Feeling overwhelmed, rant about choices and possibilities
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Welcome to life as a programmer. Wait until you've been doing it for 30 years, and then come back and tell us how many times you've had to learn something new. Programming is NOT a static occupation. You constantly have to re-mold yourself to fit a job requirement.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Programming is NOT a static occupation.
That's exactly one of the reasons I love it, but I can help this feeling.
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This was probably discussed many times before (I didn't bother with search), but I need to express my current state of mind. There is significant disproportion when it comes to my work commitments and job description on one side and so many new shiny technologies (opportunities) on other side. Ever since .Net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 I usually limp 2-3 years behind the rest, that's the reason why I sometimes feel dumb. So far I am sort of jack-of-trades, but that doesn't mean I excel in any. The other day I found out for technology xyz of which I was completely ignorant! Trust me it is not obscure nor unheard of. This sort of vocation is one in which you must evolve constantly (and quickly!) and I feel left behind. This is especially true with .Net (ok, that depends on your favorite flavor), at least that is my firm belief. When it comes to my current job: - managers are very much satisfied with situation as it is (yes, they are not "tech people") - I don't have much spare time and I try to spend as much as possible outdoors - I am not in position to change my job with more dynamic one simply because I can't afford the change. :doh: I feel a bit relieved now. Thank you for reading this and share your thoughts.
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This was probably discussed many times before (I didn't bother with search), but I need to express my current state of mind. There is significant disproportion when it comes to my work commitments and job description on one side and so many new shiny technologies (opportunities) on other side. Ever since .Net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 I usually limp 2-3 years behind the rest, that's the reason why I sometimes feel dumb. So far I am sort of jack-of-trades, but that doesn't mean I excel in any. The other day I found out for technology xyz of which I was completely ignorant! Trust me it is not obscure nor unheard of. This sort of vocation is one in which you must evolve constantly (and quickly!) and I feel left behind. This is especially true with .Net (ok, that depends on your favorite flavor), at least that is my firm belief. When it comes to my current job: - managers are very much satisfied with situation as it is (yes, they are not "tech people") - I don't have much spare time and I try to spend as much as possible outdoors - I am not in position to change my job with more dynamic one simply because I can't afford the change. :doh: I feel a bit relieved now. Thank you for reading this and share your thoughts.
You're not alone. In my position (founder of a software startup) I have to do pretty much any kind of work, from development to emptying trash cans. I often feel left behind with new technologies because I don't materially have the time and energy to study them. Sure, we use .NET 4, but we still use ASP.NET MVC 2, with 3 already available for a long time and 4 just around the corner. I'd like to give Ruby on Rails a go. I'd like to investigate new tools for CSS and HTML5. But time is limited and existing codebases tend to work against change. So, that happens everywhere. It's not just you. See here: Dark Matter Developers[^].
If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Software Localization Tools & Services and My Blog
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This was probably discussed many times before (I didn't bother with search), but I need to express my current state of mind. There is significant disproportion when it comes to my work commitments and job description on one side and so many new shiny technologies (opportunities) on other side. Ever since .Net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 I usually limp 2-3 years behind the rest, that's the reason why I sometimes feel dumb. So far I am sort of jack-of-trades, but that doesn't mean I excel in any. The other day I found out for technology xyz of which I was completely ignorant! Trust me it is not obscure nor unheard of. This sort of vocation is one in which you must evolve constantly (and quickly!) and I feel left behind. This is especially true with .Net (ok, that depends on your favorite flavor), at least that is my firm belief. When it comes to my current job: - managers are very much satisfied with situation as it is (yes, they are not "tech people") - I don't have much spare time and I try to spend as much as possible outdoors - I am not in position to change my job with more dynamic one simply because I can't afford the change. :doh: I feel a bit relieved now. Thank you for reading this and share your thoughts.
