3 ms·

Wait what? So you should hire coders who don't like coding to do coding?

nojito 6y ago
People who "like" coding tend to prefer hot new tech as a way of experimentation. They often ignore the actual business problem that needs to be solved, because it can be solved using "boring" technology.
- koz_ 6y ago
  The thing is boring tech is often really just painful tech, where pain manifests in lots of different ways (error-prone repetition, painful manual testing, hard to read spaghetti code, etc). Programmers who are too insensitive to pain will continue to generate pain for themselves and others.
- hombre_fatal 6y ago
  Seems like an invention on your part. I also sense some condescension towards this alleged group of people that you insist exists. The reality is that people who like coding and thus trying new things are limited by the stack their job uses. Simple as that. I don't really understand your hypothetical scenario where this alleged person is working on the new FooQux framework instead of getting work done. That's just someone who isn't doing their job. That they enjoying writing code seems irrelevant. Like trying to say people who like water skiing are awful employees because they're on the lake all day. We need a word for this kind of HN trope. Condescension roleplaying?
  - perl4ever 6y ago
    My last phone screen, I emphasized that I like solving business problems, rather than tech for its own sake. They decided I "wasn't technical enough"...without asking me a single technical question. That's the culture clash people frequently reference, and it's very real. If you don't perceive it, it's because you're swimming in it. And I emphasize that the attitude, that the only good coders have tunnel vision and just want to play obsessively with tech, but only the cool stuff, goes far, far beyond the stereotypical SF startup environment or whatever. Because a large number of companies have a vague idea that to be cool, they should imitate what the trendy companies do, so even if you question the stereotype, the stereotype influences reality.
mwcampbell 6y ago
Maybe it's more about hiring people with a strong work ethic, who will do whatever needs doing, not just what's fun. Note: I don't think I'm really one of those people.
Tade0 6y ago
The most productive developer I currently have the privilege to work with isn't visibly passionate about the thing. She got back into this career after being a project owner for a few years and now just pushes forward like an icebreaker. And the code isn't even "pretty" - it's just well-tested and is working as intended. Makes one question some assumptions about what makes a good developer.

People who "like" coding tend to prefer hot new tech as a way of experimentation. They often ignore the actual business problem that needs to be solved, because it can be solved using "boring" technology.

koz_ 6y ago
The thing is boring tech is often really just painful tech, where pain manifests in lots of different ways (error-prone repetition, painful manual testing, hard to read spaghetti code, etc). Programmers who are too insensitive to pain will continue to generate pain for themselves and others.
hombre_fatal 6y ago
Seems like an invention on your part. I also sense some condescension towards this alleged group of people that you insist exists. The reality is that people who like coding and thus trying new things are limited by the stack their job uses. Simple as that. I don't really understand your hypothetical scenario where this alleged person is working on the new FooQux framework instead of getting work done. That's just someone who isn't doing their job. That they enjoying writing code seems irrelevant. Like trying to say people who like water skiing are awful employees because they're on the lake all day. We need a word for this kind of HN trope. Condescension roleplaying?
- perl4ever 6y ago
  My last phone screen, I emphasized that I like solving business problems, rather than tech for its own sake. They decided I "wasn't technical enough"...without asking me a single technical question. That's the culture clash people frequently reference, and it's very real. If you don't perceive it, it's because you're swimming in it. And I emphasize that the attitude, that the only good coders have tunnel vision and just want to play obsessively with tech, but only the cool stuff, goes far, far beyond the stereotypical SF startup environment or whatever. Because a large number of companies have a vague idea that to be cool, they should imitate what the trendy companies do, so even if you question the stereotype, the stereotype influences reality.

mwcampbell 6y ago

Maybe it's more about hiring people with a strong work ethic, who will do whatever needs doing, not just what's fun. Note: I don't think I'm really one of those people.

Tade0 6y ago

The most productive developer I currently have the privilege to work with isn't visibly passionate about the thing. She got back into this career after being a project owner for a few years and now just pushes forward like an icebreaker. And the code isn't even "pretty" - it's just well-tested and is working as intended. Makes one question some assumptions about what makes a good developer.