4 ms·

Move in to management. The reason tech sucks is mainly due to non technical managers who think writing code is the same as laying bricks, constantly breathing o

Move in to management. The reason tech sucks is mainly due to non technical managers who think writing code is the same as laying bricks, constantly breathing on developer necks and nagging about progress. The world needs more tech experienced managers to replace the supervisor types that barely understand the words they use.

zeroc8 4y ago
I have gone in that direction a couple weeks ago and so far I hate it. I have to constantly fight unrealistic expectations vs. what's actually possible. Both sides are angry (developers because of unclear requirements, management because of slow progress). I'm frustrated because I'm in the middle of this bullshit, I constantly have to pacify both sides. Also, I've come to realise that while I enjoy developing products, I'm really sick of collaborating with other developers. I fantasize about just going back to Delphi and solo developing something for the Winstore.
- yrgulation 4y ago
  Upvoted because i had the same experience. Prior to going full time contracting i was a team lead, dev manager and finally head of. At first it was frustrating because i had to constantly walk a thin line in keeping people happy. Had devs snapping at me because of the pressure, business people going crazy at the slightest slippage, and so on. Then it clicked. Its all about people. They all want to shine and the question is how do you help them do so. Be it through process, motivational talk, etc. After a while i started loving it. I tried to make sure everyone understands i heard them and i somehow learned to enjoy genuinely helping devs in my team - even after they left. I also made sure that with the aid of metrics management understood that if you want more then you need more people. If they just failed to understand i left too as i didnt want to be a supervisor type cracking the whip. I build mafias not assembly lines. But give it some time as managing people (and equally important, managing your own time and knowing how to balance resources) is crucial to starting your own gig. And it can really be fun and rewarding. Eventually i went into contracting, precisely so that i can “solo developing something”. I would be happy making a nice little piece of app (currently working on a game), that i can prune here and there and grow a community of users that i can genuinely make happy, and get paid for it. I simply _love_ seeing happy users.
plutonorm 4y ago
Ha, much much easier said than done. Outside of big american corporates, getting a place in management is a no go 99.9% of the time.
juve1996 4y ago
I went from a technical role to presales/product marketing roles. I could've went into product management but I avoid "pinch point" roles (roles where you have to make multiple stakeholders happy, which means none of them will be.) I make a bit less than the ones who stayed as devs. And yet my life is way easier. Most of my meetings are fun, involve expensed dinners, some light travel to interesting places (but not all the time.) I can work remotely and live wherever I want. My colleagues are not extremely overworked, most are laid back but effective. Tech isn't what I grew up with and never will be again. The magic is gone. Most of the shit I would work on was boring and uninteresting. And frankly, I wasn't a 10x dev. I was never going to be that one who could dictate what I worked on. I wanted to have a life outside of code. It has been one of the best decisions I've made.
5350-uiop-1130 4y ago
i totally agree with you, there is an increase of dogmatic naivety and a loss of experience and pragmatism in this industry for real.

zeroc8 4y ago

I have gone in that direction a couple weeks ago and so far I hate it. I have to constantly fight unrealistic expectations vs. what's actually possible. Both sides are angry (developers because of unclear requirements, management because of slow progress). I'm frustrated because I'm in the middle of this bullshit, I constantly have to pacify both sides. Also, I've come to realise that while I enjoy developing products, I'm really sick of collaborating with other developers. I fantasize about just going back to Delphi and solo developing something for the Winstore.

yrgulation 4y ago
Upvoted because i had the same experience. Prior to going full time contracting i was a team lead, dev manager and finally head of. At first it was frustrating because i had to constantly walk a thin line in keeping people happy. Had devs snapping at me because of the pressure, business people going crazy at the slightest slippage, and so on. Then it clicked. Its all about people. They all want to shine and the question is how do you help them do so. Be it through process, motivational talk, etc. After a while i started loving it. I tried to make sure everyone understands i heard them and i somehow learned to enjoy genuinely helping devs in my team - even after they left. I also made sure that with the aid of metrics management understood that if you want more then you need more people. If they just failed to understand i left too as i didnt want to be a supervisor type cracking the whip. I build mafias not assembly lines. But give it some time as managing people (and equally important, managing your own time and knowing how to balance resources) is crucial to starting your own gig. And it can really be fun and rewarding. Eventually i went into contracting, precisely so that i can “solo developing something”. I would be happy making a nice little piece of app (currently working on a game), that i can prune here and there and grow a community of users that i can genuinely make happy, and get paid for it. I simply _love_ seeing happy users.

plutonorm 4y ago

Ha, much much easier said than done. Outside of big american corporates, getting a place in management is a no go 99.9% of the time.

juve1996 4y ago

I went from a technical role to presales/product marketing roles. I could've went into product management but I avoid "pinch point" roles (roles where you have to make multiple stakeholders happy, which means none of them will be.) I make a bit less than the ones who stayed as devs. And yet my life is way easier. Most of my meetings are fun, involve expensed dinners, some light travel to interesting places (but not all the time.) I can work remotely and live wherever I want. My colleagues are not extremely overworked, most are laid back but effective. Tech isn't what I grew up with and never will be again. The magic is gone. Most of the shit I would work on was boring and uninteresting. And frankly, I wasn't a 10x dev. I was never going to be that one who could dictate what I worked on. I wanted to have a life outside of code. It has been one of the best decisions I've made.

5350-uiop-1130 4y ago

i totally agree with you, there is an increase of dogmatic naivety and a loss of experience and pragmatism in this industry for real.