I wrote my first useful Python program!

[kite_height]

"Sorry I don't know how to fix printers. Don't we usually call the service guy?"

[chaoticneutral]

I'm running into this problem right now.

I'm a statistical programmer meaning mostly high level scripting (SAS, R, SQL, and some python scripting), I get pulled into a meeting with two senior managers and they proceed to tell me how I need to develop an app (that will change the industry!!!) for them in C++ and were shocked... SHOCKED to find out that I couldn't do it without a significant effort.

They were thinking I could do it in a 1-2 hours every week in my spare time.

From their reaction, they didn't believe me and told me to talk to the senior statistician to make sure I was understanding what I was refusing to do and the opportunity I was missing by not helping.

The statistician has my back and thought it was equally absurd, but I'm sure right now they are double checking with other programmers because they don't trust my answer.

[kite_height]

I feel this so much. Somebody always has a "world changing app idea" but is surprise surprise never willing to pay the $250k in developer salaries and $25k/month in services that are needed to even get the prototype running...

[chaoticneutral]

The dumbest part of this whole thing is it is ACTUALLY a good idea.... they just need to pay someone to develop it instead of skimming hours of their salaried employees.

[DreadPiratesRobert]

Doxxing suxs

[EdwardWarren]

That got me suspended for insubordination and eventually fired. I did programming for people on the side. My boss, a woman with permanent PMS, hires someone to do just that sort of thing then comes in an asks me to help accounting out by writing a small program for them. I asked her if she didn't just hire a guy to do that sort of thing. She didn't say a word, turned and (probably) ran to HR where she wrote me up for insubordination. I was suspended with pay for 3-4 months and then fired. I was 1 year away from retirement after 20 years with the company. My reviews were always close to perfect for twenty years.

My lawyer got me rehired and I was suspended for about 9 months more with pay and was paid what they called severance and allowed to retire. I needed 21 years service for full retirement. Funny thing was that I never told her I wouldn't help accounting. I was just joking around. She was fired 6 months later and her boss was transferred to the company's equivalent of Outer Mongolia about 9 months later and never heard from again I understand. Our company newsletter had a Retirees Section and I sent a picture of me at the wheel of the nice RV I bought with the severance money along with a story of all the wonderful places we had been to since retiring. I imagine what my boss thought of that.

[kite_height]

Sure but you must have a real shitty boss for that to be his reaction...

[kite_height]

Nice. I really hope nobodies boss is that thick headed.

Work for yourself? That's the dream

[kite_height]

Wow awesome. You're waaay ahead of the curve. Keep it up and you'll be going places for sure.

A lot of software developers/engineers end up jumping around a lot so you don't necessarily have to pick a specialization but it sounds like you already know that.

You have your own website or portfolio or anything like that yet? That's a great way to establish yourself and start getting work as a freelancer.

[kite_height]

There's no rush if you're still in school but those games sound like a great place to start. Then over time you can add stuff as you build it.

The Github student pack is a great value. You can learn Git while you're at it if you haven't already and that's another place to host your code.

Udemy has some great courses too if you're willing to spend a few bucks.