Introducing tmux-rs

Honestly, I often hate how people ask "why?", and don't understand how "for fun" is a legitimate answer. I get it for work or other things, but hobbies? We do lots of things for fun! Humans were born to play, just like every other animal. It's how we learn and explore the world around us.

And frankly, to quote Knuth

  > In fact what I would like to see is thousands of computer scientists let loose to do whatever they want. That's what really advances the field.

This is true for any field, or any project. We're creative creatures. We dream and explore. Major changes almost never come from doing things the way they've always been done. A lot of times "just because" gives you the freedom to try new things and challenge those paradigms. Weirdly, if you always have to justify everything you slow down progress.

I still believe that my #1 think that stunted my growth as a junior SWE was overthinking my personal projects and languages to use for them, instead of just building whatever I felt it's interesting or intriguing to build.

It's always hard to tell. But have you considered you might be measuring the wrong way?

To me it sounds like you learned a real important lesson one that some people never seem to learn.

I think one of the most beneficial aspects of doing things "just because" is these other skills or information you get along the way. It is very easy to miss all of this progress if you're too focused on the progress of the more tangible things. But that doesn't make any of that not progress. So don't put yourself down for that, because I'm sure you learned a lot. The only reason you can look back and see a better way is because you made that progress and learned those lessons. These are things mentors can usually help you get through faster but not everyone has a mentor nor access to one. But don't undermine your own progress just because you didn't finish projects or because you did things differently than others

Same here!

Asking “why” can still be a legitimate question, and “for fun” can also be a legitimate answer.

I treat projects differently if they want to launch a product, they want to replace an established open source tool, done for fun for themselves, or if it’s a hobby project.

There is more than 1 way to have fun. Some ways of having fun will produce more value to other people than others.

The complaint isn't about being asked why, it is about "for fun" not being acceptable.

Follow up questions are totally cool but the context is different, right?

If it isn't acceptable then there's a negative tone and questions are focused on utility and usually them "trying to help you" find utility.

If it is acceptable they ask you about your interests and what you're learning. Sometimes that can turn into utility but that's more natural.

It's a lot about culture to be honest. Some people are just toxic and if things don't make sense in their heads then it doesn't make sense in any head.

I suspect they do understand that "for fun" is a reasonable answer. The disconnect is probably that they don't see how your hobby could be fun.

you cultivated your interest in programming languages and techniques

other people use the stupidest possible javascript to launch product and really focus on product and marketing

yet other people stay as far away from computers as possible and focus on more human activities

you just do what you're drawn to naturally

'For fun' is a perfectly reasonable answer. But sometimes the answer to 'why' comes after you do it. I'm sure that everyone has learned something without realizing its utility until the end. Nobody is obligated to answer that question, unless you're pitching something.