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I've been thinking along these lines lately. I've never much cared for or been interested in attention. I'm totally comfortable with the fact I'm going to be

I've been thinking along these lines lately. I've never much cared for or been interested in attention. I'm totally comfortable with the fact I'm going to be forgotten. I've been very lucky and I don't have to worry much about money. I'm about to finish school. What do I do next? I basically have two answers: (1) Entertain myself. Learn things because I curious. Work on things because I think they're exciting or interesting, without worrying if they're useful or valuable. (2) Try to make socially valuable contributions. How do I best put my skills to work for others? Free software is one good model here. I've been trying to learn about the non-profit model. I'm very interested to hear other people's thoughts.

sillysaurus3 13y ago
I've been very lucky and I don't have to worry much about money. I'm about to finish school. Very lucky. May I ask how?
- cottonseed 13y ago
  Very lucky. A combination of things. I'm financially responsible and I don't want much. Startups. My partner is successful. Finishing school doesn't mean I'm 23. I decided to get a PhD in mathematics in my mid-30s. This is an example of (1).
  - sillysaurus3 13y ago
    As someone in almost the same position as you were in, may I ask a more personal question? Were you able to get into a prestigious school once you had money? I want to go not because I care about prestige or about connections, but simply because I want to find out what the experience is like, and know that I can stand with the best. I do online MIT classes for fun just to prove to myself that I can do it, but I never really had opportunity growing up, nor did I realize how much opportunity mattered. Now I'm concerned it's too late. I'd love to get your thoughts. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have ideas about how I might pursue this.
malux85 13y ago
Me too, I do not desire attention at all, I would love the freedom to pursue intellectual activities that are challenging... I really enjoy making apps and there aren't many apps that really showcase the latest iPads abilities well My ultimate goal would be financial freedom to work on cool apps full time .. something with A.I. in it, but really delivers graphically as well, as I enjoy challenging both the algorithmic side of my brain with AI and the spatial side of my brain with 3D programming, and I really really enjoy squeezing the last inch out of hardware! Just lost my job though, so I'm pushing to launch my app this month ASAP, but might have to go back to making cat websites for a few months :(
- unclebucknasty 13y ago
  Sorry to hear about your job loss. It will be interesting though to see how your interest in making apps for the sake of it is impacted by the fact that you're now making them for money. That, of course, intersects with the premise of the article. I think the idea of following one's passion as a means of obtaining financial security is generally oversold (though clearly not impossible). As soon as you add the financial factor, the enjoyment can be sucked out of it. For one, you're not doing it in the way you might if not for the need to monetize. Secondly, you find yourself doing all kinds of stuff that are decidedly not your passion (administrivia, marketing, etc.) Anyway, good luck!
mjolk 13y ago
>I've been trying to learn about the non-profit model. "Non-profit" likely doesn't mean what you think it does. e.g. The NFL is a non-profit.
- cottonseed 13y ago
  I know what a non-profit is. It just means that left over money (i.e. fees and dontations minus costs) does not accrue to any shareholders, but stay within the organization and that it enjoys certain tax benefits. I'm interested in it as a possible organization vehicle for social good, although I realize that is not necessary. The Linux Foundation is also a non-profit.
sivers 13y ago
After I sold my company for enough money that it was obvious I'd never have to work again, my mind went to the same place as yours. Contributing to free/open software is a good one. But also there are so many pseudo-business projects that are worth doing, and not commercializing. You know like when people say, "People love it, but we're trying to figure out how to monetize it." Wouldn't it be nice to not monetize it, and just leave it as a cool thing that exists? Closer to art than commerce.
- rohall 13y ago
  I think you hit most developer's dream in your last three sentences. Code is art and it's a fantastic way to give back to the world (if you can afford to do so).
  - melling 13y ago
    Nah, code can solve problems. It doesn't matter if it's pretty code, or the most efficient code, it just needs to be useful to someone. Developers are tool builders, not artists.
    - rossng 13y ago
      I think it's somewhere between the two. Software development is both creative and rigidly constrained by existing techniques/technology. Claiming that it's only one or the other is simply creating a false dichotomy.
      - melling 13y ago
        Are you saying that it's art because it's creative? Can you simply list some of the "art"?
        daeken 13y ago
        Look up the demoscene. http://shadertoy.com http://shadertoy.com is a good start.

