4 ms·

> He wanted to tell the "story about how I and couple of engineers used our free time, with no authority whatsoever, and made Python 3 the dominant version at F

by eiji 8y ago

> He wanted to tell the "story about how I and couple of engineers used our free time, with no authority whatsoever, and made Python 3 the dominant version at Facebook." Isn't it great when engineers upgrade your codebase in their free time.

golergka 8y ago
It's great when you have the opportunity to use your free time to or something that impressive on your CV. I wouldn't pass on it, personally.
- bananadonkey 8y ago
  This. I always take the opportunity to identify some long-term-beneficial changes which would look good on my CV, and run with them even if it means investing my free time before I can present the potential to the business.
ipsum2 8y ago
This is the quote you focus on? Free time here here is probably defined as time in between their main projects, or when code is building, before meetings, etc.
- ilammy 8y ago
  But you're still not supposed to get paid for that.
  - Griffinsauce 8y ago
    Yes you are, that's part of running a business. Your workers going the extra mile and creating business value in that time is a luxury.
alexgartrell 8y ago
I'm actually fairly certain it was "within working hours" free time. Facebook doesn't have 20% time or anything like that, but, in practice, there's lots of extra time for whatever you want. This was my experience as an Engineer at Facebook and I certainly "pay it forward" as a manager. Probably worth adding that we ultimately created a python foundation team, of which Jason is a member. Here's something dumb I created in my "within working hours" free time that Facebook let me open source: https://github.com/facebookresearch/py2bpf https://github.com/facebookresearch/py2bpf
- _sdegutis 8y ago
  I've always had the drive to do things like this in my spare time. I'd love to get paid for solving technical problems for an employer. I think besides the obvious, I'd make a good candidate for an employee at something like Facebook. More companies should encourage hiring developers who would solve problems in their spare time. When I applied for an apprenticeship at 8th Light, they had me write a tic tac toe game, and I wrote it in 4 or 5 different languages, just for fun. I think that's why they hired me. Man, it would be good to have an employer. Any takers?

by eiji 8y ago

golergka 8y ago

It's great when you have the opportunity to use your free time to or something that impressive on your CV. I wouldn't pass on it, personally.

bananadonkey 8y ago
This. I always take the opportunity to identify some long-term-beneficial changes which would look good on my CV, and run with them even if it means investing my free time before I can present the potential to the business.

ipsum2 8y ago

This is the quote you focus on? Free time here here is probably defined as time in between their main projects, or when code is building, before meetings, etc.

ilammy 8y ago
But you're still not supposed to get paid for that.
- Griffinsauce 8y ago
  Yes you are, that's part of running a business. Your workers going the extra mile and creating business value in that time is a luxury.

alexgartrell 8y ago

I'm actually fairly certain it was "within working hours" free time. Facebook doesn't have 20% time or anything like that, but, in practice, there's lots of extra time for whatever you want. This was my experience as an Engineer at Facebook and I certainly "pay it forward" as a manager. Probably worth adding that we ultimately created a python foundation team, of which Jason is a member. Here's something dumb I created in my "within working hours" free time that Facebook let me open source: https://github.com/facebookresearch/py2bpf https://github.com/facebookresearch/py2bpf

_sdegutis 8y ago
I've always had the drive to do things like this in my spare time. I'd love to get paid for solving technical problems for an employer. I think besides the obvious, I'd make a good candidate for an employee at something like Facebook. More companies should encourage hiring developers who would solve problems in their spare time. When I applied for an apprenticeship at 8th Light, they had me write a tic tac toe game, and I wrote it in 4 or 5 different languages, just for fun. I think that's why they hired me. Man, it would be good to have an employer. Any takers?