A simple question for the working programmers:

Do you find yourself having the time to study/practise in-depth or sharpen your skills in other computer science fields that you're not specializing/working in?

Um, assuming you're interested in that field, of course. I'm just a little worried that I do not have time to read up on other fields during my working life (and become Satori). Or should I worry about this issue more with marriage?

haduken

Australia8267 Posts

August 15 2008 13:55 GMT

Good topic.Would like to hear insights from Bill and others.

Thrill

2599 Posts

August 15 2008 14:44 GMT

I don't know a single CS programmer with an engineering degree who's happy with his job, don't even have to write his/her as i've never met a representative of the latter (save for a poor girl who i've never met but heard of who wanted to be a gamedesigner without taking a single math or physics class).

Most i know have switched field to become structural or corporate (R&D) engineers or simply gone back to school to read medicin. Most of the time the reason has been the elegidly impossible work environment, anti-social comrades and bosses with some odd artschool degree to back up a career in sales and 0 understanding of the software products they're selling.

Read some Dilbert and reconcider.

arbiter_md

Moldova1219 Posts

August 15 2008 14:45 GMT

I feel that I have little time for everything else, but that's because I spend to much playing this very game, the only which deserves to be played:-)

sundance

Slovakia3201 Posts

August 15 2008 15:49 GMT

Short answer is : Yes.

Aerox

Malaysia1213 Posts

August 15 2008 17:19 GMT

Hmm.. should I add another question on what kind of work or at least field are you/those guys doing or the country you/they're in... mmm...

Nah, I only want to know the possibility. Thanks to all replies so far.

Insane

United States4991 Posts

August 15 2008 17:28 GMT

On August 15 2008 23:44 Thrill wrote:
I don't know a single CS programmer with an engineering degree who's happy with his job, don't even have to write his/her as i've never met a representative of the latter (save for a poor girl who i've never met but heard of who wanted to be a gamedesigner without taking a single math or physics class).

Most i know have switched field to become structural or corporate (R&D) engineers or simply gone back to school to read medicin. Most of the time the reason has been the elegidly impossible work environment, anti-social comrades and bosses with some odd artschool degree to back up a career in sales and 0 understanding of the software products they're selling.

Read some Dilbert and reconcider.

?
There are lots of people around here (microsoft) who have been in the field a long time and seem really happy with it. Most people seem to be married and people are approachable and nice. Bosses come from your discipline (well up to a certain point, but for the actual IC programmers/testers/whatever that's true)

Edit: oh, you're from a different country though, I have no idea how it is there. (I won't say what it is in case you're keeping it secret for some reason)

ulszz

Jamaica1787 Posts

August 15 2008 17:37 GMT

what would be awesome if some programmer could talk about his normal workday. kind of the challenges they face, and how their co-workers are. it would be much appreciated =).

dinmsab

Malaysia2246 Posts

August 15 2008 18:34 GMT

On August 16 2008 02:28 HnR)Insane wrote:

Show nested quote +

Most companies dont treat their programmers as well as microsoft does, I read this somewhere... so correct me if im wrong; apparently microsoft employees are the "stars" of the industry, getting overall better pay.. getting their own office. etc. Although I firmly believe an average programmer life isnt THAT bad.

About the op's question, if your working in the IT industry you might as well expect to be learning a few new things now and then. Most companies send their employees to short courses or have them do extra certificates, its pretty normal from what I know. Although you shouldnt be so worried about it, I've seen people with software engineering degrees end up doing networking for a living... so it isnt as hard as you think...

Daveed

United States236 Posts

August 15 2008 20:04 GMT

#10

I think it really depends on the company that you work for. For one, if you want to work for a startup, it definitely won't be like Dilbert, but you'll have to work your ass off. A lot of people like that kind of environment, though.

A lot of it will probably depend on what company you want to work for, tbh. Also, I think that if you aren't doing something as intense as a startup, or quant work, you'll have plenty of time to read up on other things.

Aerox

Malaysia1213 Posts

August 16 2008 08:20 GMT

#11

On August 16 2008 03:34 dinmsab wrote:
About the op's question, if your working in the IT industry you might as well expect to be learning a few new things now and then. Most companies send their employees to short courses or have them do extra certificates, its pretty normal from what I know. Although you shouldnt be so worried about it, I've seen people with software engineering degrees end up doing networking for a living... so it isnt as hard as you think...

You didn't get my question but thanks for your insight on our country's IT sector. It is what I expected and already knew (but I guess it's fine to hear from another viewpoint) which is why I pose my questions to the people here rather from our local lowyat netizens or the sort.

Short and simple about our country's IT sector:
Our leaders are business based. Cluelessness much. Difficult for science. I'll more likely join the other pros abroad but then again I have something else in mind as well.