Programming, is it still fun for you?

Written by Alberto Gutierrez

December 3rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm

Programming, is it still fun for you?

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I am privileged to work on something which I actually enjoy. It is like being a professional sportsman; I get paid to do stuff that I love.

Actually, based on the majority of programmers I know, I would say that most of us feel the same. We are basically a bunch of geeks trying to prove to each other who is a better programmer, we somehow see the day to day in the office as a grown up version of…

<geekstuff>
     <choices>
          <rts>Civilization</rts>
          <mmorpg>World of warcraft</mmrpg>
          <role game>Lord of the rings</ role game>
          <movie>Star wars</movie>
     </choices>
</ geekstuff >

Going to the office is then like a game, and as in any game, if you are not having fun, what´s the point? So, are you still having fun? Having fun at work is, in my opinion, one of the differences that can make a great software developer.

If you are not having fun, you won´t probably be motivated, and if you are not motivated, you are going to do a poor job, so to try to help you, let me present my four golden rules to keep it fun at work!

See your colleagues, and show yourself as a friend, not as a competitor.

Try to avoid getting too emotional when you have arguments with your colleagues as Dale Carnegie said “The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.”

Change your mind set from “what can I do to show they are wrong” to “what can I do to help my colleagues”.

Look for challenges.

Doing easy and repetitive stuff is simply boring.

Don´t take it too seriously, it is only a job.

At the end is only a job, don’t get too stressed if you don’t want to eventually see yourself with an anxiety attack in the office.

If still is not fun, just find another job.

To me not having fun is critical, we expend a huge amount of time at work, so don’t waste it, if you are not having fun just find another job, even if the money is not as good!!!

15 Responses to 'Programming, is it still fun for you?'

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4 Dec 09 at 2:50 am
Absolutely!

Been doing it for a long time and still find the challenges and joys involved with it!

Related post on my site
Why Programming Is Fun!
http://www.dcs-media.com/Archive/why-programming-is-fun-GA

It’s great to find developers who are STILL passionate about what they do.

Great post…and thanks!
JD

Jonathan Danylko

4 Dec 09 at 8:13 am
“eel the same. We are basically a bunch of geeks trying to prove to each other who is a better programmer…”

You nailed it! I guess geeks are more competitive than people figure.

Cyril Gupta

4 Dec 09 at 8:23 am
Like any other job you need to think of ways to be creative to keep your job interesting.

You always have to be looking out for yourself – if your employer doesn’t support your growth (which will lead to company growth) – you should find a new job.

Daniel H

4 Dec 09 at 8:31 am
This is great advice. I work at a commercial equipment company and do web programming as part of my position but really get frustrated with the position when its not fun or challenging.

Jon Campbell

4 Dec 09 at 10:12 am
I don’t always love my job, but I try to influence it any way I can and that usually ends up with me having fun. The killer: Fixing/adding to legacy code or being forced to use uber-complex tools and frameworks. Work is what you make of it, even if that means sometimes being political and opinionated.

Casper Bang

4 Dec 09 at 10:53 am
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6 Dec 09 at 11:05 pm
[...] Programming, is it still fun for you? YES. [...]

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8 Dec 09 at 10:58 pm
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9 Dec 09 at 4:20 am
Great article. I love your selection at the top. Office life is like World of Warcraft. “Hail Programmer. I need you to develop five web pages and then return to me for one case of Mt. Dew.”

I would like to add that sometimes fun can be determined by the project. I can hate my job, but love some of my projects.

Chris

9 Dec 09 at 10:52 am
Civilization is not an RTS (it’s not realtime).

Man

28 May 10 at 6:23 am
hahahaha! good catch!

Alberto Gutierrez

28 May 10 at 7:24 am
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28 May 10 at 8:36 am
[...] Programming, is it still fun for you? | Making Good Software (tags: programming software-development) [...]

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28 May 10 at 9:03 pm
i enjoyed trying to make text adventures when i was 11 on my old C64.
11 years later i remembered how much i enjoyed that so decided to try again.
i had fun for a month or so but id rather play my ps3.
plus i dont think its likely anyone would give me a job even if i did finish learning C+.
im 24 and work as a service engineer which pays slightly over minimum wage. ive had worse jobs. i occasionally add stuff to my website but thats about it. maybe its all the learning alone that bores me.

tom

31 May 10 at 3:37 pm