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notepad0x90yesterday at 4:22 PM1 replyview on HN

I have a couple of projects like this and I'm not sure if they'll ever see the light of day. I enjoy writing code, simple as that. Only a small part of my day job is coding, but honestly, it's more like a hobby than anything.

The whole thing with getting people to like your work, using it for clout or padding your resume has an appeal to it that I won't dismiss, but all that takes the fun out of it.

I just don't have much else I actually enjoy in life, so ruining it with peer-pressure, chasing clout, impressing people, worrying about career prospects is a buzz-kill. I used to think that if I am passionate about something like this and I get really good at it, maybe it will help my career and prospects but the real world doesn't work that way. it sucks the joy, fun and passion out of you if you let it.

All that to say it is perfectly fine to like coding for the sake of enjoying it and nothing more. Others play a sport (or watch it), work on arts & crafts, or raise chickens or whatever, I code. I am not particularly skilled or great at coding either, I just enjoy it, and that's it.

If you have fun coding, be protective of your joy! even if you don't take it to the extreme like I do. that's my only point.


Replies

ethintonyesterday at 4:25 PM

I love this take, and I’m reminded of the important idea that while we all are encouraged to be productive, our own joy is also an important thing for us to produce.