4 ms·

I guess the key to staying motivated is the need to apply these (potential) skills to actual real world problems - no matter how small they may seem. That said

I guess the key to staying motivated is the need to apply these (potential) skills to actual real world problems - no matter how small they may seem. That said, I'm trying to get into Rails and Ruby and I'm in a similar boat as the friends you described. At work I'm a FileMaker developer, which might sound like amateur hour to the HN community. I'm very well aware of FileMakers shortcomings, but it also works quite well for our little non-tech company, which is why there is no immediate need to learn more advanced languages. Add to that outside my day job, I'm a musician/producer - this is a hobby as well as an occational source of income, but it takes time and there's only so much left when I get back home, which caused my drive to keep learning to behave more like an on/off relationship. Nevertheless I try to hang on to it. Having experience with developer tools as well as audio production software and hardware, I have to agree with you - people interested in programing have everything they need readily available. Sure, it got a lot easier for musicians too, but usually a decent DAW, plugins or audio interfaces and monitors still require a financial investment, which certainly helps to remind you about your original goals. Meanwhile frameworks, editors and documentation are mostly free - combined with limited time and a lack of concrete need for your new knowledge, it can be tough.

kevin_rubyhouse 14y ago
Well, what is motivating you to get into Ruby on Rails in the first place? If it's money or a better job, is there anything else driving it?
- thirdsun 14y ago
  I like the company I'm working at and I'd like to contribute by taking our in-house solutions based on FileMaker to a web application. Furthermore I want those skills as a backup - in case I want (or have) to look for another job, FileMaker isn't going to impress. Also, while the music is certainly my passion, it's unlikely that I (or most other musicians for that matter) could make a living with it. However those reasons sound rather career- and money-centric. It's not all that rational though - I like making and creating things, whether it's music, software or design - but I value doing things right and with care. Learning a "proper" language/framework and being competent with it would help a lot and I'd consider it as essential.

kevin_rubyhouse 14y ago

Well, what is motivating you to get into Ruby on Rails in the first place? If it's money or a better job, is there anything else driving it?

thirdsun 14y ago
I like the company I'm working at and I'd like to contribute by taking our in-house solutions based on FileMaker to a web application. Furthermore I want those skills as a backup - in case I want (or have) to look for another job, FileMaker isn't going to impress. Also, while the music is certainly my passion, it's unlikely that I (or most other musicians for that matter) could make a living with it. However those reasons sound rather career- and money-centric. It's not all that rational though - I like making and creating things, whether it's music, software or design - but I value doing things right and with care. Learning a "proper" language/framework and being competent with it would help a lot and I'd consider it as essential.