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Discussion on: Do I need to code in my free time to be a good developer?

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coly010 profile image
Colum Ferry

I think that's different. That's an indicator of a toxic work environment.

If you're staying up to 10/11pm working on a side project that isn't work related, no problem, do that.

But if you're staying up to that time doing work for the company outside office hours, that's a problem. For one, you have an issue with burnout. Two you have , like you said, the problem where decisions are being made behind closed doors, because they're happening at a time when noone else is around to weigh in.

That alone can lead to bad practices slipping into the codebase and work environment.

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chakrihacker profile image
Subramanya Chakravarthy

I wouldn't say it's a toxic environment as my friends are too passionate and putting extra effort, which will save me and others time for other tasks.

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coly010 profile image
Colum Ferry

It may save you time now, but it can come back to bite the team later.

How do you guys work out estimates?
It'll take x number of days to get User Story A done.
But wait, a "day" of work should be 8 hours worth of work, or something to that extent. If your team mates are working 12 hour days, then the concept of a piece of functionality taking a day is askew, and it could lead to incorrect estimations and increased stress when deadlines roll round.

"You said it would only take 2 days to get this feature finished, 3 days later and you're still working on it? We need to ship it out today!"

2 days of work for your team mates is 24 hours worth of work, but for you it's only 16 hours.

Another problem is the "expectation" that your team mates are working ridiculous hours to get work done, and when that's done it'll be expected for them to do the same for the next piece of work, and the next piece.

Then you can get a resentment building in the team.
Why are we constantly working 12 hour days when the other people in the team are clocking off at 5pm?
Or worse, others on the team start to feel like they need to start working longer hours because they feel guilty for not doing it as they "aren't being team players".

Part of our job is proactively managing expectations to allow us to continually and consistently deliver work and value for time.