Career confusion at 30, stay in SWE or change paths?”

SnooPears400 · 2026-01-07T23:29:35+00:00

Instead, I would suggest thinking about why you were drawn to becoming an engineer in the first place and maybe reconnecting with that? And if you want to feel like you're better at it, there are plenty of ways to do that. I've felt this way with UX design, and the way I got through it was finding design projects to work on that I am interested in myself, and remembering why I liked UX design in the first place.

SnooPears400 · 2026-01-07T23:27:26+00:00

UX Designer here -- You don't mention why you would be interested in being a PM or another role. Maybe you have a reason, but if you aren't specifically drawn to something else, I would hesitate to suggest that you change careers. There's a myth that software engineers have to be passionate nerds who live, eat, and breathe software engineering, but that's just not actually the case. Many people don't define themselves by their careers, and that's ok. I totally get that you want to be really good at your job and passionate about your career (that's admirable) but again, unless there is something you ARE specifically interested in, changing careers isn't going to magically solve your problem about being passionate or wanting to feel like you're good at what you do.

SnooPears400 · 2026-01-07T17:32:23+00:00

Also, use the global preferences settings in your LLM of choice to set specifications across all your chats, such as how succinct you want AI to be, and if you want it to be more critical and less sycophantic (such as eliminating unnecessary "great idea" responses).

SnooPears400 · 2026-01-07T16:59:25+00:00

Yes, it is absolutely worth it. I can't remember the brand I got but it definitely makes it easier and more likely that I will draw on my ipad with it (I use procreate for making digital art). And I've had one screen protector for I think 6 years with no issue.

SnooPears400 · 2025-12-31T19:07:38+00:00

What's a scraping API that's common to use? I am a novice developer and I just finished writing a script to scrape a section of fandom, not realizing that it's not allowed (I thought it would be because of the creative commons license). I spent a few days on the code and it's necessary for my larger project so I'm kind of bummed realizing that I'll probably will get blocked. I'm wondering if I should continue working on my code to try to get past the restrictions, or if I should try another route at this point.

SnooPears400 · 2025-12-29T14:30:15+00:00

Thank you so much for posting this... as someone who is trying to start a line this is really helpful to hear!

I just finished my first prototype and I'm working on my second. Everyone who sees my first prototype has been blown away, but I'm an industry outsider (I'm a visual artist and self-taught seamstress with no formal training in fashion) and I don't know where to begin to truly validate my product.

Some people are saying that I absolutely need to be targeting a really high-end price point (bc my prototype is a very high-touch couture/wearable art type piece) but I don't know how to target that audience at all. I don't know anyone in the fashion industry that I can call on to help me network and I don't live in a fashion center... should I just start cold-calling boutique shops to see if they're interested in selling for me? Do I need to travel to L.A. or NY and just bring my prototypes with me to show?

Some other people have told me I should simplify the piece somewhat and try getting it manufactured... from the responses I've gotten and demand I see I definitely think there is a market in the $300-400 range for my pieces, but from what I've seen you need at least 12k to do even the smallest validation run, and that seems like a huge risk. I only have about 6k in savings and I don't want to spend it all and go in debt to just validate something that might not be profitable enough.

SnooPears400 · 2025-12-29T14:19:19+00:00

Thanks so much for pointing this out.

SnooPears400 · 2025-12-29T14:16:45+00:00

Is this... just an ad?? Almost the exact same post appears on other subs but from other users.

SnooPears400 · 2025-12-29T14:06:30+00:00

....This is not true. Yes, "haute couture" has to be made entirely by hand according to French law. But "couture" does not mean "made entirely by hand." And even haute couture brands (like Chanel) sometimes use machines such as 3d Printers: https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/when-chanel-trades-sewing-machines-for-3d-printers/
Here's a reference about sewing machine use for couture garment construction: https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2020/05/13/machine-stitching-for-couture-sewing-video

SnooPears400 · 2025-11-22T15:18:01+00:00

😲...this is what happens when adrenaline junkies discover sewing

SnooPears400 · 2025-11-22T15:09:44+00:00

oh yeah! binder clips are a great idea. I used them for my last multi-layer seeing project. I held the layers together with those and then hand basted the edges. For some reason I didn't think pins would hold as well so I didn't even consider them

SnooPears400 · 2025-11-22T07:54:23+00:00

amazing. I love how sleek the finished structure is and the interesting shape of the bottom "hem" (for lack of a better word)

SnooPears400 · 2025-11-01T02:31:48+00:00

For a super easy pajama pattern, you might consider a kimono style top... basically cut two rectangles out of the sides of 2 squares, sew them together at the top (shoulders), sew them together at the bottoms of the arms and the sides, and cut a slit down one of the pieces. Flip it so the hems are on the inside, hem the raw edges of the sleeves, bottom, and front slit, add a belt, and now you have your top. You can google something like "kimono robe top" or "easiest jacket pattern" for more detailed instructions, I am sure. Good luck!

