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The reality of working in tech: We're not hired to write code (2023)

(idiallo.com)
122 points foxfired | 1 comments | 03 Apr 25 00:53 UTC | HN request time: 0.262s | source
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94b45eb4 ◴[03 Apr 25 03:47 UTC] No.43564514[source]▶
I used to hear this all the time back in the early 2000's. It's far from a new idea.

The version I heard (or at least the one which stuck in my head) was "your job is not to write code, your job is to solve problems".

edit: I wish this was more mentioned more frequently these days. I see junior developers very focused on superficial aspects of code and specific "cool" frameworks these days. Often I find myself asking "what problem does this solve? What are the trade-offs with your approach? etc." and it's just crickets. I think we have made a lot of progress with modern frameworks, tools, etc. but I also think there is something from the "old days" of programming which we have lost, which I think we should have fought a bit more to keep.

replies(1): >>43564865 #
1. skydhash ◴[03 Apr 25 04:48 UTC] No.43564865[source]▶
I mentor a few friends and my first question when they come to me for troubleshooting is: What's the problem you're having and what has you tried so far? Then I restrict them from talking in too specific technical terms. Instead I orient the conversation to the appropriate metaphor, and more often than not, they can see the solution by themselves (unless it's really a technical implementation issue).