Pretty much follows life, when you think you've figured out how things work, you quickly find out how wrong you are. My favorite situation is the "Here's a new technology, I want you to learn it so we can be first to market..." I have a shelf with a small collection of little piggies that never made it to market. It's OK, you get used to it, just be sure you have a hobby to distraact you when you get home.
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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I see you problem...
Oshtri Deka wrote:
I found out for technology xyz
You should be using technology abc.
Steve Jowett ------------------------- Real Programmers don't need comments -- the code is obvious.
Steven J Jowett wrote:
You should be using technology abc.
Pah! Ancient history! (Since last Thursday) You want V2.0 Gold Team Edition.
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
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This was probably discussed many times before (I didn't bother with search), but I need to express my current state of mind. There is significant disproportion when it comes to my work commitments and job description on one side and so many new shiny technologies (opportunities) on other side. Ever since .Net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 I usually limp 2-3 years behind the rest, that's the reason why I sometimes feel dumb. So far I am sort of jack-of-trades, but that doesn't mean I excel in any. The other day I found out for technology xyz of which I was completely ignorant! Trust me it is not obscure nor unheard of. This sort of vocation is one in which you must evolve constantly (and quickly!) and I feel left behind. This is especially true with .Net (ok, that depends on your favorite flavor), at least that is my firm belief. When it comes to my current job: - managers are very much satisfied with situation as it is (yes, they are not "tech people") - I don't have much spare time and I try to spend as much as possible outdoors - I am not in position to change my job with more dynamic one simply because I can't afford the change. :doh: I feel a bit relieved now. Thank you for reading this and share your thoughts.
If it's any consolation, it's not just programming that this happens in. How many people had just got used to programming the VHS when DVD made it redundant? How many people swapped from LP to tape to CD then found that they were redundant because they didn't fit in the iPod? Progress - it moves us all forward, but it means we all have to keep moving just to stand still... :-D
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
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If it's any consolation, it's not just programming that this happens in. How many people had just got used to programming the VHS when DVD made it redundant? How many people swapped from LP to tape to CD then found that they were redundant because they didn't fit in the iPod? Progress - it moves us all forward, but it means we all have to keep moving just to stand still... :-D
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
OriginalGriff wrote:
How many people swapped from LP to tape to CD [...]
I have a vintage wind up 78 player along with about 40 old shellac records. At the weekend, we played a couple and the ickles were very amused by Daddy's funny looking CD's.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
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OriginalGriff wrote:
How many people swapped from LP to tape to CD [...]
I have a vintage wind up 78 player along with about 40 old shellac records. At the weekend, we played a couple and the ickles were very amused by Daddy's funny looking CD's.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
I still have my whole collection of LPs - all five foot or so of them. I do not however possess a turntable any more... I keep thinking of getting a USB turntable and MP3ing the lot of them, but then I think just how looooong that would take, and chicken out. :laugh:
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
-
This was probably discussed many times before (I didn't bother with search), but I need to express my current state of mind. There is significant disproportion when it comes to my work commitments and job description on one side and so many new shiny technologies (opportunities) on other side. Ever since .Net 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 I usually limp 2-3 years behind the rest, that's the reason why I sometimes feel dumb. So far I am sort of jack-of-trades, but that doesn't mean I excel in any. The other day I found out for technology xyz of which I was completely ignorant! Trust me it is not obscure nor unheard of. This sort of vocation is one in which you must evolve constantly (and quickly!) and I feel left behind. This is especially true with .Net (ok, that depends on your favorite flavor), at least that is my firm belief. When it comes to my current job: - managers are very much satisfied with situation as it is (yes, they are not "tech people") - I don't have much spare time and I try to spend as much as possible outdoors - I am not in position to change my job with more dynamic one simply because I can't afford the change. :doh: I feel a bit relieved now. Thank you for reading this and share your thoughts.
Just remember that it doesn't matter what language you use or what project you are on, you only do three things in programming: 1) Set a value 2) Check a value 3) Jump to a location in a program where you set or check values Everything else is fluff. As long as you remember this, you will never be behind the technology.
m.bergman
For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. -- Voltaire
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. -- Steve Landesberg
I am not a chatbot.
