Nice article and nice points in the answers overall. Here are my 2 cents:
It shouldn't be required to work in your free time, to be considered employable. Asking to hire people with side projects, as a nice to have criterion is ok imho. Why is this being asked is another big topic on its own.
Though if you want to reach high positions in any imaginary or real ranking, you cannot ignore the fact that 8 hours per day at the office, usually with no deliberate practice and sometimes unproductive, are insufficient. And that is not about computer science professionals only. It is just that we do it more intensively.
The side project doesn't have to involve product engineering imho, it could be anything that make you better at your craft. "Fighting" in codesignal.com or topcoder.com is fine as well. Replying in dev.to comments is good too. Tech book reading? Sure. Heck, playing an instrument is acceptable too, as it can help you increase your focus. You don't need to commit something in Github, necessarily.
The side project should be a choice of yours, even though you can be influenced from anyone. If you write python/django in the morningz pick something else in the nightz, unless you have monetization plans and time to market is important.
Constantly working overtime is not a side project, just a bad choice of time usage and employer. (Occasional overtime for serious matters eg we are losing the customer if we dont deliver are acceptable though)
Though if you want to reach high positions in any imaginary or real ranking, you cannot ignore the fact that 8 hours per day at the office, usually with no deliberate practice and sometimes unproductive, are insufficient. And that is not about computer science professionals only. It is just that we do it more intensively.
I agree with it, yes. It depends on your goals and dream, I believe. Let's say, what if I want to grow in the management path? Then perhaps I would need to read and learn quite different things, but not coding.
Of course, when you code after working hours - you can reach some goals faster but it's so subjective, everyone has so different pace and skills. I simplifying it but someone can learn and start to use some technology in few hours but someone else needs few days. And that's fine, we are all different. I know really great developers who don't code after working hours, but they have actual and modern knowledge.
I agree with it, yes. It depends on your goals and dream, I believe. Let's say, what if I want to grow in the management path? Then perhaps I would need to read and learn quite different things, but not coding.
If you wan to grow as a technical manager (out of hours) the way to go is around the lines: reading managerial oriented books, reading about soft skills, try to exercise by building trust and good communication with others etc. Thats why I mentioned that it is not necessary to code, you just need something that makes you better at your craft.
I know really great developers who don't code after working hours, but they have actual and modern knowledge.
Thats feasible, of course. Usually those people have built already diverse experience and can grasp new concepts faster than others or work to companies where they do continuous learning as part for their jobs (eg early startups)
Same goes with the "just learn one language" mentality that is emerging. You might never need half the things you learn at the university, but if you need to "grow" (eg become an architect, so you need to be well rounded) you will eventually need to catchup with the reading.
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Nice article and nice points in the answers overall. Here are my 2 cents:
Very nice 2 cents :)
I agree with it, yes. It depends on your goals and dream, I believe. Let's say, what if I want to grow in the management path? Then perhaps I would need to read and learn quite different things, but not coding.
Of course, when you code after working hours - you can reach some goals faster but it's so subjective, everyone has so different pace and skills. I simplifying it but someone can learn and start to use some technology in few hours but someone else needs few days. And that's fine, we are all different. I know really great developers who don't code after working hours, but they have actual and modern knowledge.
If you wan to grow as a technical manager (out of hours) the way to go is around the lines: reading managerial oriented books, reading about soft skills, try to exercise by building trust and good communication with others etc. Thats why I mentioned that it is not necessary to code, you just need something that makes you better at your craft.
Thats feasible, of course. Usually those people have built already diverse experience and can grasp new concepts faster than others or work to companies where they do continuous learning as part for their jobs (eg early startups)
Same goes with the "just learn one language" mentality that is emerging. You might never need half the things you learn at the university, but if you need to "grow" (eg become an architect, so you need to be well rounded) you will eventually need to catchup with the reading.