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I've never worried about the state of software because I've never believed it will solve all of our problems, and I've developed hobbies and an identity outside

I've never worried about the state of software because I've never believed it will solve all of our problems, and I've developed hobbies and an identity outside of my career. If software causes you existential angst, it's a sign that you're putting too many eggs in one basket. Software isn't perfect, there are perverse incentives, and everything gets messed up -- because it's a human endeavor, just like everything else. But I enjoy it and it pays well. I try to point the ship in the right direction when I can.

mastercheph 6y ago
What prevents one from using this argument with everything? In a sense, I don't disagree, but what sets apart active recognition and embrace of the limitations of an endeavor, and passive resignation to the shortcomings of circumstance, which smells more of indifference from a fatal desire for sleep and forgetfulness?
- asdfman123 6y ago
  I believe the answer to that question is simpler than most would think. To untangle competing desires and figure out what you really want, you have to cultivate more awareness. Listen to your feelings and your soul. You might determine that you've been working too much, fighting battles unfruitfully, while neglecting the things in life you actually care about, like family. Or you could decide that software really is your way to contribute to the world, and find a way to optimize for that. Either answer is fine. Either way, if you figure out what you ACTUALLY want instead of what society tells you, you'll be happier and find more purpose. There are no answers in life. Just strategies. Find out what you actually want, and find the most effective strategy.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
    I like that. In my case, I love designing and writing software. It's my hobby. In particular, architecting software, in a fashion that is "organic." My architectures morph throughout a project. If you look at my GH repo[0], you'll see that it's solid green. I don't really take weekends off. In fact, I often get more done, over the weekend, than I do during the week. What I can't stand, is the "baggage" attached by folks that don't love developing software as much as I do. Team dynamics add overhead, but that is not necessarily a problem. Insecure managers or team leaders, on the other hand... [0] https://github.com/ChrisMarshallNY#github-stuff https://github.com/ChrisMarshallNY#github-stuff
IggleSniggle 6y ago
“Put all your eggs in the one basket and — WATCH THAT BASKET.” - Mark Twain, from Pudd’nhead Wilson
- ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
  That's the teaser quote I use for this story: https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/testing-harness-vs-unit/ https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/testing-harness-vs-u...

mastercheph 6y ago

What prevents one from using this argument with everything? In a sense, I don't disagree, but what sets apart active recognition and embrace of the limitations of an endeavor, and passive resignation to the shortcomings of circumstance, which smells more of indifference from a fatal desire for sleep and forgetfulness?

asdfman123 6y ago
I believe the answer to that question is simpler than most would think. To untangle competing desires and figure out what you really want, you have to cultivate more awareness. Listen to your feelings and your soul. You might determine that you've been working too much, fighting battles unfruitfully, while neglecting the things in life you actually care about, like family. Or you could decide that software really is your way to contribute to the world, and find a way to optimize for that. Either answer is fine. Either way, if you figure out what you ACTUALLY want instead of what society tells you, you'll be happier and find more purpose. There are no answers in life. Just strategies. Find out what you actually want, and find the most effective strategy.
- ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
  I like that. In my case, I love designing and writing software. It's my hobby. In particular, architecting software, in a fashion that is "organic." My architectures morph throughout a project. If you look at my GH repo[0], you'll see that it's solid green. I don't really take weekends off. In fact, I often get more done, over the weekend, than I do during the week. What I can't stand, is the "baggage" attached by folks that don't love developing software as much as I do. Team dynamics add overhead, but that is not necessarily a problem. Insecure managers or team leaders, on the other hand... [0] https://github.com/ChrisMarshallNY#github-stuff https://github.com/ChrisMarshallNY#github-stuff

IggleSniggle 6y ago

“Put all your eggs in the one basket and — WATCH THAT BASKET.” - Mark Twain, from Pudd’nhead Wilson

ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
That's the teaser quote I use for this story: https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/testing-harness-vs-unit/ https://littlegreenviper.com/miscellany/testing-harness-vs-u...