New ask Hacker News story: I used to build stuff all the time, then I got a job

I used to build stuff all the time, then I got a job
6 by lifeplusplus | 6 comments on Hacker News.
6 years in as a programmer, I'm starting to think I might have made a grave mistake in my career & I'm just gonna have to take it like a cornered rat. Before, every week I'd build something amazing. Job on the other has me working on others ideas, that they don't even like themselves, with code that isn't mine and person who wrote it for requirements long changed, but you only have time to deliver the new feature & hell with code quality. Before I'd get excited with thinking of how i'm gonna structure my code and what angle im going to take and couldn't wait to come home and write it out in code and see the creation Now it's a chore, just thought of having to look at IDE ruins the mood. Programming as a job has pretty much ruined coding for me. Recently, I got a chance to build something with hands using wood. All the sudden I remembered the rush and thrill of endless creative possibilities. really got into it, hours passed by. I almost had believed I had ADHD, but all that was gone. I couldn't be more focused. Now that i recall in beginning i hesitated/delayed going into full time job as a developer, but lack of money + good salary as dev made it the choice. also finding any other job was even harder, in programming like an artist at least you can show what you are. don't need as much credentials, shiny work history, etc. Habit of building stuff helped me to have many projects to show skills through. It's kinda weird I feel I've more of an academic interest in programming, but with interest in staying up to date with latest stuff. Sometimes I wonder what other roles could I have gotten, i've seen business oriented roles to having it easy. To me they almost look like their entire job is relaying information. Sure I wont be making a tech salary but there would have been much to gain, one of those things would have been leftover mental energy to enjoy coding. quite a rambling ... what has been your experience.

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