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This is so strangely sad. Go ahead and write a programming language. Have a weird hobby you clank away on that might not see the light of day. If you burn out o

This is so strangely sad. Go ahead and write a programming language. Have a weird hobby you clank away on that might not see the light of day. If you burn out on it, that's one thing and that's okay; you've exhausted the medium. Move on to something else you enjoy. Grow for the sake of growing. Just because something hasn't become big doesn't mean it's a failure. I've labored in dark early hours over paintings and music that will never see the light of day, but it's a vital part of how I express and cultivate myself. My journal. 99% of art is unknown personal projects. Embrace yours. Why be bitter?

okareaman 5y ago
For me it's a question of what my goals are. If I have three equally fascinating projects I could spend my free time on, which one advances me towards my goals.
redbar0n 5y ago
FWIW: It didn't come across as bitter to me. More like a general warning from a hardened battle hero. A warning that many naive young recruits ought to give credence to, before it's too late (when the cost has been sunk, and you're knee deep in it).
artemonster 5y ago
Thank you so much for these words. I have „wasted“ around 5 years designing my own and was recently bitter about that „wasted“ time. Only now I started shifting my perspective that this was a thrilling hobby that I really liked and it wasnt wasted at all. Your words were final nail in that coffin of bitterness. Thank you, kind internet stranger, you changed my life for the better
taylodl 5y ago
Back in the 80's when I started my career creating a PL was a right of passage. You got bonus cred if it were compiled and not interpreted! Most people weren't writing general-purpose languages and the languages were very domain-focused - but they were languages nonetheless. It's been kinda sad to see that die. So I agree with you - go write that programming language if that floats your boat and just have fun doing it for the sake of doing it.

okareaman 5y ago

For me it's a question of what my goals are. If I have three equally fascinating projects I could spend my free time on, which one advances me towards my goals.

redbar0n 5y ago

FWIW: It didn't come across as bitter to me. More like a general warning from a hardened battle hero. A warning that many naive young recruits ought to give credence to, before it's too late (when the cost has been sunk, and you're knee deep in it).

artemonster 5y ago

Thank you so much for these words. I have „wasted“ around 5 years designing my own and was recently bitter about that „wasted“ time. Only now I started shifting my perspective that this was a thrilling hobby that I really liked and it wasnt wasted at all. Your words were final nail in that coffin of bitterness. Thank you, kind internet stranger, you changed my life for the better

taylodl 5y ago

Back in the 80's when I started my career creating a PL was a right of passage. You got bonus cred if it were compiled and not interpreted! Most people weren't writing general-purpose languages and the languages were very domain-focused - but they were languages nonetheless. It's been kinda sad to see that die. So I agree with you - go write that programming language if that floats your boat and just have fun doing it for the sake of doing it.