smartest person in your area, you're more likely to stop learning. Maybe. I think the other side is find someone smarter than you, but less experienced , and teach them. You learn much more from teaching than being taught. If you're at loss of finding smart adults, find some children ; they're probably all smarter than you, in the sen…

> Find someone smarter than you and learn from them. The corollary is if you're the smartest person in your area, you're more likely to stop learning.

The issue I have with this is finding that person.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#118

Post by krylon »

I was kind of shocked at the discrepancy between the reality of working as a programmer at a small company and what one learns about how to "do things right the right way" - version control system? What is that? Automated testing? Or even systematic testing? No time, we have to ship the next release! Using global variables sparingly? - Hysterical laughter

The important lesson for me was not to despair and not to get all preachy on the other programmers, but to see how to make the best of that situation. And while it was a real pain at times, I was able to be productive and get some real work done.

Also, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a sore thumb eventually. Do not stop learning new things. Both for pragmatic reasons, and because it helps keeping it fun. It doesn't mean one should use every shiny new thing out there just because. But without knowing what options you have, making the right choice is not trivial.

Re: Ask HN: For those programming 10+ years, what do you wish you knew 4 years in?

#120

Post by taway_1212 »

yonah wrote: post #85
yonah wrote: post #84

I've been coding professionally for 20 years, a lot of the comments below are legit, but I figured I'd add one or two more: - As many people point out, the languages don't matter - something better and newer will come along, and you'll need to adapt, but that's not where programmers provide value - they provide value in understanding how to solve the problems that the business side is facing. It's easy to find someon…

One more thing... while it is good to switch it up every few years - don't do it too often. When your 5 years out of school, and have 2 jobs of 2.5 years each, it's perfectly acceptable. When you are 15 years out of school, and have been with six different companies, in the same city, and they all have the same responsibilities, it doesn't look that great.

I'm 12 years out of school, have 9 companies on my CV and am making top money for my country. Granted, Google will probably refuse me based on my job hopping-attitude, but they'd pay much less so I wouldn't want to work there anyway. I wonder if the common wisdom will ever apply to me and I'll be punished for my resume.
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