4 ms·
Perhaps I was insufficiently specific. The problem isn't that the conception of the median programming job is wrong. The problem is that technical people of bot
by DaniFong 18y ago
Perhaps I was insufficiently specific. The problem isn't that the conception of the median programming job is wrong. The problem is that technical people of both genders are often completely unaware of the existence of better jobs. Sometimes, when people talk of career prospects of becoming a programmer, they say it with such disdain that they might as well be talking about becoming a drone.
- aswanson 18y agothey say it with such disdain that they might as well be talking about becoming a drone Not without good cause. Startups aside, the vast majority of programmers and engineers spend their careers implementing other people's ideas. Outliers that start their own companies are very rare. In law and medicine, it seems that running a startup (your own pratice) is the expected progression of a successful career. They are groomed to expect it. The typical tech/science track seems to be tailored to produce....drones. Judge them by their fruits.
- timr 18y agoWell said. Even in academic science, the presumption is that you will one day lead your own research group (however unlikely that may be)...and academia is not known for progressive organizational thinking. Closer to your example: my dentist is in his mid-20s, and already owns a half share in two established practices. How many programmers own a half share in their own business at 25?
- aswanson 18y agoHow many programmers own a half share in their own business at 25? None. I swear if none of my startups work out I will count my engineering degrees a complete waste of time. I found only 2 or three classes moderately interesting, and from a moneymaking standpoint, the brainpower required to make it through the curriculum versus the salary is a joke. I studied EE and use next to none of it. I could have learned to code on my own, and even studied electronics in my own time like I did as a kid, and still ended up in cubicle land, or earned a professional degree to fall back on (medicine, law) probably having a better time in the process. Sometimes you have to separate business and pleasure.
- reynolds 18y agoHow many programmers own a half share in their own business at 25? None. I must be the only one then. We also haven't taken any funding and are profitable.
- aswanson 18y agoI answered that question wrong. I should have stated "none that I know." But at any rate, I can rattle off far more lawyers, doctors, dentists, and for that matter CPA's that own businesses than programmers.
- ComputerGuru 18y agoHow many programmers own a half share in their own business at 25? How about the whole thing at 19?
- aswanson 18y agoCongrats, and that is a great forum design on your site. What did you use to build it?
- Tamerlin 18y agoIt's worse, actually; the vast majority of the programmers out there today aren't implementing squat, they're providing life support for the bad programmers who came before them. (This has come very close to driving me entirely out of the field; the only thing that has kept me in it for so long is the paychecks.)
- deleted 18y ago[deleted]