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I don't think you'll find a single branch that's "the" future. Science is always branching and there's always many things going on. And what if you find the bi
by mbrock 9y ago
I don't think you'll find a single branch that's "the" future. Science is always branching and there's always many things going on.
And what if you find the biggest and most important branch, and go all in, and then it turns out that everyone else also had the same idea? You'll probably still be useful, but maybe you could be even more useful with another specialty.
It's why I think the cliché "follow your bliss" is a pretty good heuristic. Another way of putting it: follow the gradient of your own intrinsic motivation, and try to have fun along the way.
And make good friends!
My own prognosis is that open source development is going to play a huge role in the future, and that participating in the open source commons is the way to "network" in the software world. If an employer won't let me work openly, I'll consider that a major downside for many reasons. So I would bet on open source involvement as an important career investment.
(That's part of why I think cryptocurrencies are really exciting, but that's a longer and more tenuous argument...)
- askari01 9y agothank you for your kind advice. I am very motivated in following my heart. But sometimes I feel low comparing my work with my friends and seniors. I have embarked a journey less travelled by developers. There is very few demand of the work which I do which worries me. Which causes problems for me financially but I love my work. This is the very main reason I am looking to explore other options. But I fear I may end up jack of all trades but master of none. I will be waiting for your reply, need your honest opinion n guidance thanks
- meric 9y agoDon’t compare ... imagine if you had the option to swap “souls” with those other persons - your job, your work, your family, your face, your friends, your spouse, and the other person won’t even notice, would you take it?!
- meric 9y agoBut go open source only if it’s fun for you! If you’re more into closed source development, e.g. algorithmic trading, and competing against traders on the open market, go for it IMO! No need to force yourself to be more cooperative or competitive than you feel like at this moment, especially in your own time!