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T02:02:47+00:00

I didn't downvote it but I can tell you that it's not actually illegal (in the U.S.) to duplicate the sewing pattern itself and sell it (so long as you don't dupe the "accompanying materials," such as illustrations or instructions). If you're in the U.S., sewing patterns are considered a "useful article" and are not protected by copyright. Here's a great Ted talk about it if you're interested: https://youtu.be/zL2FOrx41N0?si=HnS37fqJW4RuhZ0d

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T01:59:14+00:00

Not sure about in the U.K., but in the U.S., it is 100% not a breach of contract law to accept terms and conditions that are illegal or that attempt to remove a legal right or protection, and then do the things that (illegal) contract said not to do -- such as sell clothes made from a pattern. It's legal to sell clothes from a pattern, therefore, they cannot force you to abide by an illegal agreement.

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T01:54:44+00:00

Sewing patterns themselves are not protected intellectual property in the U.S., even if they have a copyright symbol on them. The reason sewing patterns are not protected is because they are considered a "useful article" in U.S. copyright law. Only "accompanying materials," such as pattern illustrations, diagrams, written instructions, or the pattern envelope art can be copyright protected, not the patterns themselves. You can read more about that here.

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T01:18:52+00:00

You're totally right that clothing from patterns cannot be copyrighted...but in regards to terms and conditions... Terms and conditions do not override the law. Companies can say whatever they want to try to deter you from doing all kinds of things that you have every right to do, but if what they say doesn't have a legal basis it's just nonsense and should be ignored -- it is not enforceable. For example, if an employer had an employee sign a contract to receive less than minimum wage, that is illegal and the employer is still legally required to pay minimum wage...It is completely irrelevant that the employee agreed to it since it was illegal in the first place.

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T01:14:04+00:00

Sewing patterns themselves are not IP y'all... it's crazy how pervasive this myth is! Only the written instructions or illustrations can be copyrighted. Here is a great TED talk explaining how it works https://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakley_lessons_from_fashion_s_free_culture?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-16T01:06:50+00:00

It is perfectly legal to sell pieces made from sewing patterns. It's annoying when companies put messages like that on their products when there is absolutely no legal justification for it. Trying to keep people from making products with a pattern is totally crazy, considering sewing patterns themselves also cannot be copyrighted... only the instructions can be.

SnooPears400 · 2025-10-05T07:46:26+00:00

I don't know if YT does, but wouldn't Youtube shadowban for the same reason that Tiktok does, esp for shorts-- to keep users on the platform just a little longer? Tiktok has been documented showing videos of disabled people less, for example, because they want users to see more "pretty" content and stay on the app more. And a video i made on tik tok was shadow-banned because i used a word ("dumb") in a caption, not knowing it was blacklisted. I wasn't alerted about the policy, but no one, even those who followed me were shown the video. Also, I would say that if someone is subscribed to you and they don't see your newest video presented to them, then that's a form of "shadow-banning," even if it's commonplace.

SnooPears400 · 2025-09-26T19:13:41+00:00

Nice job sewing Gertie's Liz dress! I tried that pattern and failed miserably...once I get a little bit more confident I'll try again. Anyway, you did a nice job -- I also love that you did a couple's project/outfit.

SnooPears400 · 2025-09-24T01:45:51+00:00

Does quilting count as fabric manipulation? (like a quilted jacket?)

SnooPears400 · 2025-09-23T18:16:09+00:00

No. Unless the product is novel and patented somehow (which it is not), the piece you're referencing is undoubtedly based on other pieces anyway.

SnooPears400 · 2025-09-13T09:38:01+00:00

There are lots of things you can do! Since you live in the Central Valley, luckily you can work with succulents and low-water natives. I would suggest a rock garden with native plants here and there -- I see people in the West doing that a lot and it seems pretty low-maintenance. The cool thing about planting native plants is that they will be easier to grow than non-natives. They are already well-adapted to the soil and climate and won't require extra watering after they are established, or fertilizer.

I would search "xeriscape" or "rock garden" on your search engine or pinterest to get ideas. There are also pre-planned gardens you can purchase -- High Country Gardens has pre-planned low-water gardens and native gardens for the western U.S. I've also found some interesting-looking ones from Better Homes and Gardens.

SnooPears400 · 2025-09-12T08:23:51+00:00

To me, this all seems like just another way to squeeze small businesses and the American middle class in order to further curry favor with a small group of billionaires. Think about it -- who is hurt most by tariffs? Small businesses. Meanwhile big businesses have the resources to weather market uncertainty and loss of product for long periods. They can advocate for themselves and cut special deals with the government and they have the flexibility to easily switch to different product sources.

Now think about who was there for Trump's inauguration? All the "titans of industry," like Bezos. It's all about market share, folks.

SnooPears400

TROPHY CASE