Comment by soneca | Hacker News Reader

Comment by soneca | Hacker News Reader

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Why such backlash from people that don't want to build any side projects? Doesn't go without saying that if you don't want to build a side project you don't have to?

I was expecting to read comments here about people that are interested in how to ship side projects. Instead, I mostly see people with the urge to be vocal about how they don't want to ship any side project.

I assume this is a reaction from some societal pressure for developers to always be building side projects. I wasn't aware that there was such pressure. But if so, by whom?

EDIT: Contrast with this other HN thread: "How to Write Articles and Essays Quickly and Expertly": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16005460

Not a single comment about how people do not want to and do not care to write essays and how they have much better use for their time. I think that is the norm for "How to..." threads in HN. People who don't care about it, just don't care about it. Don't even bother to comment why they don't care, probably not even click on it. Why is it different with side projects?

There has been growing pressure in the developer community to have side projects as a way to prove your worth.

People take a dim view of developers who don’t do anything outside of work. If you’re not coding something in your off hours and keeping a portfolio of successful projects it must mean you are not passionate enough, or smart enough, or ambitious enough. And they take the opinion that that is not the kind of developer companies should hire, nor that they want to associate with.

Side projects thus become a sort of humble brag, instead of a project built out of genuine interest. Many developers are building things they don’t seem to give a shit about beyond how it will help their career prospects.

These notions need to end.

Can you explain why you think that these notions should end for people, let alone from the perspective of a company? I'd fully agree that living to work is undesirable, but in this case I don't think that notion applies since development opens an infinite number of doors to anybody with the ambition and skill to make it work for them.

It does not open an infinite amount of doors, these days it merely prevents doors from closing.

If your life is disrupted because you find yourself having to ship and maintain side projects just to get a job or be considered a good developer, then ask yourself, are you writing code or is code writing you?

> then ask yourself, are you writing code or is code writing you?

Lol what?

>>People take a dim view of developers who don’t do anything outside of work.

To me it depends on the developer's level of experience. For more junior developers, I definitely prefer those who drink from the proverbial fire hose and try to expand their professional knowledge outside of work.

I was wondering the same after reading the top comment by teekert, which came across as somewhat defensive (and not to mention off-topic) to me. I can see it being a result of (tacit?) societal pressure. Perhaps a "you are not good enough if you are not working on side projects" programmer anxiety, which leads to highlighting say one's parental accomplishments in order to compensate for that perceived inferiority.

We are all different in regards to our hobbies. Some enjoy raising children, some enjoy travelling, and some enjoy working on side projects. Can't we just co-exist in peace?

I'd hazard a guess - perhaps people feel a cultural pressure in tech circles in a way that doesn't apply to writing essays. Reading HN can make you feel like wantrepreneur sometimes reading about interesting things other people shipped, and the title of that article may have struck a chord as being a bit accusatory.

Also I noticed the language this author used was "How I..." instead of "How to...", which makes it more personal. Although folks on this blog are rational and calm most of the time, even subtle wording can trigger one's ego and make it hard to contain instinctive primitive fight-or-flight instincts that can override rational thoughts.

Maybe it's Blue Monday. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date)

There is more than one path to becoming your best self, and your best self isn't how everyone else should be, and vice versa.

Side projects may be more glamourized and relatable on this site than say, writing.

Side projects, hobbies, and how we choose to value our time should not be confused with product and business building - in our 20's we collect a lot of experience at random things because we don't know what we're fully doing yet.

Building side projects is OK - just for the sake of building them or learning something new, because we can afford to do in in time or money. Many big and grand outcomes often start as small and relevant solutions.

The other thing that happens through our 20's is we become less of a follower looking to what others are doing and more self-directed as we head into your 30's.

There's a simple answer to "Everyone's doing a side project? Why do I suck?" It doesn't matter.

Becoming well rounded means organically finding new interests and priorities (including love, family, kids, hobbies) and in some cases becoming more well rounded for the type of future you may want.

> I assume this is a reaction from some societal pressure for developers to always be building side projects.

It's a distaste for doing "work" outside of work, in general, but also looking like you enjoy it that type of thing. There are definitely times/fads/seasons where having a side project is a type of social asset. I usually call that "looking for a new job" season.

Also, it's sometimes en vogue to do nothing work-related with your free time and show everyone you can afford to do so.

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