"Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no ." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines
That is frequently wrong.
But not this time. ;)
Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
81–90 of 92 posts
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#82Most of what I do is a side project to my central tasks of eating, shitting and attempting to reproduce (or at least tricking my body into believing I'm making the attempt). I really feel like these side projects of reading, thinking and exploring are very important to my reason for existing. I could have finished with the real imperatives when I was 13.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#83Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you add ?share=1 to the end of the Quora URL, folks daring enough to follow the link won't get any sign-up call to action.
That sounds like the sort of thing that could get someone in hot water under the CFAA these days.
It could if it weren't added explicitly for people to use in the way described: https://blog.quora.com/Making-Sharing-Better?share=1
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
That sounds like the sort of thing that could get someone in hot water under the CFAA these days.
It could if it weren't added explicitly for people to use in the way described: https://blog.quora.com/Making-Sharing-Better?share=1
Ah. I didn't know that. Thanks.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You will make more money if you have an active github > account. I highly doubt this, but I'd love to be proven wrong. There's also a downside with sharing too much information about yourself without being present to answer questions or provide more context: It lets an employer discount you as a potential candidate simply because of their misunderstanding of your work. As evidence, refer to the "n projects on githu…
If you doubt this then you are probably in a completely different industry than I am. I cannot prove it to you except by my own experiences with managers and salary recommendations.
This seems highly dependent on which kinds of software companies you are talking about. I hire lots of developers and I have never looked at anyone's github profile. Also, I don't recall any candidate asking me to look at their profile. I have seen a few resumes that have included one, but not very many - and I look at a lot of resumes.
I'm not making any judgement about the value of the profile, but in my corner of the world it doesn't seem very important or even common.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#86My kids are my side projects. I used to be worried about how they affected my career, but three years ago a bicycle accident put me in the hospital for a week and I completely reevaluated my life. It's a little sad (and a bit of a cliché) that it took nearly dying to realize their importance, but now I just smile and think about my kids when someone talks about their amazing project.
When I was a kid (6 to 10 years old) my mom helped me program computers (QBASIC games and attempts at C++, haha). :) Some people get to have it all.
As a kid, my mom helped me do simple chemistry experiments and build electromagnets. I still ended up as a software developer, though.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#87Can't believe we're still discussing this.
Are there great developers who just code 9 - 5? Yes. Are there great developers who code in their own time? Yes. Are there terrible developers who just code 9 - 5? Yes. Are there terrible developers who code in their own time? Yes.
Doing stuff in one's own time - or not - isn't any substantive determinant and we shouldn't try to make it so.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
I know our devs cannot share internal code and are limit to what OSS projects they can work. They actually need to get approval to work on an OSS project outside of work (yes). So that basically means they can't share the bulk of their work. The only option then is side projects on github, and this leaves you in a bad situation if your life outside of work doesn't involve coding non-stop.
This still may not be the complete picture. I do not think, most probably, even side projects on Github or elsewhere is legally an option. See my comment here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6245738
It may depends on laws in your area also. I see people in CA defend this because they have laws that allow "moonlighting". Not all places are like this. I'll admit that I no very little law. That's why a lawyer came in to explain the contract to us. He basically said don't sign it if you want to continue OSS projects.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
This still may not be the complete picture. I do not think, most probably, even side projects on Github or elsewhere is legally an option. See my comment here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6245738
It may depends on laws in your area also. I see people in CA defend this because they have laws that allow "moonlighting". Not all places are like this. I'll admit that I no very little law. That's why a lawyer came in to explain the contract to us. He basically said don't sign it if you want to continue OSS projects.
Hi John,
Being based in California, I am well aware of the laws specific to here also (though IANAL). After having read two books on IP laws, I totally agree with what this lawyer told you -- not to sign. If you were to sign, there are plenty of things there that prevent you from having side projects and moonlighting even if you are in California.
A question: So did you join the company without signing it? What was the reaction of the company? Were they just OK? I know of cases where not signing meant refusing to accept the job. I also know of one case where they allow you to not sign it, but then also bar you from receiving any sign-on and performance bonuses while you are with the company (i.e., you get only the basic pay plus benefits, no RSUs, cash bonus, etc.)
Thanks.
Re: Are You A Bad Developer If You Don't Take On Side Projects?
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
It may depends on laws in your area also. I see people in CA defend this because they have laws that allow "moonlighting". Not all places are like this. I'll admit that I no very little law. That's why a lawyer came in to explain the contract to us. He basically said don't sign it if you want to continue OSS projects.
Hi John, Being based in California, I am well aware of the laws specific to here also (though IANAL). After having read two books on IP laws, I totally agree with what this lawyer told you -- not to sign. If you were to sign, there are plenty of things there that prevent you from having side projects and moonlighting even if you are in California. A question: So did you join the company without signing it? What was t…
We were acquired and in order to stay employed you had to agree to the new terms. This is a very very large corp that's core business is IP, they don't make exceptions for this. I have bills to pay so I signed.