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Is Programming a Dead End Job?
Embedded Geek asks: "There's an interesting opinion piece at Embedded Systems Magazine about [embedded] programming being a dead end job. The author cites burnout ('Pushing ones and zeroes around doesn't sound like a lot of work, but getting each and every one of a hundred million perfect is tremendously difficult.'), prestige, and skill obsolescence as big reasons for programmers to quit or to go 'over to the dark side' and join management or marketing positions. While the piece primarily addresses embedded programmers, the issue is rising for IT workers and other tech workers. When the age issue is combined with the export of jobs offshore, it makes me nervous just to be pushing 35..." Even though the market is going thru a rough patch, and the number of detrimental aspects to programming are increasing (ageism and so forth), I still do not feel that programming is a dead end job. Computers are going nowhere folks, and as long as they are around, programmers will be necessary. People who are in this career for the money or the prestige may not like it after a while, but the people who are in this for something else will tolerate quite a bit before deciding to opt out. The simple measure here: "as long as you love doing it, you'll keep doing it." Isn't this true for any career?
They'll have to pry my keyboard from my cold dead fingers.
The Blaster Master Fighting for Truth, Justice, and Evil Pie since 1979
My name is Earl and my name is stitched on my jumpers. Except it's not Earl and I don't wear jumpers. My name is Phyllis and I have a plastic card key-name badge. I am a code crunching monkey who slings all day at the bottom of the food chain for asshole users and clueless fucking managers. You will never let me do it right so I will do it over. Forever. That's why I'm indispensible. Now let me get back to my soul sucking veal pen cubicle so I can shit out some more gorp you don't give two shits about whether I'm proud of it or not.
At least it's not the fucking helpdesk. Then I would drink bathroom cleaner.
Please, please, please get out of the software field. It's a dead end. No one wants you here, you will be better off in marketing, or washing dishes, or detailing cars or food service. And besides all of that less compitition will drive up my rate. :)
Programming should not be a dead-end job if you can communicate properly with your users and deliver wha they want in a reasonable time
So in other words, we should all stop reading Slashdot and get back to work? :)
In case of fire, do not use elevator. Use water!
Some people, believe it or not, are quite happy making less money
Exactly, why else would anybody choose to be a teacher?
I'll have something intelligent to add one of these days...