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> the chore of writing code It's only a chore when you can't envision the end result when everything falls into place and everything just works with zero/minim

> the chore of writing code It's only a chore when you can't envision the end result when everything falls into place and everything just works with zero/minimal bugs and the program behaves just as you imagined. This is the payoff moment we all should anticipate when coding, not seeing it as a 'chore' but as a sort of delayed gratification exercise where we reap what we sow.

dpkirchner 4y ago
It's also a chore when the ratio of work to value is high relative to other tasks. Unfortunately lot of tasks fall in to this category.
- jonahx 4y ago
  Even more so: When "ancillary work" to "task work" ratio is high. For example, to start you spend 20m getting the local developer setup for that repo working because the docs are out of date, and then because the repo is rarely used another 45m updating node dependencies and wrangling webpack to satisfy new security warnings. Then 5 minutes of actual work: you add a new form field and update some CSS. Now wait 50 minutes for the CI to pass so you can merge your work. No exaggeration -- these scenarios were common at my previous job.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
z3t4 4y ago
I like the research part, where you research and try different stuff. Writing CRUD apps where you know exactly what to "code" it will just take hours to set up the boilerplate, write tests, etc, it does feel like a chore.
foreverCarlos 4y ago
I rarely see programming as a chore. It’s a creative process that engages me in the most challenging and enjoyable ways. Not sure whether my experience is common…. But maybe if someone feels like programming is a chore most of the time it’s a strong signal that they need to change the job and/or profession?
- codr7 4y ago
  I’ve been writing code for 37 years now; mostly every day since I was 8yo, 27 or so professionally. I still enjoy it occasionally on my own terms, but writing the kind of code that people would pay me to write is mostly dreadful at this point. I’ve seen it all before and the problems aren’t interesting enough to keep me motivated. Which is why I’m shifting into project management. I still remember the excitement I felt in the beginning though, where every piece of code was a new adventure. My point is, things change with time and experience.
  - foreverCarlos 4y ago
    Totally understandable! I didn’t mean that the people who don’t enjoy programming anymore are in some way inferior to others. Just that other projects or professions could offer them more joy.
- perrygeo 4y ago
  There's a physical aspect of it that can't be overlooked. If you need to write 1000 lines of code to realize your creative vision, that takes time and sustained rapid hand movements - both of which are finite resources. I only see it as a chore when my hands lag behind my brain.
ryanchants 4y ago
I'm writing this will waiting for an validation run of a new project's MVP to finish running. The excitement building up to this, and how happy I'll be when (if, so not to jinx) it succeeds is palpable.
unity1001 4y ago
> everything falls into place and everything just works with zero/minimal bugs and the program behaves just as you imagined Wouldn't that indicate a state of flow, meaning that you are in the 'zone'?

dpkirchner 4y ago

It's also a chore when the ratio of work to value is high relative to other tasks. Unfortunately lot of tasks fall in to this category.

jonahx 4y ago
Even more so: When "ancillary work" to "task work" ratio is high. For example, to start you spend 20m getting the local developer setup for that repo working because the docs are out of date, and then because the repo is rarely used another 45m updating node dependencies and wrangling webpack to satisfy new security warnings. Then 5 minutes of actual work: you add a new form field and update some CSS. Now wait 50 minutes for the CI to pass so you can merge your work. No exaggeration -- these scenarios were common at my previous job.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

z3t4 4y ago

I like the research part, where you research and try different stuff. Writing CRUD apps where you know exactly what to "code" it will just take hours to set up the boilerplate, write tests, etc, it does feel like a chore.

foreverCarlos 4y ago

I rarely see programming as a chore. It’s a creative process that engages me in the most challenging and enjoyable ways. Not sure whether my experience is common…. But maybe if someone feels like programming is a chore most of the time it’s a strong signal that they need to change the job and/or profession?

codr7 4y ago
I’ve been writing code for 37 years now; mostly every day since I was 8yo, 27 or so professionally. I still enjoy it occasionally on my own terms, but writing the kind of code that people would pay me to write is mostly dreadful at this point. I’ve seen it all before and the problems aren’t interesting enough to keep me motivated. Which is why I’m shifting into project management. I still remember the excitement I felt in the beginning though, where every piece of code was a new adventure. My point is, things change with time and experience.
- foreverCarlos 4y ago
  Totally understandable! I didn’t mean that the people who don’t enjoy programming anymore are in some way inferior to others. Just that other projects or professions could offer them more joy.
perrygeo 4y ago
There's a physical aspect of it that can't be overlooked. If you need to write 1000 lines of code to realize your creative vision, that takes time and sustained rapid hand movements - both of which are finite resources. I only see it as a chore when my hands lag behind my brain.

ryanchants 4y ago

I'm writing this will waiting for an validation run of a new project's MVP to finish running. The excitement building up to this, and how happy I'll be when (if, so not to jinx) it succeeds is palpable.

unity1001 4y ago

> everything falls into place and everything just works with zero/minimal bugs and the program behaves just as you imagined Wouldn't that indicate a state of flow, meaning that you are in the 'zone'?