I would have hired Doug, but... • Hacker News Board

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#151

Post by Cakez0r » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:45 PM UTC

michaelangerman wrote: post #19

I am 55 and have been programming computers since 1975 when I was 15 years old. Do the math, I have been programming now for 40 years. Recently, I had a conversation with someone else about this topic and I told them that I have never been so excited about my career, the field of computer science, and most importantly the opportunities that exist today in the field of technology. The excitement surrounding too many t…

What patterns do you see repeating themselves in software? Are there any technologies in particular that you think have a strong grounding in improving on past mistakes or any tech you think is a flash in the pan and has already failed before?

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#152

Post by diminoten » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:48 PM UTC

cfmcdonald wrote: post #142

diminoten wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legacy. Empire. Providing for your children's children. Giving your loved ones the kind of life they've never even considered possible. Seeing the smile on your mother's face when you get to tell her she can stop working, that you've taken care of her and your father, and your brothers and sisters. The 1% are living in a way that will last longer than they will, on a scale that the rest of us won't achieve in our lif…

Maybe you are thinking of the 0.01%. The 1% income threshold in the U.S. is about $380K. That's wealthy but it's not empire-building. Most senior software engineers are probably in the top 5% of income earners in the U.S. already, they could easily be in the top 1% with a high earning spouse.

> The 1% income threshold in the U.S. is about $380K.

It's $521,411 per household[0] (the household bit is probably where we're getting confused).

$500k, $400k, either way, the goal is as I've stated; once you've taken care of yourself, you start wanting to take care of others. There is always motivation to make more, until everyone is provided for, and even when you've provided for everyone you care about, providing for the general wellbeing of humanity becomes a priority (Gates, Buffet, et al).

    [0] -- http://www.usfunds.com/investor-library/frank-talk/what-does-it-take-to-be-in-the-top-1-percent-not-as-much-as-you-think/#.VUqZYtpViko

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#153

Post by danieltillett » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:49 PM UTC

jakejake wrote: post #98

I read an article recently that said something to the effect that most people stop listening to new music at age 33. I kinda feel the same about programming. There are a lot of people still doing it, but not as many that are truly excited about learning new things. When we bring on young people they have a ton of energy and are excited to try every new thing which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But they do occasion…

I am 45 and I almost only listen to new music. I have almost a 1000 CDs from the 90s and early 00s (all ripped to FLAC), but I find myself listening to new music because there is so much fantastic new music out there and it is so easy to access. For a music fan it really is the golden age (not so much for the musicians).

As for learning new programming skills I still enjoy it, but I think this is because for me languages/frameworks/algorithms are just tools. The real fun is in using the right tool to solve a complex problem.

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#154

Post by bliti » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:53 PM UTC

vezzy-fnord wrote: post #144

bliti wrote: post #67

As someone who started programming during the mid 80's: - Everything I've learned may be applied to most languages. Meaning that writing testable code generally translates from BASIC to Javascript. - Programming should always make you feel stupid. Feeling comfortable with something means that you stopped learning new things. - Experience != Knowledge. My biggest issue with some older programmers is that they tend to…

It will keep morphing and completely remove desktop computing as we know it. The same way desktop computers removed mainframes and terminals. I wonder when smartphone platforms will become self-hosting.

Me too. Just give it a bit if time. When some yet to be born kid realizes how dumb and wasteful the cloud is (their words, not mine) and comes up with whatever it is that will replace them. Just like those meddling kids came up with that thing that allows me to type this post without a physical keyboard.

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#155

Post by taurath » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:54 PM UTC

You wonder why people aren't curious?? I'm 28 and I would pay money to spend a day talking about coding with you - I'm "senior level" at my company but that just means I don't have very many people around to mentor me. If you're near the Seattle area I'd love to buy you coffee.

