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A large majority of all software could be called "dull line-of-business apps" and statistically this is what most software developers do. These jobs are stable,

A large majority of all software could be called "dull line-of-business apps" and statistically this is what most software developers do. These jobs are stable, safe, and pay a good salary. It's awfully elitist to frame this as a bad job.

goatinaboat 7y ago
I’m not intending to be elitist here, as I say those jobs are well paid when in-house. But if management is looking to cut costs and no other considerations, then they will go for the cheapest option. Again, this is nothing to do with anyone’s ethnicity.
chrisseaton 7y ago
These jobs aren't well paid, because they're usually nothing but a cost to the business. Well paid software is usually where the software is the product, or directly enables income, so is seen as an investment not just a necessary cost.
- AlanSE 7y ago
  There is a difference between working as part of a non-software company's IT department, and working for a company that makes "dull line-of-business apps". Google maintains a large array of line-of-business apps. You probably have one open in another tab right now. Email, calendar, others. In these cases, the software (or software as a service) is the product, it's just not a direct-to-consumer product.
  - justbaker 7y ago
    >You probably have one open in another tab right now. Damn you, google.
- a-priori 7y ago
  The jobs I'm talking about are the median software development job. According to Payscale, these developers make about $70k in the United States. This is over twice the median individual income, so yes they are well paid. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Software_Developer/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Software_Developer/... https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA672N https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA672N Too often on HN we focus on and glamourize the flashy Silicon Valley jobs and we think this is what our industry looks like. It doesn't. The Google, Facebook, and Amazon of the world are the 95th-99th percentile jobs, the very top of our industry in terms of salary and prestige. They do not represent the typical software developer.
- davinic 7y ago
  I learned early on that there are two roles that the software development team can play in a company: a cost center, or a profit center. Company life is far better when your department is a profit center.

goatinaboat 7y ago

I’m not intending to be elitist here, as I say those jobs are well paid when in-house. But if management is looking to cut costs and no other considerations, then they will go for the cheapest option. Again, this is nothing to do with anyone’s ethnicity.

chrisseaton 7y ago

These jobs aren't well paid, because they're usually nothing but a cost to the business. Well paid software is usually where the software is the product, or directly enables income, so is seen as an investment not just a necessary cost.

AlanSE 7y ago
There is a difference between working as part of a non-software company's IT department, and working for a company that makes "dull line-of-business apps". Google maintains a large array of line-of-business apps. You probably have one open in another tab right now. Email, calendar, others. In these cases, the software (or software as a service) is the product, it's just not a direct-to-consumer product.
- justbaker 7y ago
  >You probably have one open in another tab right now. Damn you, google.
a-priori 7y ago
The jobs I'm talking about are the median software development job. According to Payscale, these developers make about $70k in the United States. This is over twice the median individual income, so yes they are well paid. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Software_Developer/Salary https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Software_Developer/... https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA672N https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEPAINUSA672N Too often on HN we focus on and glamourize the flashy Silicon Valley jobs and we think this is what our industry looks like. It doesn't. The Google, Facebook, and Amazon of the world are the 95th-99th percentile jobs, the very top of our industry in terms of salary and prestige. They do not represent the typical software developer.
davinic 7y ago
I learned early on that there are two roles that the software development team can play in a company: a cost center, or a profit center. Company life is far better when your department is a profit center.