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Can People Really Program 80+ Hours a Week?

Posted by Cliff on from the working-yourself-into-an-early-grave dept.

ibn_khaldun asks: "A question in light of the EA controversy. I'm an academic researcher who does his own programming -- I have to eat what I kill. In my 35 years of coding experience, any time I try to work on a complex program for more than, say, 60 hours a week (coding, not just showing up) for a couple weeks at a time, I'm just asking for trouble: I generate buggy code and debugging it only makes it buggier. Numerous studies in other fields (law firms, hospitals) have shown that mistakes rise exponentially after anyone works about 50 hours per week (don't think about this if you go to the emergency room at 3 a.m.)." Are these rational working conditions? (More below.) "Does EA sprinkle magic pixie dust on their serfs to get around this problem, or is the work so trivial that it can be done while pathologically sleep deprived, or are the PHB's so technically challenged they don't realize what is going on? This whole 'death march' mentality seems absolutely crazy to me as a programmer, but appears to be common. Honestly, can someone enlighten me as to how these 80+ hour weeks ever accomplish anything?"

2 of 741 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Well, it can be done. But can it be done well? by tomstdenis · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Ah vague generalities. You know who else are efficient? Migrant under-age children sweat shops. I know I want to live my life like them! Joy!

    The best way to ensure your group is productive is to make sure they know their place, their job and their deadlines. People are smart and generally [at least I do] get less productive the more they are micromanaged.

    Oh yeah, and don't let marketting shoot their mouths off before you actually sit down to figure out the timeline of a project because "next week" is never soon enough for a market-droid.

    BTW, you bash USA for Iraq in your sig. How's the ivory coast this time of year?

    I may come from the great white north but at least I'm not a hypocrite. My country doesn't start wars and I'm damn proud of it.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  2. Yayus, Massa, Ah can plow dat field in one day! by Cryofan · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Iff'n you says Ah has to, Ah can plow dat field in a day, and Ah kin code 80 hours next week....

    Just don't beat me wit dat whip, Massa.

    Back to da plantation, boys!

    Arbeit Macht Frei!

    Slavery is Freedom!

    --
    eat shiat and bark at the moon