Comments on: Why a Career in Computer Programming Doesn’t Suck (A Response)

By: Doug_B

Doug_B — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:46:48 +0000

Take it from me (a 62 yr old, who got his MS in Comp Sci in 1971 – Penn State) programming has morphed into a horrible job. Yes a JOB – not a profession.

Between cube farms, nano-managers, unending change, deadline after deadline, outsourcing, a once ‘mentally interesting’ activity has become hell. What makes matters worse is that when the sane people leave – nerds (those who like to argue what new language is best) have rushed in to fill the void.

Instead of writing code one now searches the internet to find which library has the object that will do the task.

If you want some independence, freedom, good income, go into sales and marketing. Comp Sci and engineering are thankless, empty careers.

By: IWillBeBack

IWillBeBack — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:42:08 +0000

I just found that thread inadvertently so I will share my experience.
After 15 years in the IT world I have left the software world a couple of years ago to do something else totally different. I was tired of the constant need for surfing on the latest fads, some of them short lived, and the stretching between environments and knowledges. I was also tired of the politics in a very insane environment. My new job was still technical but very physical and always nomadic. It was great, I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve learnt a lot of things that I did not even have a clue it existed. I have also learnt a lot about myself and how to relate to others. But now I have decided it is time coming back to my old job. Even a job that seems more attactive has its own problems, and a job is a job. There is pressure, competition and difficult peoples. For myself the first change I have already noticed while I am retraining myself to get back to the market is my new approach to technical and Business issues. For example, being a Business Systems Analyst/Developer I used to be a little bit evasive when it came to hard programming and networworking skills such as OS and protocols. Now I am trully fascinated in that as well.
Well I’m back and there’s even more to learn, not to mention all the rememoring and the stretch will now even be wider from Accounting to Web forms down to IPV6. And I am thrilled by the challenge!

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:36:29 +0000

If you don’t like what was written, why comment? C’mon people… If you don’t have anything nice to say…

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:18:53 +0000

It’s a way to make money and satisfy your inner ‘inventor’ if you have one. Pharmaceutical industry makes drugs which make us enjoy programming (Adderall).
Mathematicians are treated better by our wealthy superiors, better than artists, teachers, social workers, police, christ even psychologists. Eventually programmers will hold the world hostage. It will require somebody who knows 10 languages to fix your ‘website.’

But the truth of the matter is that yes, it is a lousy job. Interaction with machine. Dehumanization. Reducing everything to boring logic has its use in life. It’s a nice challenge sometimes, but it has become such a specialty. For instance, mastering Java takes 10 years.

Most olympic gold medalists practiced less than that to master their sport.

Also, I have doubts about the Internet becoming truly useful for some time. Of course everybody wants to go INSIDE of the computer. That’s the future. Virtual reality, leave my body behind. Take me to a virtual world better than my own. Escape from reality in a literal sense.

But this is very far away, technologically, we have to deal with boring flat screens and slow, combative controls.

By: iAmProtoss

iAmProtoss — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:40:46 +0000

And last, but not least, these languages that I hear about that are ‘similar’ to C++ or whatever…the point is, you geeks, is that nobody wants to keep learning new things at such a fast pace where customers really don’t care what you’ve learned. IT managers (who don’t code anymore), really don’t care either. It’s about getting those dam projects done ON TIME. Learning, developing, testing, and deploying (as well as the configuration and integration) all take alot of time and effort, and guess what, it sucks for whatever pay you get. Unless it’s like over 150K (lol, dream on). While…While..the Director or other Executives who haven’t code for crap, get about 300K plus massive bonuses for either sucking D or looking good in front of other superiors. Chew on that while you’re doing JAVA on eclipse

By: iAmProtoss

iAmProtoss — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:32:45 +0000

And yes, programming sucks..unless you program your OWN PRODUCT and make millions if successful. Otherwise, you’re working for the customer and the owner..lose, lose situation. Just be a doctor. Sure thing. Sorry.

By: iAmProtoss

iAmProtoss — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:31:01 +0000

IT Security…high level knowledge capital is not changing a whole lot..consulting gigs rock. Prestige: Very high!

By: david

david — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:37:05 +0000

programming for 20+ years; Cobol, JCL, DYL-260, Adabas, VB, SAS, Sql, ASP.Net, Winform, C#, etc.

Yes, programming can suck, but so can 90% of the jobs out there. And it pays better than most.

deal with it.

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:18:05 +0000

Just a note, eyesight can be helped, they make contacts now that fix your vision over night and you’re fine for the day, your eyesight won’t get better, but at least it won’t get worse.

By: Computer programming as a career « Society of Deaf Computing Engineers

Computer programming as a career « Society of Deaf Computing Engineers — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:17:17 +0000

[...] http://formerslacker.com/blog/2007/03/12/why-a-career-in-computer-programming-doesnt-suck-a-response... [...]