I’ve seen the unfortunate side effects of losing these types of folks. I’m also a believer that though this happens through the natural course of life, it is also happening more and more to younger developers as well. I’ve seen plenty of talented senior and principal engineers leave organizations at the 7-15 year mark, in their prime, because of what software shops are becoming. Sure, it’s easy to argue that there has ways been a vein of sweatshop mentality to the software profession, but it’s growing to extreme levels. The attitude of the startup mentality of working yourself to the bone seems to have become a model for all size organizations. I’ve always believed our field, though called computer science, is equal parts science, art, and philosophy.
The art, science, and philosophy is being replaced with deadlines akin to working in other fields where timelines are nearly exact. Immature CEOs and CIOs think that because their disciplines are exact, that they can will-into-existence complex line of business software by working developers harder than ever, and firing those who aren’t dedicated enough.
The brain drain of our profession is happening because the art of gardening (making software) is being slowly replaced by factory farming versions of producing software.