My job is to program web applications. To accomplish this, I have to do a lot of things: code the back-end, write the markup, tweak the SQL queries, arrange the styling, etc. Programming is a huge part of my work, but the thing is that I don’t feel like a programmer. I’m also pretty good at doing all of the above, I’d rate myself a 8 or 9 on 10 (where 10 is a guru) at all the skills I just listed.
The actual act of programming is not the reason why I program, I do it for the results. That probably explains why I prefer to use high level languages that abstract most of the boring parts of programming and let me get from the idea to the implementation as fast as possible.
I don’t exactly know what I really am if I’m not a programmer. I really like creating web applications, thinking of new features or new projects that I could do, but I never look forward to actually coding it. I like playing with the markup, the styling and the client-side behavior (the whole front-end), but I hate programming what’s under the hood.
Any other programmers out there feeling that they are programming out of necessity instead of passion?
I already mentioned that I participate as a cyber-mentor at Academos, a site where student get the chance to talk with professionals from all domains to ask them what the work is like, how to get there and what to expect once you become a professional. If you are a high school teacher (in Quebec, Canada), I strongly suggest that you take a look at the site and see what it can offer for your students.
Next week, I’m taking it to another level. A high school student will be following me for a day (not much following to do since I work on the computer all day). This will not impact my work too much and I will be able to help someone experience first hand what his potential future career will look like, about 6 years before being able to get there.
Helping the future software engineers is something we, at Hint Innovation, and I truly believe in. We depend on what the education system builds, in terms of graduates, and as employers of future graduates, I think it’s important to be a part of that system.
Web development education is at a critical point, it’s mostly untouched by software engineering formations but most companies now need professional Web developers. There are places other than universities that teach Web development, but they don’t teach the same things as the universities. Both are needed, but currently only one exists.
Have you ever thought about becoming your own employer? On living on your blogging income? Well, this guy did it in just 279 days. He even wrote an excellent ebook (he calls it a manifesto) “279 Days to Overnight Success” to tell people interested in doing the same how he did it.
I find the manifesto really interesting because that’s something I would like to do myself, at least partially. I love writing, teaching people new things, sharing my experiences. I say partially because I wouldn’t have anything to write about if it were not for my work, where I get to learn so much. I have so many project ideas, but I don’t take the time to even start any of those. After having read the manifesto, I’m a little more motivated, I need to answer 2 important questions raised in the ebook (he calls them “the two most important questions in the universe”):
- What do you really want to get out of life?
- What can you offer the world that no one else can?
Anyway, if you ever thought about going solo and working on your own, give this ebook a chance and read it.