sillysaurus3 13y ago

I've been very lucky and I don't have to worry much about money. I'm about to finish school. Very lucky. May I ask how?

cottonseed 13y ago
Very lucky. A combination of things. I'm financially responsible and I don't want much. Startups. My partner is successful. Finishing school doesn't mean I'm 23. I decided to get a PhD in mathematics in my mid-30s. This is an example of (1).
- sillysaurus3 13y ago
  As someone in almost the same position as you were in, may I ask a more personal question? Were you able to get into a prestigious school once you had money? I want to go not because I care about prestige or about connections, but simply because I want to find out what the experience is like, and know that I can stand with the best. I do online MIT classes for fun just to prove to myself that I can do it, but I never really had opportunity growing up, nor did I realize how much opportunity mattered. Now I'm concerned it's too late. I'd love to get your thoughts. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have ideas about how I might pursue this.

malux85 13y ago

Me too, I do not desire attention at all, I would love the freedom to pursue intellectual activities that are challenging... I really enjoy making apps and there aren't many apps that really showcase the latest iPads abilities well My ultimate goal would be financial freedom to work on cool apps full time .. something with A.I. in it, but really delivers graphically as well, as I enjoy challenging both the algorithmic side of my brain with AI and the spatial side of my brain with 3D programming, and I really really enjoy squeezing the last inch out of hardware! Just lost my job though, so I'm pushing to launch my app this month ASAP, but might have to go back to making cat websites for a few months :(

unclebucknasty 13y ago
Sorry to hear about your job loss. It will be interesting though to see how your interest in making apps for the sake of it is impacted by the fact that you're now making them for money. That, of course, intersects with the premise of the article. I think the idea of following one's passion as a means of obtaining financial security is generally oversold (though clearly not impossible). As soon as you add the financial factor, the enjoyment can be sucked out of it. For one, you're not doing it in the way you might if not for the need to monetize. Secondly, you find yourself doing all kinds of stuff that are decidedly not your passion (administrivia, marketing, etc.) Anyway, good luck!

mjolk 13y ago

>I've been trying to learn about the non-profit model. "Non-profit" likely doesn't mean what you think it does. e.g. The NFL is a non-profit.

cottonseed 13y ago
I know what a non-profit is. It just means that left over money (i.e. fees and dontations minus costs) does not accrue to any shareholders, but stay within the organization and that it enjoys certain tax benefits. I'm interested in it as a possible organization vehicle for social good, although I realize that is not necessary. The Linux Foundation is also a non-profit.

sivers 13y ago

After I sold my company for enough money that it was obvious I'd never have to work again, my mind went to the same place as yours. Contributing to free/open software is a good one. But also there are so many pseudo-business projects that are worth doing, and not commercializing. You know like when people say, "People love it, but we're trying to figure out how to monetize it." Wouldn't it be nice to not monetize it, and just leave it as a cool thing that exists? Closer to art than commerce.

rohall 13y ago
I think you hit most developer's dream in your last three sentences. Code is art and it's a fantastic way to give back to the world (if you can afford to do so).
- melling 13y ago
  Nah, code can solve problems. It doesn't matter if it's pretty code, or the most efficient code, it just needs to be useful to someone. Developers are tool builders, not artists.
  - rossng 13y ago
    I think it's somewhere between the two. Software development is both creative and rigidly constrained by existing techniques/technology. Claiming that it's only one or the other is simply creating a false dichotomy.
    - melling 13y ago
      Are you saying that it's art because it's creative? Can you simply list some of the "art"?
      - daeken 13y ago
        Look up the demoscene. http://shadertoy.com http://shadertoy.com is a good start.