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Oh, software engineers! Well, yes, as a breed, software engineers do seem to be particularly prone to hubris. The ego and phenomenal sense of self-worth of a mi

Oh, software engineers! Well, yes, as a breed, software engineers do seem to be particularly prone to hubris. The ego and phenomenal sense of self-worth of a mid-twenties PHP kludger compared to a mid-twenties chemical engineer or civil engineer is just amazing.

southphillyman 13y ago
The last sentence is a bit much, but I also clicked this thinking it was referring to accredited engineers.
- EliRivers 13y ago
  Yeah, you're right; chemical engineers think they're God's gift to humanity :p
josephschmoe 13y ago
This question has nothing to do with hubris. In fact, there are likely a lot more false negatives than false positives. Most of those 56% will become millionaires and most of the other 44% will as well. Because they plan on retiring and make a decent wage. I'm sure some percent plan on making it big.
- pasquinelli 13y ago
  i think you're hung up on the millionaire bit. 69 percent of engineers say their role is “recession-proof.” 91 percent say they feel they are the “most valued” employees at their company. those points are laughable.
fennecfoxen 13y ago
> as a breed, software engineers do seem to be particularly prone to hubris. Maybe. But I'm 29 and I have ~$450,000 in savings (mostly index funds), so I'm pretty sure that having a cool million by the time I retire is eminently within reach. An inflation-adjusted cool million, at that. Theoretical future homebuying, childrens' college educations, and recessions notwithstanding.
- ideaofxy 13y ago
  Hey Mate, may I ask since when you started saving and if you don't mind disclosing how you got upto 450K ? I am database developer, 28 and have only accumulated 60K. If you don't mind asking what strategy you use ? Thnx.
  - fennecfoxen 13y ago
    Small-company stock options. They don't just reward you for working at a growing company, they reward you for working at company with a volatile stock price. If you're extra-lucky they'll reprice your options at the bottom of a dip, and then you'll make boatloads as the company recovers. It's like one of those high-risk options strategies, except you don't actually take any risk yourself beyond the job, and the options last a lot longer than the ones you could buy online day-trading. Of course, you can't rely on them, either, so don't take any job you wouldn't be happy with anyway. :P Also, you know all that money you make? ... Don't-spend it. Also important. :P
    - azth 13y ago
      Does "small-company stock options" apply only to pre-IPO startups? If not, what else does the term cover?
- snowwrestler 13y ago
  $450,000 will be worth $1 million in about 25 years based on inflation alone--this is before any real appreciation in those index funds or additional earnings on your part. $1 million is just not that much money anymore, and it will be a lot less in 30-40 years when the current crop of young software engineers will be ready to retire. If most of them think they will be worth $1 million at that time, well, maybe that's just good math.
Iftheshoefits 13y ago
I came from an academic background in science (physical science; not computer science), and I couldn't agree more. There was always a sort of swagger detectable in academics I worked with, but at the same time there was always a deep and profound understanding that we don't know a lot about anything. I get the opposite sense when I discuss things with software engineers and even many computer scientists. The antagonism toward others ("shit code") is especially pronounced. It's still uncomfortable for me.

southphillyman 13y ago

The last sentence is a bit much, but I also clicked this thinking it was referring to accredited engineers.

EliRivers 13y ago
Yeah, you're right; chemical engineers think they're God's gift to humanity :p

josephschmoe 13y ago

This question has nothing to do with hubris. In fact, there are likely a lot more false negatives than false positives. Most of those 56% will become millionaires and most of the other 44% will as well. Because they plan on retiring and make a decent wage. I'm sure some percent plan on making it big.

pasquinelli 13y ago
i think you're hung up on the millionaire bit. 69 percent of engineers say their role is “recession-proof.” 91 percent say they feel they are the “most valued” employees at their company. those points are laughable.

fennecfoxen 13y ago

> as a breed, software engineers do seem to be particularly prone to hubris. Maybe. But I'm 29 and I have ~$450,000 in savings (mostly index funds), so I'm pretty sure that having a cool million by the time I retire is eminently within reach. An inflation-adjusted cool million, at that. Theoretical future homebuying, childrens' college educations, and recessions notwithstanding.

ideaofxy 13y ago
Hey Mate, may I ask since when you started saving and if you don't mind disclosing how you got upto 450K ? I am database developer, 28 and have only accumulated 60K. If you don't mind asking what strategy you use ? Thnx.
- fennecfoxen 13y ago
  Small-company stock options. They don't just reward you for working at a growing company, they reward you for working at company with a volatile stock price. If you're extra-lucky they'll reprice your options at the bottom of a dip, and then you'll make boatloads as the company recovers. It's like one of those high-risk options strategies, except you don't actually take any risk yourself beyond the job, and the options last a lot longer than the ones you could buy online day-trading. Of course, you can't rely on them, either, so don't take any job you wouldn't be happy with anyway. :P Also, you know all that money you make? ... Don't-spend it. Also important. :P
  - azth 13y ago
    Does "small-company stock options" apply only to pre-IPO startups? If not, what else does the term cover?
snowwrestler 13y ago
$450,000 will be worth $1 million in about 25 years based on inflation alone--this is before any real appreciation in those index funds or additional earnings on your part. $1 million is just not that much money anymore, and it will be a lot less in 30-40 years when the current crop of young software engineers will be ready to retire. If most of them think they will be worth $1 million at that time, well, maybe that's just good math.

Iftheshoefits 13y ago

I came from an academic background in science (physical science; not computer science), and I couldn't agree more. There was always a sort of swagger detectable in academics I worked with, but at the same time there was always a deep and profound understanding that we don't know a lot about anything. I get the opposite sense when I discuss things with software engineers and even many computer scientists. The antagonism toward others ("shit code") is especially pronounced. It's still uncomfortable for me.