Ask HN: Would you mind being monitored at work?

I look for a remote software developer position and a potential employer say they require to install special software to track working hours and automatically take periodic screen shots. Logically, they have the right to do it and I'm fine with live pair programming, but emotionally such close monitoring is repulsive to me.

Normally, when I code, I google a lot (for documentation, samples and best practices), apply many iterations to shape the code to the final production ready form and take pauses to think. I'm afraid this process will look awful to a review manager.

Am I hypersensitive? Are my working habits normal for a seasoned software developer? Are you monitored at work?

I haven’t hired anyone as a developer remotely who I don’t trust to get in with the work, in other words I would not remote monitor nor would I work for someone who did.

I think they may lack management skills, but also lack skills in managing remote workers in general. This could well be a condition put in by a non dev manager.

I would never work for a company that requires me to install spyware to take screenshots of my computer screen. It's Orwellian and any organizations that require it should be shamed and boycotted.

On a personal note, there are plenty of companies that don't do this, so I'm sure you can find a position that doesn't require it.

As a developer you are already monitored, every line of code you write or change or delete is tracked. So it is already possible to see how much you get done.

No, you are not hypersensitive. I don't wanna know how much else is wrong with a company like that.

Not disagreeing with you but I might add, pauses are also a part of the process. We (developers) aren't typists.