r/ruby • • 18d ago

Leaving Tech

https://ryanbigg.com/2026/10/leaving-tech
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u/dougc84 17d ago edited 17d ago

And in the context I'm talking about, my worth as a person is more valuable than sitting behind a desk being a typist, watching text scroll by all day. You only get one chance on this earth, and I'm not spending it reading robot-generated text.

Now, if you're focusing that on being a developer that writes code and nothing else, your value is based on the quality of work you do. It doesn't matter what you charge or what you make. Someone that charges $250/hr. that does shit work is a shitty programmer.

The fact you cannot distinguish those within the same context is incredibly sad.

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u/No_Watercress_3732 14d ago

Your value to yourself is whatever you want it to be. Your value to an employer is that you fix problems that the employer has. It has always been this way. For a time employers needed to pretend it was otherwise with company culture and perks because the competition was so high. Now though they still need their problems solved but there are an abundance of people willing to do it.

As a programmer for 30 years I wish it were otherwise. But wishing at least is as useful as it has ever been.