Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#201

Post by dotdi » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:03 AM UTC

I am in a similar position as david927, working in a good environment, good colleagues, good pay.

I actually have a degree in molecular biology and have transitioned to computer science and an engineering degree, which I think was the right choice for me. I thoroughly enjoy being an engineer but lately I can't help but being drawn towards the arts - music in my case. I have been eye-balling a music academy that offers a state accredited professional guitar degree. According to their information material, their alums are quite sought after because of the hands-on approach, studio skills, etc. I looked at the requirements for admission and I am pretty sure I can get admitted with some preparation, having played on and off for quite a few years now.

The catch here is that music industry is actual shit to work in, as I have heard on multiple occasions. And I cannot afford making less than a certain amount of $$ because I have to/want to provide for my wife and two kids.

On the other hand I started having the (completely irrational) fear of being a complete failure if I don't become a professional guitarist.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#202

Post by jmunsch » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:06 AM UTC

fwiw, I graduated with a degree in painting. Got into an ecommerce shop. Figured out how to automate my position. And felt a big draw to programming. Went back to school via a bootcamp and have been a "developer" for the last two years. Mostly CRUD but recently ML and the tools to shuffle data around to input into the ML. I have been in a slump lately, decided to pick up doing part time bicycle messenger/delivery work on the weekends and for an hour or two after a few times a week. There is something satisfying peddling items around the city for people. Tangible and visceral with immediate feedback. I've found it helpful, it has rebalanced my priorities in a sense. Being out in the world, as opposed to continuosly being in an abstract space all the time.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#203

Post by biztos » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:06 AM UTC

mellett68 wrote: post #151

I think about it often, but I assume it's some kind of burnout. None of my hobbies would translate into even my current pay level. There's that nagging idea of the 'real programmer' who is getting paid big money to solve interesting problems. Almost certainly a myth but still a frustrating idea.

Depending on what you think big money is, and what problems you find interesting, I'd say that's probably not a myth.

If that's what you aspire to I suggest getting involved in solving interesting problems -- there are a lot of them in the open-source world too -- and once you have a reputation in the interesting-problem world you stand a pretty good chance of getting offers from the big-money people.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#204

Post by cycomachead » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:08 AM UTC

SyneRyder wrote: post #68

I'm mostly happy with programming, but I often think I'd like to try working in a coffee shop, especially a Starbucks. I spend so much time in cafes as a customer, and I really appreciate the difference that a barista's smile or greeting can make to my day. I'm curious to experience that from the other side for a while. I also read books about retail businesses & brands & Starbucks & customer experience for enjoyment…

Apparently, there are quite a few of us who enjoy the idea of a coffee shop. I doubt I'll ever do it, but a year ago, I did a cost analysis spreadsheet of opening my own shop, but now a coffee cart seems like a fun side project. :)

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#205

Post by chkywiz » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:09 AM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #135

WalterBright wrote: post #117

I did consider a career as a lion tamer, but the vocational guidance counselor said I was an appallingly dull fellow, unimaginative, timid, lacking in initiative, spineless, easily dominated, no sense of humour, tedious company and irrepressibly drab and awful. So I decided to stick with programming.

Have you considered chartered accountancy?

This is funny without even realising it's a Monty Python reference.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#206

Post by asmosoinio » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:09 AM UTC

themodelplumber wrote: post #30

Thought about it, and then tried it. I followed my dream and started a creative project that had been dogging me for a long time. EVERYBODY wanted me to do it. Family, friends, people on the street with whom I discussed it. I expected it to be a big moneymaker. And it didn't work out. Not only that, but it became very clear that it was a really poor fit for me on a fundamental level. I'm glad for the experience, thou…

Care to elaborate on what kind of creative project? How long did you do it until you saw that there was no money in that?

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#207

Post by biztos » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:09 AM UTC

iends wrote: post #4

I think about law school or an MBA at least once a week. The opportunity cost is extremely high though. It's pretty hard leaving six figures of income in a low cost of living (and the grass is always greener I'm sure).

A lot of companies support their employees getting an MBA while they still work. It takes a little longer, and it pretty much devours your life while you do it, and you usually have to keep at least a B+ for the company to support you, but it's doable.

I know a guy who did this at UC Berkeley. Took him a while to get an "MBA-ish" job afterwards but it seems to have worked, and anyway he got as far as the MBA itself without quitting his job.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#208

Post by mbrock » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:09 AM UTC

jasonkester wrote: post #168

jchendy wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It is the same for the engineering profession. In some countries it is that way. I know Canada is very strict about who can be called an engineer. In the US, it is not that way. AFAIK, there's no legal definition of an engineer, and anybody can call themselves an engineer.

That's incorrect. In the US, you take the Engineer In Training (EIT) exam when you graduate university, then require 4 years of industry experience before you can sit the PE (Professional Engineer) exam. If you pass that, you can call yourself an Engineer. But that's only for actual Engineering disciplines. We in software don't need to take an "Engineer" test for the same reason we don't need to take a "Rock Star" te…

What would you call someone who's self-taught and mentored in the typical engineering practices (construction, repairs, engines, etc)?

Why would some national laws about certifications prevent you from referring to such a person as an engineer?

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#209

Post by singingfish » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:11 AM UTC

JDiculous wrote: post #109

sean_patel wrote: post #83

Programming is a creative art, and when I say that to my non-programmer friends, they laugh it off, but if you think about it, it is true. Just like artists, the programmers, coders, developers all design and create new things that didn't exist before, and no 2 programs or applications or completely functioning code will be identical for anything other than a fizzbuzz type test. So it is natural for the creatives to…

Programming involves very little creativity compared to actual art, so to call it a "creative art" is a gross exaggeration. A programmer is given a very specific set of tasks (eg. send data from A to B, fix bug, implement X), and his problems are mostly technical. This doesn't even compare to the creativity involved in a real artistic endeavor like designing your own videogame, writing your own screenplay, or composi…

except after a certain point it's not e.g. send data from A to B, it's send data from a to be with these C E and F constraints. Now take programmer G (you in the future or someone else) and make them able to understand it. Now you're thinking about design and architecture. Sure at a pretty abstract level. There's an art to it, admittedly with varying degrees of longevity and visibility.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever thought of leaving programming for something else?

#210

Post by noir_lord » Tue, Nov 08, 2016, 9:13 AM UTC

neom wrote: post #32

Fun reading this as I very frequently wish I was a programmer. :)

I wasn't a full time programmer til 2010, been programming since I was a kid in the 80's, didn't think I was good enough at programming to do it for a living (confidence issues) so I spent 8 years working for Staples and gradually mostly by accidents of the "I can build that for you" sort built up a customer base, one of those customers offered me a full time job as a programmer on double the salary I was on and I jumped and never looked back, these days I run my own business doing contract work for SME's and while it has its moments I generally love it, mostly the freedom of starting and stopping when I want.