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What if the employer says: "I would never hire a programmer that sucks"? Seems pretty reasonable to filter out people who are bad at their job. So your argume

by swombat 17y ago

What if the employer says: "I would never hire a programmer that sucks"? Seems pretty reasonable to filter out people who are bad at their job. So your argument is really one of breadth - breadth of the filter. From my point of view as a programmer, I certainly do believe that programming outside of your job is an extremely good predictor of passion, which is a great predictor of ability as a developer, particularly for younger people. I might consider a 40-year old who doesn't program for fun anymore, maybe. I wouldn't bother interviewing a 25 year old who never saw a point in coding outside of university/work.

techiferous 17y ago
"I certainly do believe that programming outside of your job is an extremely good predictor of passion" Yes, I think that's the point. Is this a good predictor? If you are a young, single male, then maybe so. There are many other reasons besides lack of passion that can prevent a passionate programmer from programming outside of work.
- swombat 17y ago
  Actually, no. I think that's almost the definition of a passionate programmer: there's very little that cna stop them from programming outside of work - not even a full time programming day job.
  - techiferous 17y ago
    You are a mother with two kids.
    - elptacek 17y ago
      Yep. I am. And I program, but rarely outside of work. I leave work at 5 and, when the schedule permits, I start coding again after they go to bed. This is likely to happen 2 or 3 times a month. So far I've read nothing in this thread that doesn't make the assumption of no other demands on one's time. Maybe I'd get the job if I just said, "I wish"? Not that it matters. I have a great job.
  - mquander 17y ago
    Supposing for the sake of argument that you were actually passionate about more than one thing in the world, can you imagine why someone might want to spend six or eight hours doing some of the others after spending eight or ten hours doing one?

by swombat 17y ago

techiferous 17y ago

"I certainly do believe that programming outside of your job is an extremely good predictor of passion" Yes, I think that's the point. Is this a good predictor? If you are a young, single male, then maybe so. There are many other reasons besides lack of passion that can prevent a passionate programmer from programming outside of work.

swombat 17y ago
Actually, no. I think that's almost the definition of a passionate programmer: there's very little that cna stop them from programming outside of work - not even a full time programming day job.
- techiferous 17y ago
  You are a mother with two kids.
  - elptacek 17y ago
    Yep. I am. And I program, but rarely outside of work. I leave work at 5 and, when the schedule permits, I start coding again after they go to bed. This is likely to happen 2 or 3 times a month. So far I've read nothing in this thread that doesn't make the assumption of no other demands on one's time. Maybe I'd get the job if I just said, "I wish"? Not that it matters. I have a great job.
- mquander 17y ago
  Supposing for the sake of argument that you were actually passionate about more than one thing in the world, can you imagine why someone might want to spend six or eight hours doing some of the others after spending eight or ten hours doing one?