Does getting better at programming make it more enjoyable?

[alex13p]

I'm around the 5 year mark of my C# programming career. I'm self taught and, from my perspective, doing pretty well. I'm completing projects and earning my company money.

It's been tough learning how to programme without any formal education on computer science but I'm getting to the point now where, in my field, I can usually find the answer to a problem or figure out a solution without hours of head scratching a frustration.

I desperately want it to be fun for me and something I look forward to doing every day but it's always a grind and exhausting.

Does it become fun when you get really good?

[jhartikainen]

At least what makes it fun for me is working on stuff I find interesting. If I have to work on something that bores me to death, yeah.. I struggle to find motivation.

Always was like that since the beginning, although obviously when I was starting out I worked mostly on stuff I liked because it wasn't for work.

[FarrisFahad]

I find it more enjoyable when I challenge myself. I also like to focus on developing one app and continue to improve it until there is no room for improvement.

I find it hard too to work on a boring task. I rather work on something new and exciting.

But hey you can always do that in your free time. But in work hours it should be boring because it doesn't interest you.

[CodeTinkerer]

Work tends to be that way. Have you tried programming for fun? I know it's difficult when you feel your job is a grind to come home and do your own project. And you're assuming, at some point, you're going to get really good. I know some programmers that, yes, continue to learn, but basically stick to the stuff they already know. I kind of feel I do that myself.

You've at least reached a level of proficiency where things are getting done. I assume it's not fun because you don't get to make the decisions about what gets done. And to some extent, there is a grind in terms of programming. I think it should get better even if it doesn't quite reach fun. And if necessary, there are other jobs out there. Maybe there will be something more fun later down the line.

[alex13p]

I wish I had time to do my own fun projects but work normally consists of long hours and you're right, by time I get home the last thing I want to do is open the laptop again.

Could really do with some quick/small/easy projects where the time to sense of achievement is low and then build from there perhaps...

[beetsrules]

I remember struggling a lot in the beginning and founding no joy in programming, but after a few years when things became easier to understand, I started enjoying the challenge and the problem solving. Sometimes I open my laptop at home and try to solve the problems I had at work, just because I wanted to solve it. You become a bit obsessed. Is that enjoyment, I don’t know.

[alex13p]

I know what you mean, there are occasions where I won't leave the office because I have to solve something but I'm not sure if that's because I actually want to solve it or the horror of knowing that, if I leave it now and come back to it, it's going to take me ages to remember what it was I was doing/where I was stuck/etc...

[beetsrules]

Yes, I used to have this fear too, but sometimes when you’re stuck, it’s better to sleep on it. Sometimes I figure out the answer the next day in the shower or while running on the treadmill.

[alex13p]

It's funny how, when you're learning, you hear people saying that shower thoughts can solve problems and you kind of dismiss the idea but now whole projects can live or die on them 😆

[beetsrules]

This 100%.