Software engineering is one of the most intriguing and in-demand occupations right now. You've probably heard about how wonderful software developm...
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I think most of the bad jobs in the industry I've held have been bad because of legacy code. Interestingly, though, I think the code was the symptom and not the problem. It wasn't that there weren't good people, it's just that the problem was ignored until it was too late to fix it. Bad legacy code seems to be correlated to negative bosses, and my opinion is that it's the latter that's the root cause.
Certainly there's never enough time. This drives the work addiction, and here I don't think you can blame the bosses. It's up to a developer to find the self-discipline to have a decent work-life balance. Now, admittedly, here's an issue. IT is a 24/7 job. While developers don't often deal with this, stuff needs fixing on weekends and deploying outside business hours. I think part of the problem is that there are many people who have the expectation that you can just work 9-5 and ignore everything else. To an extent this is true, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect to work such hours in IT all the time.
You mention new technology stacks as popping up far too often, for there to be far too much learning. I tend to agree with you. Part of my role at work involves evaluating new technologies for use, and supporting developers in learning them. I try to be mindful of the workload I am putting on them, but the fact is that technology does advance, and we work in a field that needs to keep up. So, to address this, I'd suggest that dedicating people to research has a positive effect on the codebase, and certainly to the people doing the research. This can be a good promotion path.
Unhealthy competition is an interesting one. I think this is more a result of company culture than it is specific to IT. Plenty of areas in the company will see the same trend as skilled individuals compete for promotions and raises. To an extent, this is desirable. A company that tolerates, and even encourages, extreme competition will not be a good place to be. If you should ever be unlucky enough to find yourself there, run! This comes straight from the top, and it will destroy you. If you're at a good company with a bad co-worker, that's just a human resources issue.
I'd repeat your positive message that the best thing to improve your quality of life as a developer is to strategically take on responsibility. Try not learning that new technology stack that will not be used, and present design and process modernizations instead. Developers often pick things for the coolness factor, but bosses worry about stakeholders and business needs. Show the value of what you want to do, and you may find yourself doing it.
This made me laugh so much I could cry!
Actually, I'm crying quietly most of the time anyway. Software is such fun, but it seems to me that the industry is going into meltdown in the search for perfection. All these "stacks". My view is that they're mainly just a scramble to launch another platform and create a niche to sell services, write books, run courses, etc, etc. It doesn't need to be like this
true, is very addictive and I the guy of the first image.
I have around 8 projects plus one saas, I have probably made 10k this year and is crappy money, but until that layout isnot ready, or if the drops down are not just there... is always something.
In the beginning when I started to touch webdev I could be hours awake n sleep little to nothing, working on a free project, I corrected this and actually went to bed....
After all, I did it so I could be seen by recruiters and work in tech, after 8 projects, just got a job as a UIUX designer.
fun fact I am writing this at 03.20 after being awake so I could build and design a simple landing page to a friend as a surprise...and because is adictive....
This is one of the most entertaining dev.to articles I've seen in a long time. The comics/memes nail each point! I can relate with each, and as I become more senior (director now) I have given up on keeping up with my younger years' affinity to learn every aspect of every of new technology
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! Such feedback inspires me to write more.✨
So nice to see us all on the same page, this page.
I wrote a lot of what you all call legacy code.
Young, new, comes in and adds their NEW!
way
Then to yours a NEW! way
Learn assembly anguage learn eectronics.
When you switch on a light think 1 when you switch it off think 0
Stop trying to make the next global solution and concentrate on making the base code like the roots of a tree for me but you can use any analergy you want to.
Work on your code your way get paid for work in the day work on YOUR clean code in your hours. Work feeds you and your famiy just do what they ask and no more.
Your work is your DNA your Legacy so write more in the comments say why and as this amazing lady writes and shows in her cartoons keep your passion.
I love the programmer memes 👍
Woohoo, my mission accomplished 🥁🌈
Thank you for this post. It's very important to me.
Glad you liked it!
What to do when seniors are not following best practices? Things like not writing unit test, not documenting, writing inconsistently styled code?
They are senior, right?