I agree that most of the routine software work feels like, umm, filling forms? The way I've made peace with it is to accept that the work that pays the bills is

I agree that most of the routine software work feels like, umm, filling forms? The way I've made peace with it is to accept that the work that pays the bills is going to be boring. After considering ourselves to be special as software developers for many years, maybe we accept that it is not so special after all, like flipping burgers. Two ways to out from the existential dread: one startup on a problem statement that feels exciting to you, so that you get to pick your tools, processes and what not. But this is not a realistic/affordable option for most people. Also, if your startup achieves even a moderate level of success, you'll be back to solving boring problems. The other is to find a pockets of software development outside work, where you can still solve interesting problems, like developing small games. Joseph White, who created the famed programmable fantasy game console Pico-8 alludes to this (https://youtu.be/87jfTIWosBw?t=1080 https://youtu.be/87jfTIWosBw?t=1080) ! It was an explicit goal to build a tool to solve cute, interesting problems because routine software development feels like glueing things together. The whole youtube talk linked above is worth watching. But the trick here is to forgo commercial motivations. People make fun, cute little games on Pico 8, distribute them as cartridges. Occasionally, there's a hit like Celeste. But otherwise its a small community of people solving problems and building things just for fun.