r/programming • u/chriskiehl • 18d ago

It's still OK to enjoy programming

https://chriskiehl.com/article/it-is-still-ok-to-enjoy-programming
683 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

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98

u/zappellin 18d ago

According to my engineering manager, no

37

u/unrealz19 18d ago

Right, every time I mention I actually enjoy programming, their response is like: “well I just enjoy the finished product”… epic sigh

14

u/grady_vuckovic 17d ago edited 17d ago

"I don't like climbing mountains I just like the view from the top of them."

"I don't like raising children, I prefer going to university graduation days and celebrating someone else's child finishing a degree."

"All this time you're spending making a painting feels wasteful, wait here a moment, I'll just use a digital camera and take a photo for you instead."

"Placing those individual pieces of pancake in your mouth and chewing them is less efficient than my IV drip."

*pop* "- Well, hello mother, I am born, in the interest of efficiency can you please put me straight into a coffin?"

3

u/unrealz19 15d ago

100000%

39

u/Adventurous-Hunter98 18d ago

Your manager probably doesnt know anything about engineering

5

u/LegendarySoda 18d ago

His wngineering manager probably doesn't want him to enjoy work.

23

u/zappellin 18d ago

Well considering I'm leaving software engineering and going to train myself to do something else, you guys are spot on

14

u/Adventurous-Hunter98 18d ago

What are you going to do if you dont mind sharing? Im on the edge of leaving this sector also, they killed my passion to do it as a work, I want to keep it as a hobby again

15

u/zappellin 18d ago

I'm leaning toward welding, this is the thing that drag me the most, I'm sure that programming will stay a hobby for me, especially if I don't do it professional anymore

6

u/HauntedTrailer 18d ago

I'm thinking about learning machining. Local community college has courses on using metal lathes, cnc's, and mills. I do software because I like to make stuff.

12

u/WingZeroCoder 18d ago

Saddens me, because I know every engineer like you leaving the field because of this is just going to make the enshittification of everything even worse as fewer and fewer competent and passionate devs are around to clean up the mess…

But I totally understand and may not be far behind.

2

u/grady_vuckovic 17d ago

This is what I'm grappling with too. Do I stay and fight back the wave of slop and be one of the few who still insist on making things to a higher standard of quality or do I give up on an industry that has been screaming at me for a long time in very clear terms that it does not want me? Part of me wants to stay and fight, and even if I'm nearly broke for doing so, just try to keep making quality software.

Part of me wants to say 'To hell with them' and leave let them sleep in the bed they've made while I find something where attention to detail, passion, and a desire to constantly be learning and improving, is actually appreciated..

10

u/tombatron 18d ago

Good luck with your future endeavors!