4 ms·

For me it's about that dopamine hit whenever I finish a feature. When I'm finally testing a new feature or functionality I've been working on I get an immense d

For me it's about that dopamine hit whenever I finish a feature. When I'm finally testing a new feature or functionality I've been working on I get an immense dopamine rush, likewise if a feature is taking me too long to finish it's much the opposite feeling. I don't really get this working on work projects because there's inevitably rules I have to follow. On my side project though it's something about having access to the entire plane (frontend, backend, DB, etc) that gets me excited, because I know there is no blocker that I have to rely on others to solve. There's something something intoxicating about working on a large side project knowing that you're in absolute control, if I see a bug, any bug, I have the power there and then to fix it, no asking permission or working with other teams. Then there's also the financial motive, I get the chances are minuscule but there's something so incredibly intoxicating and sexy about knowing that there is a non-zero chance that the project I'm working on may one day make me a multi-millionaire or a billionaire. It's a bit like walking into a casino and knowing that any slot you pull the lever on may spit out a jackpot. The rational part of my brain knows to keep my expectations in check, but I do let the "lizard" part of my brain out once in a while to daydream about what yacht or jet I'm getting once my side project IPO's

specialist 3y ago
My dopamine hit comes from people using my stuff. When I fix a bug, add a feature, or write some docs, I experience the resolution of anxiety. I'm just so worried my stuff isn't good enough, will confuse users, and so forth. It feels very similar to my compulsion to pick up litter. While hiking, walking the dog, etc. I. Just. Can't. Stand. Seeing. Trash. Every. Where. It really takes me out of my happy place. I'm just so much more relaxed, resolved when litter (or bugs) are gone. Yes, I've been working chilling out.
- jstarfish 3y ago
  > It feels very similar to my compulsion to pick up litter. While hiking, walking the dog, etc. I. Just. Can't. Stand. Seeing. Trash. Every. Where. It really takes me out of my happy place. I'm just so much more relaxed, resolved when litter (or bugs) are gone. Be glad you don't have compulsive hoarding tendencies. When I spend too much time playing Pokemon, Red Dead Redemption or Metal Gear V, I find myself planning to capture every animal, pick every flower and steal every shipping container I come across.
eternityforest 3y ago
For me, a lot of the motive of larger personal projects came from a delusion they'd one day become big public things run by a foundation with a board of directors and a DevOps guy and code reviews. Once the delusion faded and I realized that was Probably Not Happening, the number of projects that held my attention went down about 75%

specialist 3y ago

My dopamine hit comes from people using my stuff. When I fix a bug, add a feature, or write some docs, I experience the resolution of anxiety. I'm just so worried my stuff isn't good enough, will confuse users, and so forth. It feels very similar to my compulsion to pick up litter. While hiking, walking the dog, etc. I. Just. Can't. Stand. Seeing. Trash. Every. Where. It really takes me out of my happy place. I'm just so much more relaxed, resolved when litter (or bugs) are gone. Yes, I've been working chilling out.

jstarfish 3y ago
> It feels very similar to my compulsion to pick up litter. While hiking, walking the dog, etc. I. Just. Can't. Stand. Seeing. Trash. Every. Where. It really takes me out of my happy place. I'm just so much more relaxed, resolved when litter (or bugs) are gone. Be glad you don't have compulsive hoarding tendencies. When I spend too much time playing Pokemon, Red Dead Redemption or Metal Gear V, I find myself planning to capture every animal, pick every flower and steal every shipping container I come across.

eternityforest 3y ago

For me, a lot of the motive of larger personal projects came from a delusion they'd one day become big public things run by a foundation with a board of directors and a DevOps guy and code reviews. Once the delusion faded and I realized that was Probably Not Happening, the number of projects that held my attention went down about 75%