I've had a multi-year 'maintenance mode' slump where I didn't get very much done. I learned a lot about propping up crap code, which is a really useful skill (

I've had a multi-year 'maintenance mode' slump where I didn't get very much done. I learned a lot about propping up crap code, which is a really useful skill (as someone else said, this really is the majority of software development work to be had.) but you are right, it's not very satisfying, and i didn't really feel like my career was moving forward. For me, the answer was a side project that grew into my full-time job. (I had a few false starts, and had to get a few other dayjobs... but I did quit my maintenance job to focus on my own company, and that was the first, and a necessary, step.)