SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
There is often pressure inside Software development for Software developers to code outside of work hours. Coding is considered a passion for some, but others don’t think this way. They are more than happy to not code in their spare time. This is OK.
Meetup groups, side-projects, coding quizzes, side-hustles, developing websites for friends and family. Improving your coding skills takes time, effort, discipline and sacrifice. But is it really necessary? That is for you to decide.
There is no doubt that there is importance to setting goals. It helps to see where you are going and to have something you are working towards. Being the best coder isn’t everyone’s goal.
People often feel peer pressure to code outside of hours, to stay competitive and to be the best. If someone is making you feel this way, you can remind yourself that it is perfectly OK to only code at work. Some people might even argue that doing too much can have diminishing returns…
[...] In short, it is perfectly OK to have a life outside of work. Many people hack their schedules according to their own goals and interests, which may or may not include coding. If you think this post could help someone out there, please share it around!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bradley13 on Sunday May 05 2019, @01:33PM
A coder who doesn't write things for his own use, is like a plumber who doesn't fix a leaking faucet in his own home.
I agree, but: I code a lot less than I used to. For the first 20 years or so of my career, I tried out new programming languages all the time, fiddled with databases, experimented with new frameworks - generally stayed up-to-date in as many different aspects of IT as possible. Not because I had to, but just because it was fun.
About the time .NET came out, I stopped. It started to seem like a rat-race: New programming languages aren't actually new - they're the same old ideas with a different syntax. Wow, yet another functional language. Or, worse, mix some random lambda expressions into Java. Yet another web framework, no better than the one before it, but it's the next shiny new thing.
I still program for fun, of course. I couldn't not program. But I've also started more non-technical hobbies as well. It's also fun to wield physical tools, whack a tennis ball, learn a new (human) language, or whatever.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.