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

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

#541

Post by oriel »

geekster777 wrote: post #540

Yes! I'm graduating school in a month, and I've already considered this. I have a couple years of prior industry experience, though. I love the challenges, but I ultimately feel unfulfilled by writing code. It's something I can do happily for five, maybe ten years, but not for thirty-five. So recently I've been planning to fund a creative life by saving like a college kid for a decade. The prospect's actually led to…

I recently flipped off my code-as-hobby switch and went into writing myself. It was a gradual thing, but after a few months of dumping ideas I moved to writing prompts (like those in /r/writingprompts). I challenged myself to write one a week. then two. Now I find myself participating in NaNoWriMo, which appeared out of nowhere, and the writing comes almost naturally.

Best lesson I've take from it is to push through and finish something, starting with smaller bites (blurbs, then stories, then books :)

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

#542

Post by williamle8300 »

clentaminator wrote: post #256

I think about leaving programming every day. I love programming, but I'm not sure I enjoy software development as a career. I enjoy coding and understanding how computer systems work, but I don't care for the constant changes in tools and techniques in certain domains of development. I'd rather practise with and improve my existing knowledge of a subject, instead of constantly playing catch-up with someone else's too…

I think it depends what kinda code you write. Also, what kinda management structure you find yourself in.

Sounds like you're writing code with hard specs (enterprise company?) where you just feel like a cog in this vast code outputting machine. In that case, it's totally natural to feel like you're dying inside. That's natural. We're creative beings, and you either need to find a different job or calibrate other dimensions of your life to meet that need (physical fitness, start a family, serious hobbies, be part of a community).

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

#543

Post by digler999 »

sprocket wrote: post #406

I graduated with a degree in CPSC in the early 2000's and worked in the field for about 10 years before my wife and I moved to a more rural locale, bought a small herd of dairy goats, and started making cheese. It's a very different and difficult life, but on the whole is very rewarding. The money will never be the same as working in tech, and you'll almost certainly have to scale back your lifestyle expectations. I…

random idea: why not open a hostel/retreat for programmers to come work on your farm for weeklong increments. Free room/board in exchange for 8hrs labor. Post videos of exactly what kind of work is awaiting them, and interviews of people who have tried it. You get free labor on your farm, and a passive "income" source, they get to step away from their burned-out, fluorescent-lit cubicles and actually get to try living as a farmer. A lot of people have this fantasy, so I suspect there would be a good-size market of people who would love to try it.

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

#544

Post by williamle8300 »

tehwalrus wrote: post #245
cycomachead wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. :)

I want to start a math-cafe, where the loyalty cards are replaced by puzzles (you solve today's puzzle, tomorrow's coffee is free.) They have such high margins on individual drinks (and people will totally buy a pastry if the coffee is free) that this shouldn't cost too much. Plus you can always make the puzzles harder, or have 2 or 3 easyish ones and then graduate people onto harder ones that they'll take a few days…

That's a great idea! It sounds kinda wonky like AirBnb when they pitched it to YCominbator but... it'd be pretty cool if you could execute on the idea!

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

#545

Post by wkoszek »

cycomachead wrote: post #199
wkoszek wrote: post #193

It's interesting how many of you guys have other interests, but stick to programming since it solves a paycheck problem.

On the whole, I think a lot of us really do enjoy coding and it's hard to overestimate how freeing financial security is. It's that security that enables other hobbies, too. I personally enjoy having at least some interests (mainly coffee and photography) that I can pursue without having to worry about costs. If I ever leave programming, I'd probably take one of those up, but I'm afraid the financial support requirem…

Your coffee idea, I'm scared to admit, might be both a good business and fun project. Good coffee place across the street is next to my company. They have decent donuts. I go and spend $3.65 there, most of the working days. This is basically like getting $70/mo subscription service--the thing, the most of SaaS startups would kill for. And I now it's not wise monetarily, but I still go there.

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

#546

Post by wkoszek »

aiokos wrote: post #389

Writing, honestly. I get absorbed into stringing words into entire worlds, complete with flowery descriptions and characters of my choosing. I find that I can write anywhere, be it on laptop or paper, so it affords me more movement than programming. It's not that I want something more creative than programming, I consider programming to be equal parts art and skill. I want something more flexible, not tied to a compa…

I like to write too, but most of non-fiction authors don't really make $$$.

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

#547

Post by jchendy »

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…

> 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.

I believe you that this is the requirement for some fields of engineering. However, there are thousands of people reading HN with the job title 'software engineer' who did not take those exams.

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

#548

Post by [deleted] »

Fifer82 wrote: post #537
asveikau wrote: post #536

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Balls is calling you out for your behavior. What have you done here except pick on people for standing up to it?

I don't like PC Police who run around with "Bully" on their poster as a backup. It makes me cringe.

[deleted]

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

#549

Post by wanda »

weavie wrote: post #196
wanda wrote: post #89

I love programming. Even if I still had to use Perl I still wouldn't give it up. Admittedly that's because I like Perl, but I also freely admit I'm more productive with full-stack JavaScript. That said, I wouldn't mind writing about programming, but I can't afford to stop my day job. I'd love to write an ebook on JavaScript, a spiritual successor to Marijn Haverbeke's Eloquent JavaScript but using ES6/ES7. Maybe also…

> That said, I wouldn't mind writing about programming, but I can't afford to stop my day job. What's stopping you getting started in your spare time? Even an hour a day in the evenings will add up. You have a lot of good ideas, but they aren't going to write themselves! :-)

I'm married. What spare time I do have is inevitably eroded by wanting to spend time with my partner. What remains is not easily used for writing a coherent book.

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

#550

Post by rnovak »

asveikau wrote: post #536
Fifer82 wrote: post #529

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh please. Grow a set of balls.

Balls is calling you out for your behavior. What have you done here except pick on people for standing up to it?

Many people who are actually on the autism spectrum (such as myself, though technically I was diagnosed with Aspergers a long time ago) don't want your help.

I'm continually annoyed that I actually have to say "autism spectrum disorder" to describe MYSELF, lest I be called politically incorrect.

Many just want to live a normal life, and having other people (with no vested interest whatsoever) rushing to our "defense", is quite honestly more condescending than OP's original comment.

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