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It's a stupid expectation. Passion doesn't even correlate with outside events OP lists. Little point having a side project when your employer often asks you t
by anexprogrammer 10y ago
It's a stupid expectation.
Passion doesn't even correlate with outside events OP lists.
Little point having a side project when your employer often asks you to sign a contract giving them ownership of all code inside or outside of work. I've walked away from job offers because they wouldn't strike this.
Where's the passion coming from in the 90 of 100 programming jobs that are programming payroll, fuel pump displays, stock systems and the 1,001 other not exciting, not full stack, not web dev role? OK, there's probably someone, somewhere, who can get passionate about fuel pump programming, but...
Also consider the employer's point of view. Unless junior code-monkey is needed, and even then, I would far rather see a well rounded individual with some non-IT to the fore. With at least a fighting chance of some social skills and some other interests than discover all free time is spent at the laptop working on other stuff. It can help when understanding client needs, or bring the idea from the model engineering or some other hobby to the task at hand.
As with almost everything, balance is the key. If, as a parent, you can't read one programming book a year, or spend a couple of weekends worth of time on a bit of tinkering there's something wrong. The reason a lot of parents end up no longer developers is they probably became senior enough that they're herding cats (staff) instead of bits.
So I'll stick with DHH and heavily favour work-life balance.
- alien3d 10y agoWow, got term like that outside work need to give ownership? As legal, anything not belonging to company are not the right company to take it.
- anexprogrammer 10y agoOften something vague buried in the general terms, such as "All software developed while an employee of company is owned by company". Usually in addition to a standard no-compete clause.
- tooFastFuckYou 10y ago"sign a contract giving them ownership of all code inside or outside of work" Putting illegal things in a contract doesn't make them legal.
- Kliment 10y agoI'm super excited about programming "boring" stuff like the things you listed, because there are often huge usability improvements to be made and the people who use them express a tremendous amount of gratitude when they experience process automation. However, from what I can see, the bulk of them are in huge corporates and/or huge consultancies that work for them. Where are these 90% of jobs from your pov?
- anexprogrammer 10y agoWell a good proportion are in those huge corporates or consultancies. An awful lot of people end up at those places, often straight from uni. Only later do they realise it's not usually the best place for your career or job satisfaction!
- Animats 10y ago"Little point having a side project when your employer often asks you to sign a contract giving them ownership of all code inside or outside of work." That's illegal in California, and all such clauses are unenforceable. This is one of the reasons for the success of Silicon Valley.