Ask HN: What's your dream as a programmer? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What's your dream as a programmer?

27 pointstjRonnh33 comments

What motivates/keeps you going?

Level up my skills and creativity to create a "lifestyle" business that I can be passionate that also provides enough for me to pay my bills and more, be my own boss, own my time, etc

This exactly! I'd like to make enough money from a project of mine to comfortably support myself, while also enjoying the project itself. The first part is hard, but the second is easy, because I only start projects that I like! (Current project is https://IndieHackers.com, launched a month ago, so far so good!)

Congratulations on the launch. Read a couple of entries and loved it!

Oh wow, what a coincidence. I was just reading it last night (had bookmarked it earlier and decided to read it yesterday). Very cool project though, would love it if the interviews were longer / turned into podcasts

Love that site

To write code that outlasts me, so far all my projects are gone within a few years after I stopped working for the company that needed it.

I wonder how often this happens.

My entire career, as short as it still is. In the last 8 years I've worked for 3 companies. Every single new project I've worked on has suffered from continuous feature creep; irreconcilable contract disputes; or immediate obsolescence.

My wins are fixing little bugs, I have no career achievements.

Totally feeling the same frustration here. The only projects I have worked on that have stood the test of time are my own side projects.

This has led me to conclude that most forms of employment in the software industry will leave you with little to speak for. You have to create your own thing if you want to make an impact.

To build systems that should exist in society, reduces people's frustrations, and generates revenue/cuts costs.

But really: To raise a child and see her grow and learn about the world: http://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2013-09-08

The love of producing something I can interact with. And writing elegant code.

It's uncool but I'm enjoying learning more about WPF for this reason!

Writing libraries/API's that when used by other devs makes them say "This is really easy to use."

Early on in my career, I released a somewhat successful iOS app for skateboarders. It was really cool seeing monthly revenue come in, even if it was only a few hundred dollars.

I basically want that same feeling times 20, so I'm getting enough to live on from my own products.

I also want to work on projects where I either have full creative control or get to work with great designers who I mostly agree with.

I want the financial comfort to confidently say 'no' to every bad idea I hear.

Finding a market need that everyone else seems to have missed.

Money and power

my side project. I want to create something the world values while at the same time keep myself learning something new

To not ever use a computer again

I'd like to create a small business then hire someone who writes the code, so I never ever have to write code again.

Motivation? Developing applications and services people truly enjoy.

Dream? Writing code that is used continuously in production for centuries. ;)

To start my own company and become a billionaire in ten years time so that I can fully concentrate on pursuing other life interests for the rest of my life. (I don't mind becoming politically influential as I intend to use those powers for the good (no seriously) but that is secondary.)

You can probably pursue your interests with a lot less than a billion dollars! YMMV depending on your interests, of course.

If, for example, you were able to build a business that could bring in $300k-$500k net annually without requiring you to spend all of your time on the business, what percentage of your life interests would you be able to pursue?

Not a lot of them, about a third only, and certainly not wholeheartedly with gay abandon, which would be a shame as I am really want to do things wholeheartedly with gay abandon. My milage does vary (MMDV).

An interest in possibilities. What if I apply myself to a data set that reveals fundamental truths about the universe? Or how to communicate with extraterrestrials? Or reveals fundamental truths about Earth?

To destroy and rebuild humanity.

First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the wom(a/e)n

To write elegant code that simplifies life and and brings me fame and fortune.

Run a small VR/game studio, work on my own experimental/risky ideas with a small group of reliable, interesting people who share my vision strongly.

Best case: Create a project that impacts lots of people. Worst case: be able to create enough wealth to sustain me and my family.

quit programming.

that I will succeed in making a spreadsheet editor that is better then excel (not hard) and will be widely use by the majority of people (hard). I want to destroy excel after the all the time I've had to endure vba or deal with its stupid intricacies . im bitter. and I hate excel

Seeing my stuff running and running well.

My dream would be to create something used and enjoyed by a lot of people

To build an online business that can earn me a good living as a one-man-band.

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