Understanding Lives of Programmers

[kuphryn]

Hi.

I design and implement Windows applications using C++. For the last 15 months, I begin to spend more time designing small applications, implementing, debugging, and maintaining C++ source code. The bottomline is I find myself spending hours at school during breaks, after school, and on weekends programming. Heck, I sometimes spend close to 8 hours on a Saturday programming and design applications.

The irony is I have no job experience, i.e. I have never worked as a programmer. I am a year away from a CS degree.

I would like some feedbacks on the life of a programmer be it real-world (employee, consultant, etc) or one who enjoys software design and implemention and does so while in college (like me).

- How much free time do you have on a weekly basis. How about during weekends?

- When you are away from the developer studio, do you think about the problems you are currently working on (I do)?

I think my main concern is how to setup a life such that I can program, but still have time to do other stuff. I love software design and implemention. However, sometimes it stresses me out and takes up so much time that my life is Visual C++!

Thanks,
Kuphryn

[mdmd]

I think my main concern is how to setup a life such that I can program, but still have time to do other stuff. I love software design and implemention. However, sometimes it stresses me out and takes up so much time that my life is Visual C++!

Hmmmm, sounds just like a marriage. Just substitute 'girly' for
'visualC and programming' :D

Think about what you want to do 15 years from now. If you want
to be some overweight 40 year old sitting infront of a 21 inch
monitor all day eating waffles then you're on the right track :D

Go away for the weekend ! Go hiking, camping, biking ! Sign up
at an outing place like gonewengland.org and go places where
you'll be 500 miles away from your keyboard !. Force a balance
so you can learn to distance yourself from programming when the
computer is there tempting you.

I bet Xeon can teach us how to enjoy life !

[kuphryn]

Excellent health is definitely imperative. I am and will be healthy physically. I football.

Mentally is another story. Imagine thinking about programming problems for hours even when you are not behind developer studio!

Kuphryn

[jman_77]

You mention thinking about problems when you're not working. I do that as well, and in my mind that can be good or bad. If you're doing it because you're frustrated but don't want to give up, it's bad. If you're doing it because you like problem solving, it's good.

Like any other job, just make sure you do take time to stop thinking about your work and relax. Play some video games, catch a movie, go for a walk, whatever, just don't let your work consume you.

On another note, this thread is probably in the wrong forum and should be moved to one of the general discussion forums.

[Mustafa]

What I did after realising that I was spending too much time on the PC and was loosing out on other things in life was to invest in a notebook. It gave me mobility and anywhere I am I could just test out some nagging ideas or just simply put it aside if I am tired of it...by knowing that the computer is a reach away gave me that comfort when I am doing other things.

The best experience I had after that was sitting in the sand, wind in my hair and watch all those bikinis and yet get to write some cool classes or simplify some complex routine....:cool:

I was quite amazed at the quality and the quantity of work done by having the notebook.

Now I am dreaming of investing into wi-fi so that I could get access to the Internet too at the beach.....

dreaming....;)

Mustafa

[Mick]

Originally posted by Mustafa

The best experience I had after that was sitting in the sand, wind in my hair and watch all those bikinis and yet get to write some cool classes or simplify some complex routine....:cool:

Mustafa

We had a telecommuting developer in Costa Rica...the IS department sure didn't like cleaning out the sand everytime they had to rebuild that laptop ;)

[jman_77]

Good point Mustafa. I didn't think to mention it, but I love my notebook too. Nothing like a change of scenery to help clear your head. Although personally, I go for coffee shops and denny's for my late-night coding excursions :)

[Gabriel Fleseriu]

Altough this is programming related, it does not belong in the Visual C++ forum. Moved.

[kuphryn]

Notebook is nice! Although I do not have one and have not develop anything using a notebook.

But yes, developing applications while at the beach or on some island including Tahiti is definitely something special.

Kuphryn

[proxima centaur]

Originally posted by kuphryn
I would like some feedbacks on the life of a programmer be it real-world (employee, consultant, etc) or one who enjoys software design and implemention and does so while in college (like me).

- How much free time do you have on a weekly basis. How about during weekends?


The one pitfall you have to keep from falling into is giving more hours to the company than stipulated in the contract (or not having a contract at all!). Employers hiring young employees kind of do it expecting you to work your *** off, do the job nobody wants and ask for more, while paying you very little and not paying your extra hours if you are too shy to ask.

So beware!

Keep you ideas straight from the beginning, if you want quality time, fight for it. Don't hesitate to quit a job that is not willing to give you free time and will not let you go after 5 o'clock at night.

Of course, there might be some rush times, but that should not be the norm.



- When you are away from the developer studio, do you think about the problems you are currently working on (I do)?



I used to. I try not to. I do other stuff and I don't care about work. It's not my company, therefore I don't care. I care monday to friday, 9 to 5. ;-)

I think my main concern is how to setup a life such that I can program, but still have time to do other stuff. I love software design and implemention. However, sometimes it stresses me out and takes up so much time that my life is Visual C++!


That's how it is and you have to fight that. It is possible to achieve balance, but a lot of programmers fail at it. Some go into depression and burn-outs. So be careful. You have chosen a very stressful profession.

[kuphryn]

proxima centaur,

Excellent points. Points noted!

Kuphryn

[kuphryn]

I often hear and read that a career as programmer is at its best when you are a consultant and/or working at home? Other then the obvious above average salary package, what are some advantages?

Kuphryn

[mwilliamson]

It can be good or bad, if you are lazy then you won't get up early to work or try to get jobs. Its nice to go into work and always have something to do, even if you have to get up early :) The great thing about working at home is that you can take time off when ever you want / need it.