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I still have my whole collection of LPs - all five foot or so of them. I do not however possess a turntable any more... I keep thinking of getting a USB turntable and MP3ing the lot of them, but then I think just how looooong that would take, and chicken out. :laugh:
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
I know I need to be careful with the old 78's. Every time they are played, there is a degradation so I make sure I rotate which ones I play. The player as well will not go on for ever. Every time we play one, I say to Mrs Wife that we should digitise them 'one day'.
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
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If it's any consolation, it's not just programming that this happens in. How many people had just got used to programming the VHS when DVD made it redundant? How many people swapped from LP to tape to CD then found that they were redundant because they didn't fit in the iPod? Progress - it moves us all forward, but it means we all have to keep moving just to stand still... :-D
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
Quote:
Progress - it moves us all forward, but it means we all have to keep moving just to stand still... :-D
Wow, that's deep for a Tuesday. :) Did you come up with that? By the I certainly do agree that we have to keep remolding ourselves to stay current.
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Quote:
Progress - it moves us all forward, but it means we all have to keep moving just to stand still... :-D
Wow, that's deep for a Tuesday. :) Did you come up with that? By the I certainly do agree that we have to keep remolding ourselves to stay current.
'Fraid so. But in my defence I had just finished my third coffee of the day... :laugh:
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
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You're not alone. In my position (founder of a software startup) I have to do pretty much any kind of work, from development to emptying trash cans. I often feel left behind with new technologies because I don't materially have the time and energy to study them. Sure, we use .NET 4, but we still use ASP.NET MVC 2, with 3 already available for a long time and 4 just around the corner. I'd like to give Ruby on Rails a go. I'd like to investigate new tools for CSS and HTML5. But time is limited and existing codebases tend to work against change. So, that happens everywhere. It's not just you. See here: Dark Matter Developers[^].
If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Software Localization Tools & Services and My Blog
That's so true. I'm slowly but steady becoming one. I realized if it ain't broken don't fix it, works. Just like you, .net 4 but still some old ASP.net 2 ... And I'm happy with it, my managers are happy because I get things done. In a way I'm lets say scared from 2 points of view: 1) What if MS "dies"? I have to learn JAVA techonologies and IDEs and... 2) What about Metro? Give it a try or not? I find it really refreshing but then again a totally different mind set is needed for those kind of apps... "We'll see." and have a worryless good night sleep is the answer! :)
All the best, Dan
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You're not alone. In my position (founder of a software startup) I have to do pretty much any kind of work, from development to emptying trash cans. I often feel left behind with new technologies because I don't materially have the time and energy to study them. Sure, we use .NET 4, but we still use ASP.NET MVC 2, with 3 already available for a long time and 4 just around the corner. I'd like to give Ruby on Rails a go. I'd like to investigate new tools for CSS and HTML5. But time is limited and existing codebases tend to work against change. So, that happens everywhere. It's not just you. See here: Dark Matter Developers[^].
If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe, but not a personality. [Charlie Brooker] ScrewTurn Wiki, Software Localization Tools & Services and My Blog
Dario Solera wrote:
Sure, we use .NET 4, but we still use ASP.NET MVC 2, with 3 already available for a long time and 4 just around the corner. I'd like to give Ruby on Rails a go. I'd like to investigate new tools for CSS and HTML5. But time is limited and existing codebases tend to work against change.
Exactly.
Dario Solera wrote:
So, that happens everywhere. It's not just you.
Yeah, I know, but sometimes I have a feeling we are expected to evolve faster and faster...
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Just remember that it doesn't matter what language you use or what project you are on, you only do three things in programming: 1) Set a value 2) Check a value 3) Jump to a location in a program where you set or check values Everything else is fluff. As long as you remember this, you will never be behind the technology.
m.bergman
For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. -- Voltaire
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. -- Steve Landesberg
I am not a chatbot.
:) True.