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#156

Post by jakejake » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:55 PM UTC

danieltillett wrote: post #153

jakejake wrote: post #98

I read an article recently that said something to the effect that most people stop listening to new music at age 33. I kinda feel the same about programming. There are a lot of people still doing it, but not as many that are truly excited about learning new things. When we bring on young people they have a ton of energy and are excited to try every new thing which, don't get me wrong, is awesome. But they do occasion…

I am 45 and I almost only listen to new music. I have almost a 1000 CDs from the 90s and early 00s (all ripped to FLAC), but I find myself listening to new music because there is so much fantastic new music out there and it is so easy to access. For a music fan it really is the golden age (not so much for the musicians). As for learning new programming skills I still enjoy it, but I think this is because for me langu…

Same here. I basically get bored with most music fairly quickly so I'm always looking for something new. Most of my high-school friends are still listening to the same music from the 80's and 90's though!

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#157

Post by billmalarky » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:57 PM UTC

emodendroket wrote: post #118

thinkmac wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

well, it is good that you like the things you do. at your age, we youngsters tend to expect you to be in the management level, not at individual contributor level. from time to time, i would see our team hiring engineer with gray hair and requiring special mechanical keyboard, and we all thought "mm.. interesting."

Hope you don't have to learn this from experience, but even young people can experience RSI and need special keyboards.

They say my generation (millennials) will suffer significantly higher rates of RSI due to more keyboard, game controller, and smartphone use.

RSI is no joke.

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#158

Post by bliti » Wed, May 06, 2015, 10:58 PM UTC

no1publicenemy wrote: post #86

bliti wrote: post #67

As someone who started programming during the mid 80's: - Everything I've learned may be applied to most languages. Meaning that writing testable code generally translates from BASIC to Javascript. - Programming should always make you feel stupid. Feeling comfortable with something means that you stopped learning new things. - Experience != Knowledge. My biggest issue with some older programmers is that they tend to…

With all due respect, how would mobile devices replace/match the computing experience I have now with my 27" computer? How would be that possible? Good spirit and even better understanding of the Zeitgeist :)

I don't know. Didn't oculus announce a 2016 launch? I wish I knew. It'd be nice to be involved with the people who change computing once again. :)

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#159

Post by smtddr » Wed, May 06, 2015, 11:08 PM UTC

mreiland wrote: post #132

michaelangerman wrote: post #19

I am 55 and have been programming computers since 1975 when I was 15 years old. Do the math, I have been programming now for 40 years. Recently, I had a conversation with someone else about this topic and I told them that I have never been so excited about my career, the field of computer science, and most importantly the opportunities that exist today in the field of technology. The excitement surrounding too many t…

What are you doing that it's keeping your interest? I sometimes find myself getting tired of technology and while I love software development, I often think about not doing it anymore. After a while it gets old constantly dealing with other people's decisions. An easy example is working with Powershell Remoting can be a nightmare if you're not intimately familiar with both Windows itself and Windows Remoting specific…

>>I sometimes find myself getting tired of technology and while I love software development, I often think about not doing it anymore. After a while it gets old constantly dealing with other people's decisions.

I feel like you have the beginnings of an entrepreneur here. You should start something that solves this problem you're seeing. The last 2 people I've heard make similar comments ended up starting their own tech-consulting firm. :)

1. "Hate it when X becomes Y and you actually just wanted Z"?

2. "Make an app or start a company that can assure people that X will become Z as quickly and painlessly as possible"

3. ??? (Something to do with YC).

4. "Become a millionaire"

Re: I would have hired Doug, but...

#160

Post by Maxels » Wed, May 06, 2015, 11:18 PM UTC

nilkn wrote: post #126

derefr wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A trap, compared to what? Is plumbing a trap? Is finance a trap? Is hairstyling a trap?

It's a ridiculous term which I suppose is supposed to make people feel less guilty about having extremely comfortable, high paying, and overall relatively easy jobs, when they know that millions of others are struggling in jobs they hate, are drastically underpaid, or can't even find jobs. A common version of this is to complain about a lack of vacation time (even though you have 4 weeks, plus holidays, plus sick tim…

I thought golden handcuffs were typically referring to vesting options in a company.

I know I have friends that don't want to resign themselves to a life of programming/software engineering/whatever you want to call it because they see a ceiling to their compensation, or career path. Theres only so many numbers they can tack on to your title before it becomes meaningless.