5 ms·

I'm not against happiness. Read the wording of that statement: "Engineers need to be kept happy." This is a statement rooted in fear - that if you don't enter

I'm not against happiness. Read the wording of that statement: "Engineers need to be kept happy." This is a statement rooted in fear - that if you don't entertain programmers with things that they enjoy, they will leave. Does that not sound like how you'd approach a child who you fear will have a tantrum if you don't give them a lollipop? I'm saying, programmers also need to take pride and satisfaction in the contribution they make to a business. Focusing on the business outcomes that you contribute to is more satisfying than getting to use React at work, or whatever it is you think will keep you "happy." I'm talking specifically about the idea that programmers conflate tech stacks with happiness, not happiness in general. I would hope that was clear.

ghaff 6y ago
A lot of people are missing a nuance. Should employees take satisfaction in what they creating, what the business is selling to customers, and how they're advancing in their careers/learning? Of course. Does that mean that the business should allow developers to indulge in whatever resume-driven development decisions they feel like lest they burst into tears? No. There are various comments in the thread about people who get bored after a few months because they have to do code maintenance.
- username90 6y ago
  > There are various comments in the thread about people who get bored after a few months because they have to do code maintenance. There is nothing wrong with getting bored by maintenance work. If you have that kind of work then hire boring engineers who will do whatever as long as you give them money, but don't say that all engineers needs to be happy with that kind of work.
rualca 6y ago
> This is a statement rooted in fear - that if you don't entertain programmers with things that they enjoy, they will leave. This is not a matter of "entertaining" engineers. This is a problem of providing good or even decent working conditions. High stress and high churn work environments have high attrition, because when given a choice adults prefer not to be miserable. You're pretending that this issue is all about pampering when at it's core there are poor work environments that needlessly cause mental problems, some of them permanent. Are we supposed to pretend that there was at least one FANG, supposedly a group of companies known for being generous to it's employees, which a few years ago was known for having employees crying at their desks?

ghaff 6y ago

A lot of people are missing a nuance. Should employees take satisfaction in what they creating, what the business is selling to customers, and how they're advancing in their careers/learning? Of course. Does that mean that the business should allow developers to indulge in whatever resume-driven development decisions they feel like lest they burst into tears? No. There are various comments in the thread about people who get bored after a few months because they have to do code maintenance.

username90 6y ago
> There are various comments in the thread about people who get bored after a few months because they have to do code maintenance. There is nothing wrong with getting bored by maintenance work. If you have that kind of work then hire boring engineers who will do whatever as long as you give them money, but don't say that all engineers needs to be happy with that kind of work.

rualca 6y ago

> This is a statement rooted in fear - that if you don't entertain programmers with things that they enjoy, they will leave. This is not a matter of "entertaining" engineers. This is a problem of providing good or even decent working conditions. High stress and high churn work environments have high attrition, because when given a choice adults prefer not to be miserable. You're pretending that this issue is all about pampering when at it's core there are poor work environments that needlessly cause mental problems, some of them permanent. Are we supposed to pretend that there was at least one FANG, supposedly a group of companies known for being generous to it's employees, which a few years ago was known for having employees crying at their desks?