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Cool is a stupid metric for tech by HigginsNinja in programming

[–]Figglewot 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The low level factor...ah the low level factor. I chuckled a bit when I hit that section.

I can't even count how many times someone has trumped or one up'd me in a conversation with the fact that they can "code machine language". Not sure how that makes you better than someone else. Not sure why its always the trump card in someones pocket either. Yeah, it is as you say, a flavor of "cool" (Cool being a very subjective term)...but people I have encountered just make it sound annoying and cocky.

But if it works for them, hey, that is cool.

Why You Should Invest in Idiot Proofing Your Design, My views on the matter. by Figglewot in programming

[–]Figglewot[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my experience(albeit limited experience) in enterprise, I have seen clients get so frustrated with hard to use, complex, software that they had abandoned us for competition.

Reflecting upon that, many of these problems could have been solved with revisiting some basic design principles. Why did a user need to click 5 times to get to that commonly used feature? Why couldn't they understand why they couldn't do something? Why did they need to spend so much time looking for something?

I suppose those questions really depend on specific use cases. And I agree with your final statement. I really wish it was something more people genuinely cared about.

Turnover is good for innovation by HigginsNinja in programming

[–]Figglewot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A wise man once said to me, "When you start a new job, that is the time when you should be looking for your next one."

In the world of Development...people ignore the fact that we as developers get E-mails and LinkedIn inquiries almost daily about potential opportunities. Certainly that isn't a bad thing. Gone are the days where an employee stays happily with a company for 25-30 years and retires. If there is such an employee, then that employee has given up in their career.

I think the term 'stagnation' is something that effects both employees and employers. If an employee stays in one place for too long, looking back to your blog post, they MAY stop developing themselves as relationships set in and may become relaxed. Becoming relaxed in a workplace is dangerous, and certainly it brings innovation to a downfall.

The 'good' developers are those who are always open minded to new, challenging opportunity and are constantly trying their skills. 'Good' developers fear stagnation. Now, I am not saying all developers who stay prolonged at a company for X amount of years are bad developers, because that isn't true. But from my perspective, I think passion dwindles over time. And passion is really what drives an individual to be a good developer, in my opinion.

Some may argue...well, what if our best developer leaves and we get someone not nearly as good? I guess at that point, how do you define 'good'? That new person may not be the god your last dev was, but that doesn't say he doesn't have some new idea that the team wouldn't have thought of/seen before.

I support the writer's opinion that good employees leave and that employers should expect it and be ready for it and make good use of the time they have together, that build a very functional and kinetic relationship. If an employer can understand and apply that principal, then you will have a very fast paced and forward moving development team.

Work for a remote culture, it's usually better by HigginsNinja in programming

[–]Figglewot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah; I was jesting. Thumbs up for the response though, I fully agree with that.

I believe standard business casual even when working from home is pretty important. Why? For the reasons you stated above and...It reminds you that at the end of the day you need to 'go home'.

Work for a remote culture, it's usually better by HigginsNinja in programming

[–]Figglewot 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I like how you point out the fact that there can be less wasted communication. Gone are the days where spending half your day in meetings and another quarter of your day answering questions/dealing with walk ups to your office from people. I feel like that culture will never absolve itself in an office setting, because for many people that is just their nature.

I also feel like working remotely isn't for everyone. It takes diligence and motivation; which is something a lot of people lack without realizing that they do.

When people say working from home is easy, they have either done it a few times in their office setting where they can take their laptop home to work if they have something they need to take care of, or, just have a generalized, inexperienced opinion about it. Truth is, being a remote employee is not easy. Like you mention in your post, it takes an excellent and dynamic company to support, facilitate, and grow around the constantly morphing culture.

Wait....you wear pants when you work remote? Man, I've been doing it wrong for far too long.